Shore Sports Insider Softball Week 8 Top 10 Rankings
*Samantha Mayer contributed to this put up*
1. St. John Vianney (23-0) Last Week: 1 – The final undefeated group left within the Shore Conference, the Lancers, received 4 video games final week, together with their second-round and quarterfinal video games within the Shore Conference Tournament. In the second-round sport, Madison McDougall pitched a no-hitter and struck out 19 batters in an 8-0 victory. She adopted that efficiency with a four-inning no-hitter towards Southern, throughout which junior Brynn Utter hit her seventh residence run of the season. In that very same 16-0 victory, the Lancers had three completely different gamers drive in three runs. Looking forward, SJV will host the No. 4 seed Middletown South on Monday within the semifinal spherical, with the winner advancing to play on Thursday at Count Basie Park for the SCT title.
SJV’s Brynn Utter (Photo by Sam Mayer)
2. Donovan Catholic (24-1) Last Week: 2 – After being handed their first lack of the season on Monday towards Steinert, Donovan rebounded with 4 straight victories to advance into the SCT semifinal spherical and earn the No. 1 seed within the South Jersey Non-Public A sectional. The Griffins beat Shore within the second spherical of the SCT 11-0. Donovan hit three residence runs in that sport, with Isabella Cino connecting on her sixth of the season. In the quarterfinal spherical, Caroline Kopp hit a 2-run residence run to beat Barnegat 3-1 and advance into the semifinals. Gylian Hixenbaugh and Kopp each struck out seven batters towards Barnegat. Donovan Catholic will host No. 3 Marlboro on Monday within the semifinal spherical. Marlboro ended the Griffins SCT match final season within the quarterfinal spherical.
Caroline Kopp hit a stroll off single for Donovan towards Robbinsville within the Shore vs CVC Challenge at Adventure Crossing. 4/18/26 Photo by Samantha Mayer
3. Marlboro (15-6) Last Week: 3 – Marlboro returns to the SCT semifinals for the third straight season after beating Matawan within the second spherical and Holmdel within the quarterfinal spherical. Freshman Savannah Joy hit a 2-run triple to steer the Mustangs on the plate, and Emily Gaudio solely allowed one hit and struck out seven batters to earn the win towards Matawan. Gaudio adopted that with 11 strikeouts in a 2-0 victory over Holmdel. Marlboro will journey to Donovan Catholic in a rematch of final 12 months’s quarterfinal sport, during which Marlboro received 9-7. Donovan beat Marlboro on 5/9, 10-3.
(*10*)
Isabella Wuelfing scored all three runs for Marlboro towards Steinert within the Shore vs CVC Challenge at Adventure Crossing. 4/18/26 Photo by Samantha Mayer
4. Middletown South (14-6) Last Week: 6 – The Eagles went 2-0 on the week, edging rival Middletown North 2-1 in additional innings within the second spherical of the Shore Conference Tournament, earlier than edging Red Bank Catholic 4-3 within the quarterfinals. Junior pitcher Riley Smith recorded 15 strikeouts and allowed solely 4 hits and a stroll within the win over the Lions. The Eagles put collectively a four-run sixth inning and held on within the seventh within the win over the Caseys. Middletown South will journey to top-ranked St. John Vianney within the semifinals. The Lancers received each regular-season conferences.
Ciara Sparandero drove in Middletown South’s third run in a 4-3 win over RBC within the SCT Quarterfinals. 5/16/26 Photo by Samantha Mayer
5. Red Bank Catholic (11-10) Last Week: 4 –
The Caseys dropped two of three video games within the final week, together with a 4-0 defeat towards state-ranked Mount St. Dominic and a 4-3 loss to Middletown South. Sandwiched in between, Red Bank Catholic defeated Central, 4-2. Sophomore pitcher Mackenna Savage recorded 12 strikeouts within the win over Central. Junior SS Grace Lombardi hit a 2-run residence run within the loss towards Middletown South. The Caseys will flip their consideration towards the South Jersey Non-Public A playoffs.
