Shore Sports Insider Softball 2026 Week 1 Rankings
1. St. John Vianney (0-0) – After profitable back-to-back state titles, SJV fell brief final season within the South Jersey Non-Public A last towards Donovan Catholic. The Lancers solely graduated two starters from final yr’s crew, however they have been necessary items to the puzzle. Catcher Elisabeth Figliolino is likely to be the toughest participant to interchange together with her ardour and management behind the plate. Monmouth commit Madison McDougall returns for her last season with 735 profession strikeouts after ending with a 0.98 ERA final season. Senior shortstop Gabby Gonzalez has a profession batting common of .477 and will likely be one of many leaders on the sector this season. Juniors Mia Favato, Emma Fitterer and Brynn Utter all had massive seasons on the plate final season and assist make the SJV lineup probably the most harmful within the Shore Conference. The Lancers open the season on Tuesday at No. 6 Middletown South in a divisional sport.
Madison McDougall struck out 7 batters in a 12-1 win over Colts Neck. 4/22/25 Photo by Tom Smith
2. Donovan Catholic (0-0) – Donovan Catholic returned to the Non-Public A state championship sport for the primary time since 2022, however fell brief in a 4-3 loss to Mount St. Dominic. The Griffins graduated a major quantity of firepower from the crew that scored eight runs towards SJV within the sectional last final season. Five starters graduated who all batted over .300 final season, together with Shore Sports Insider Player of the Year Christina Ginex. Playing at Seton Hall this yr, Ginex completed with a .511 batting common, 5 dwelling runs, and 46 hits. Donovan does return lead-off hitter and Auburn commit Isabella Maria. Maria has 142 profession hits and a .495 profession common by her first three seasons. One of one of the best energy hitters within the Shore Conference, junior Isabella Cino has 19 dwelling runs in her first two seasons and a .436 batting common. Dani Rodriguez and Gylian Hixenbaugh each return on the mound for the Griffins this season. Hixenbaugh battled accidents her freshman season, however had a 1.06 ERA final yr as a sophomore for Donovan. Jaelynn Nunez, who transferred in final season, supplied Donovan with extra energy in the course of the lineup, ending with 9 dwelling runs and a .479 batting common final season. The Griffins host Central on Monday and Jackson on Wednesday in two divisional video games to start out the season.
Isabella Maria makes a catch towards St. John Vianney within the South Jersey Non-Public A Championship. Photo by Eric Braun
3. Red Bank Catholic (0-0) – The defending Shore Conference Tournament champions graduated half their beginning lineup from final season. Ace pitcher Lily Hagan, who’s now taking part in at Notre Dame, completed with a 1.45 ERA and 150 strikeouts and had a knack for hitting well timed dwelling runs. Shortstop Nicole Knox graduated with a profession batting common of .543 and 23 dwelling runs. Sophomore Mackenna Savage received Shore Sports Insider Freshman of the Year final season and can take over because the ace of the employees for the Caseys. She pitched 36.1 innings and struck out 47 batters and she or he hit for a .395 AVG. Seniors Torri Case and Jayden Kane will take over the management function for RBC. All-Shore returner Grace Lombardi was among the best hitters within the convention final season and completed with a .518 batting common and can now take over shortstop for Knox. RBC opens the season at dwelling towards Middletown North on Tuesday and No. 6 Middletown South on Thursday in two divisional video games.
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Grace Lombardi went 1-for-2 with a RBI for RBC towards rival SJV on 4/30/25. Photo by Nicholas Doll
4. Colts Neck (0-0) – Colts Neck beat among the Shore Conference’s greatest pitchers on their method to a Shore Conference Tournament finals look final season. The Cougars defeated Jackson’s Emily Hersh within the second spherical, Middletown North’s Madilynn Boyce within the quarterfinals and Marlboro’s Emily Gaudio within the semifinal spherical. With solely two gamers within the common rotation graduating, Colts Neck will likely be one of many favorites this season within the Shore. Ace pitcher Angela Sasso has 581 strikeouts in her profession and appears to finish her senior yr on high earlier than heading off to the University of Connecticut. Sasso additionally supplied the Cougars with offense, batting . 427 final season with two dwelling runs. Senior shortstop Gabby Bryce was one of many hottest hitters within the postseason and was named Shore Sports Insider’s Most Improved Player of the Year. Bryce batted .432 and hit seven dwelling runs, together with two within the Shore Conference Tournament. Sophomore Jillian Heyser was probably the most constant freshmen final season on the plate and completed with a .407 AVG and 4 dwelling runs. Falling to Steinert within the Central Jersey Group 3 last, Colts Neck has their eyes set on returning this season. The Cougars open the season at dwelling on Saturday towards Middletown North in a divisional sport.
