SSI Softball Week 3 Top 10 Rankings

SSI Week 3 Softball Top 10

 

1. Donovan Catholic (12-0) Last Week: 1 – Donovan is the last team to remain undefeated in the Shore Conference with the other two teams losing last week. The Griffins have had one of the best offensives in the Shore, scoring double digits in every game but three. They have eight batters hitting over .400 and have hit 18 home runs on the season. Donovan finished their Class A South schedule with an away game at Central on Tuesday and home to Jackson Memorial on Thursday. The Griffins travel to No. 2 Red Bank Catholic on Friday in a battle for the top spot in the Shore Conference. 

 

2. Red Bank Catholic (11-1) Last Week: 2 – RBC is currently on a nine game win streak and is 8-0 in Class A North. Seven out of the Caseys nine Shore wins have come against ranked teams this season. Sophomore Grace Lombardi has been one of the best hitters in the Shore Conference, hitting .625 and driving in 22 runs. RBC has a big week ahead, playing four teams ranked in the SSI Top 10. On Monday they travel to No. 7 Colts Neck and then host No. 3 SJV on Wednesday to finish their Class A North schedule. A win against SJV clinches the division title for the Caseys. RBC will host No. 1 Donovan Catholic on Friday and end the week traveling to No. 10 Raritan. Sunday they play in the Pride/Essex Challenge against Mount St. Dominic, who is ranked in the top 10 of New Jersey according to NJ.com.

 

3. St. John Vianney (7-1) Last Week: 3 – SJV has won three straight and only gave up one run since falling to RBC on 4/15. Sophomore Brynn Utter has started the season off strong at the plate, batting .440 to lead the Lancers. Madison McDougall has been dominant once again, only allowing six earned runs this season. SJV will finish their Class A North schedule on the road against No. 5 Marlboro on Monday and a rematch against No. 2 Red Bank Catholic on Wednesday. A win against RBC will give SJV a share of the Class A North title. On Sunday the Lancers play Cedar Grove who is ranked in the top ten in New Jersey according to NJ.com.

 

4. Middletown North (6-6) Last Week: 4 – After winning five out of the first six games, Middletown North has dropped five out of their last six to be at .500 on the season. The Lions have played some of New Jersey’s best teams since the start of the season and will be well tested for the postseason. Seton Hall commit is closing in on 1,000 strikeouts for her career, sitting at 948 after Sunday. Middletown North travels to Freehold Township on Monday and No. 7 Colts Neck on Wednesday for Class A North match-ups. The Lions host Howell on Saturday in a non-divisional game. 

 

5. Marlboro (7-6) Last Week: 5 –. After winning five straight games, Marlboro lost two Class A North games to No. 4 Middletown North and No. 2 Red Bank Catholic. The Mustangs rebounded with one their biggest wins of the season against Cedar Grove, who is ranked in the top 10 in New Jersey according to NJ.com. Junior Emily Gaudio struck out 13 batters against Cedar Grove to raise her total to 89 on the season. Marlboro hosts No. 3 SJV on Monday and Freehold Township on Wednesday to finish their division schedule. 

 

6. Pinelands (10-1) Last Week: 6 – Pinelands was handed their first loss of the season to Howell last week, but rebounded with a win over Manasquan. They currently are 6-1 in Class B South and can clinch the division with a win against Wall on Tuesday. The Wildcats have three hitters hitting over .400 on the season with Kendall Falduto hitting .471. Senior Elianna Meola has all 10 wins for Pinelands and is top ten in strikeouts in the Shore Conference. Pinelands travels to Toms River North on Thursday to wrap up their division schedule.

 

7. Colts Neck (4-6) Last Week: 7 – Similar to the other teams in Class A North, Colts Neck has played the best teams inside and outside the Shore Conference. After beating Mount St. Dominic, who is ranked in top 10 in New Jersey, Colts Neck split two division games, falling to No. 3 SJV and beating Freehold Township. Colts Neck ended the week falling to Johnson, who is ranked No. 20 in New Jersey according to NJ.com, 2-1. Junior Gabriella Bryce is batting .457 to lead Colts Neck. Colts Neck hosts No. 2 Red Bank Catholic and No. 4 Middletown North on Wednesday to finish their Class A North schedule. On Friday they travel to Matawan in a non-divisional game.

 

8. Middletown South (8-2) Last Week: 8 – After beating Shore Regional in the opening round of the Monmouth County Tournament, Middletown South fell to Matawan in a Class B North game. The Eagles rebounded and handed No. 10 Raritan their first defeat in a 2-0 victory in extra innings. Both Middletown South and Raritan both sit at 6-1 in Class B North with three games to play. Sophomore Riley Smith has 108 strikeouts and a 1.00 ERA for Middletown South. Smith also leads the team with a .405 batting average. Middletown South hosts Holmdel on Monday and Freehold Boro on Wednesday in Class B North action. Saturday they travel to Old Bridge in a non-conference game. 

 

9. Southern (5-5) Last Week: 9 – Southern has had an up and down season, but has gone 3-2 over their last five games with the losses coming to the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the Shore Conference. Junior Emily Zellman (.529) and Sophomore Abigail Krill (.514) have been crushing the baseball and both have two home runs on the season. Southern plays Manasquan at home on Monday in a non-divisional game and travels to Toms River East on Tuesday and Central on Friday in Class A South action. Southern plays in the Hammonton Invitational on Saturday against Paul VI. 

 

10. Raritan (11-1) Last Week: 10 –. Raritan had a busy week playing five games and going 4-1. After winning their first nine games of the season, the Rockets fell to No. 8 Middletown South in extra innings 2-0. Both teams are 6-1 Class B North with three games to play. Freshman Katelyn Ruta has had a great rookie season, top ten in the Shore Conference in ERA with a 1.15. Raritan travels to Monmouth on Monday and hosts Holmdel on Wednesday in Class B North action. The Rockets then play two non-divisional games at home, Toms River East on Friday and No. 2 Red Bank Catholic on Saturday. 

 

Bubble: Barnegat, Holmdel, Manalapan