Grace Lombardi hit a 2-run residence run to chop within the the Middletown South lead, 4-2, within the SCT Quarterfinal. 5/16/26 Photo by Samantha Mayer
6. Colts Neck (10-9) Last Week: 5 – Colts Neck opened the week with an 8-7 win over No. 7 Southern in a make-up sport from earlier within the season. In the primary spherical of the SCT, the Cougars beat Toms River North 10-0. Gabriella Bryce and her youthful sister Adrianna Bryce each hit a house run within the sport. Gabby went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Colts Neck’s SCT ended earlier after falling to Southern in a rematch, 13-3. Ace pitcher Angela Sasso missed the sport resulting from emergency oral surgical procedure. Since the Cougars received the sport when each group’s have been at full power, they continue to be forward within the rankings for now. Colts Neck is taking part in No. 8 Barnegat on Thursday as they put together for the Central Group 3 sectional.
Gabby Bryce made a number of performs within the area for Colts Neck of their 3-0 win over Middletown North. 4/4/26 Photo by Samantha Mayer
7. Southern (12-9) Last Week: 7 – The Rams began the week sizzling with wins over St. Rose and Colts within the SCT, earlier than dropping a pair of video games to Seneca and St. John Vianney. Since Southern and Colts Neck break up this season, and Colts Neck’s ace pitcher, Angela Sasso, didn’t play within the sport the Rams received, Southern stays ranked seventh for now. Southern hosts Pinelands on Tuesday, as they form up for the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs.
Brooke Sutter completed with 6 strikeouts to earn the win within the OCT Championship towards TRE at Adventure Crossing. 5/6/26 Photo by Samantha Mayer
8. Barnegat (19-2) Last Week: 8 – Barnegat got here near knocking No. 2 Donovan Catholic out of the SCT within the quarterfinal spherical and taking a giant leap within the rankings, however misplaced 3-1. Sophomore Brooke Rizzo hit a solo residence run within the 4th inning, however that was all of the runs the Bengals might produce. Junior Gianna Gomez solely allowed two hits and struck out 10 batters to boost her complete to 292 on the season. In the second spherical, Barnegat beat No. 10 Raritan 10-0. Both Riley Schmidt and Gianna Skwirut hit 3-run residence runs within the victory. Barnegat will journey to Freehold Boro on Tuesday and No. 6 Colts Neck on Thursday as they put together for the South Jersey Group 2 sectional.
Barnegat’s Gianna Gomez (Photo by SidelineSamsShots)
9. Holmdel (15-4) Last Week: 9 – Holmdel had solely two video games this week, each within the SCT. After incomes a bye within the first spherical, Holmdel beat Howell 9-0 within the second spherical. Four gamers drove in two runs in that sport. Natalie Clifford went 3-for-4 with two RBI’s, and Julia Henderson went 2-for-4 with two RBI’s. Freshman Amanda Tuccillo went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Henderson struck out 10 batters within the shutout victory. In the quarterfinals, the Hornets put up a hard-fought struggle towards No. 3 Marlboro however fell 2-0. Henderson had each of Holmdel’s hits in that sport. Holmdel doesn’t have any video games scheduled for this week, however will look to prepare for the Central Jersey Group 2 sectional, the place they’re projected to be the 6-seed.
Holmdel’s Molly Debias belting a solo residence run to begin the sport (Photo by Samantha Mayer)
10. Raritan (17-7) Last Week: 10 – Raritan began the week with a 10-4 win over New Egypt in a tune-up sport earlier than the SCT. In the primary spherical, Raritan beat Toms River South 17-2. The Rockets had 20 hits in that sport, with Payton Fleming and Janelle Clausi each going 4-for-4 with 4 runs scored. Lila Houlihan additionally went 4-for-4 and drove in 4 runs within the victory. Raritan fell to the 7-seed Barnegat 10-0 within the second spherical. Raritan picked up video games towards South Brunswick on Tuesday and Colonia on Friday as they put together for the Central Jersey Group 2 sectional.
Bubble:
Shore
Central
Middletown North