Angela Sasso warming up within the Shore Conference Tournamet Final at Count Basie Field. 5/19/25 Photo by Nicholas Doll
5. Marlboro (0-0) – After profitable back-to-back Central Jersey Group 4 titles, Marlboro fell brief final season within the semifinals towards Hunterdon Central. The Mustangs have graduated a whole lot of bats the final two seasons, however deliver again ace pitcher Emily Gaudio for her last season. Gaudio additionally was one the leaders with the bat final season, ending with a .414 AVG. Junior Isabella Wuelfing has been one among high hitters within the Shore Conference her first two seasons and can look to proceed that this season. Juniors Alyssa Abadiatokis and Lily Fitzpatrick enter their second season as starters and can present expertise within the discipline and within the batters field. Marlboro opens the season on Thursday at Watchung Hills in a non-conference sport.
6. Middletown South (1-0) – Middletown South brings again nearly all of their crew that went to the sectional semifinal the final two seasons. Pitcher Riley Smith and catcher Nora Sarcone return to guide the Eagles. Smith, who’s dedicated to Princeton, completed with 203 strikeouts final season. Sophomore Jordyn Cowell had an amazing rookie season and led the crew with a .361 batting common. Middletown South moved into the American Division this season, the Shore Conference’s high division, after edging out Raritan final season to win Class B North. The Eagles opened their season with a 11-1 victory over No. 9 Southern on Saturday. Smith struck out seven batters and didn’t enable an earned run. Junior Mia Collins had a triple with three RBIs. Middletown South hosts No. 1 SJV on Tuesday and travels to No. 3 RBC on Thursday in divisional video games. On Saturday, the Eagles journey to Cranford to play A.L. Johnson in a impartial website non-conference sport.
Riley Smith struck out 13 batters in a 1-0 win over Holmdel on 4/28/25. Photo by Tom Smith
7. Raritan (0-0) – Raritan fell one sport brief from profitable the division title final season, falling to Middletown South. The Rockets had a younger roster final yr that hit the ball very nicely. Replacing All-Shore heart fielder Julia DelMasto will likely be Raritan’s largest problem. DelMasto was a pacesetter on and off the sector who completed with a .416 profession batting common. Sophomore Katelyn Ruta grew to become the crew’s ace as a freshman and completed the season with a 1.97 ERA and batted .343 for the season. Juniors Holly Bellofatto and Janelle Clausi present Raritan with expertise and robust bats within the lineup. Sophomores Brielle Brosonski and Lila Houlihan each proved to be harmful on the plate and can look to enhance on their rookie season. Raritan hosts Matawan on Tuesday and No. 10 Holmdel on Thursday in divisional video games to start out the season.
8. Barnegat (1-0) – Barnegat solely graduated one each day participant from a crew that received 18 video games final season. Junior Gianna Gomez led the Shore Conference in strikeouts final season with 307 and was equally as harmful on the plate with a .388 batting common. Barnegat’s center of the infield had a powerful season on the plate with senior Riley Schmidt batting .434 and sophomore Brooke Rizzo hitting .500. Seniors Jadeyn Bodziak and Brianna Dato will assist lead the crew on the sector with Bodziak behind the plate and Dato patrolling the outfield. Barnegat began the season with a 1-0 victory over Jackson on Friday. Gomez picked up the place she left off final season, putting out 19 batters. Barnegat hosts Toms River East on Monday and New Egypt on Wednesday in divisional video games. The Bengals play a non-divisional sport towards Rumson-Fair Haven on Thursday.
9. Southern (0-1) – Southern is a crew that graduated a number of necessary items but in addition introduced again a number of massive bats. Replacing Emily Evans would be the hardest job this season. Evans was not simply the ace of the employees, she was an influence hitter in the course of the lineup with a .494 AVG. Southern additionally graduated Madison Groschel-Klein and Kayla Riley, who each helped make the Rams a harmful line-up final season. This season the bats will likely be led by senior Emily Zellman and junior Abigail Krill, who each batted over .400 final season. Last yr Brooke Sutter and Samantha Jillson noticed just a little time on the mound, however will likely be thrown into the highlight this season. Southern opened the season with a 11-1 loss towards No. 6 Middletown South on Saturday. On Monday, they journey to Jackson to play their first divisional sport.
10. Holmdel (0-0) – Holmdel has all of the items to problem Raritan for the Colonial Division title behind pitcher Julia Henderson. Henderson completed with a 1.58 ERA and 160 strikeouts final season for the Hornets. She was additionally one among Holmdel’s greatest hitters, ending with a .433 batting common. Holmdel might want to exchange shortstop Avery Lewandowski who was not solely a powerful hitter but in addition a powerful fielder. Sophomore Molly Debias was second final season with a .404 batting common for Holmdel. The Hornets have a giant divisional check to start out the season, touring to No. 7 Raritan on Thursday.
Julia Henderson solely allowed one run and struck out seven batters towards Middletown South. 4/28/25 Photo by Tom Smith
Bubble:
Shore, Middletown North, Jackson