Shore Sports Insider 2026 Week 10 Softball Top 10

Shore Sports Insider Softball Week 10 Top 10 Rankings

*Samantha Mayer contributed to this post*

 

 

1. St. John Vianney (27-0) Last Week: 1 – Fresh off its Shore Conference title, St. John Vianney continued its exceptional run with a  7-0 victory over DePaul in a tune-up game before beginning its pursuit of a Non-Public A state title. Senior pitcher Madison McDougall recorded 13 strikeouts in the win, becoming just the 27th player in New Jersey history to reach the 1,000-strikeout mark.

After receiving a first-round bye in the Non-Public A Tournament, the Lancers rolled to an 18-2 victory over Immaculata in the quarterfinals. McDougall led the offense with her 13th home run of the season and five RBI’s, while sophomore Lexi Csontos and freshman Olivia Haslacher each went 3-for-4 with three RBI’s.

St. John Vianney will host third-seeded Red Bank Catholic in Wednesday’s semifinal. The Lancers swept the season series against the Caseys, winning 6-0 and 10-0. With a victory, the Lancers would advance to face either top-seeded Donovan Catholic or Notre Dame, potentially setting up a rematch of last season’s South Jersey Non-Public A championship game.

 

2. Donovan Catholic (26-2) Last Week: 2 – After falling in the SCT championship game to SJV, Donovan had to wait over a week to play their first game in the South Jersey Non-Public A sectional playoffs. As the top seed in the section, the Griffins earned a bye in the first round and beat 8-seeded Paul VI 12-1 in the quarterfinal round. 

After going down 1-0 in the top of the second inning, Donovan scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning and never looked back. Junior Isabella Cino hit her seventh home run of the season and drove three runs in for the Griffins. Cino also reached the 100 career-hit milestone in the game. Senior Isabella Maria went 3-for-3 with two RBI’s. Junior Gylian Hixenbaugh struck out nine batters and did not allow an earned run.

Donovan hosts fourth-seeded Notre Dame in the semifinal round on Wednesday. The two teams have not played since 2023. A win for the Griffins sets up a rematch against St. John Vianney on their home field. Donovan beat SJV in last year’s South Jersey Non-Public A final, 8-4.

 

3. Marlboro (18-7) Last Week: 3 – Marlboro is two wins away from another sectional championship after opening the Central Jersey Group 4 Tournament with convincing victories over North Brunswick and Hunterdon Central. The Mustangs are seeking their third sectional title in the last four seasons and have looked every bit like a contender behind senior ace Emily Gaudio.

The third-seeded Mustangs opened tournament play with a 15-1 win over No. 14 North Brunswick. Junior Isabella Wuelfing sparked the offense with two triples and three RBIs, while Gaudio and Ashlee Chen each collected two hits and drove in four runs.

Marlboro followed that performance by earning a measure of revenge against No. 10 Hunterdon Central, the team that ended its season a year ago. The Mustangs cruised to a 10-0 victory behind another strong outing from Gaudio, who struck out five in the shutout. Wuelfing stayed hot at the plate, launching a home run and driving in three runs, while junior Lily Fitzpatrick finished 2-for-3 with two RBI’s.

Next up is a trip to face second-seeded Sayreville in Tuesday’s semifinal. Marlboro defeated the Bombers 6-2 during the regular season on April 23, but Sayreville enters the matchup with an impressive 24-2 record, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated games of the sectional tournament.

 

 

4. Middletown South (17-7) Last Week: 4 – Middletown South is back in familiar territory, reaching the Central Jersey Group 3 semifinals for the third consecutive season after opening tournament play with a pair of impressive victories.

The third-seeded Eagles began their postseason run with a 10-0 win over 14-seeded Moorestown. Junior ace Riley Smith was dominant in the circle, allowing just two hits while striking out nine in the shutout. Junior Mia Collins paced the offense with three RBI’s, while sophomore Quinnlynn Heaney and freshman Annie Wilson each drove in two runs.

Middletown South then faced crosstown rival Middletown North for the fourth time this season and completed a perfect 4-0 sweep of the series with a 3-1 quarterfinal victory. Smith continued her stellar season by striking out 13 batters and not allowing an earned run, pushing her season strikeout total to 209. Collins delivered another big performance at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run, double and two runs scored.

The Eagles will host tenth-seeded Brick Memorial in Tuesday’s semifinal. The Mustangs are coming off a 2-0 upset of second-seeded Northern Burlington, setting up what could be one of the best pitching matchups of the sectional tournament between Smith and Brick Memorial junior ace Avery Nalducci.

 

5. Red Bank Catholic (15-10) Last Week: 5 – Red Bank Catholic carried some momentum into the Non-Public A Tournament, opening the week with a strong win over Morris Catholic in a tune-up game before beginning its postseason run. The Caseys showed off their power in that victory, belting three home runs, while sophomore ace Mackenna Savage struck out 11 batters.

After earning a first-round bye as the No. 3 seed, RBC opened tournament play with a 10-0 win over sixth-seeded Union Catholic in the quarterfinals. Savage continued her dominant season, allowing just three hits and striking out nine to raise her season total to 283 strikeouts. Junior Grace Lombardi provided a big offensive spark, launching a three-run home run before adding a double and later scoring on a wild pitch.

The Caseys received contributions throughout the lineup, collecting hits from seven different players while the other two reached base via walks in a complete team effort.

RBC now turns its attention to a familiar foe, traveling to face St. John Vianney in Wednesday’s South Jersey Non-Public A semifinal. The Lancers won both regular-season meetings by scores of 6-0 and 10-0, but a trip to the sectional final will be on the line when the Shore Conference rivals meet for a third time this season.

 

6. Colts Neck (13-9) Last Week: 6 – After an uneven to the season, Colts Neck has found its stride at the right time. The Cougars have won eight of their last nine games and are headed to the Central Jersey Group 3 semifinals for the second straight year.

The fourth-seeded Cougars opened tournament play with a dominant 10-0 victory over 13-seeded Westampton Tech. Returning after missing several games, senior ace Angela Sasso made an immediate impact by throwing a no-hitter and striking out 12 batters. She also helped her own cause at the plate, blasting her fourth home run of the season. Colts Neck’s offense was balanced throughout the lineup, with six different players driving in runs.

The Cougars followed that up with an 8-1 win over 12-seeded Ewing in the quarterfinals. Sasso was sharp once again, allowing just two hits while striking out nine. Senior Gabrielle Bryce turned in one of her best performances of the season, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and finishing a home run shy of the cycle. Junior Gabriella Horbal added two hits, including a double, and scored a run in the victory.

Now comes a familiar challenge. Colts Neck will travel to top-seeded Steinert in Tuesday’s semifinal, with a trip to the sectional final on the line. The Spartans ended the Cougars’ season with a 6-0 victory in last year’s Central Jersey Group 3 championship game, giving Colts Neck plenty of motivation heading into the rematch.

 

7. Southern (14-10) Last Week: 7 – Southern’s postseason run came to an end in the South Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals, but the Rams still put together another successful season that included an Ocean County Tournament championship.

The Rams opened the state tournament with a dramatic 4-3 comeback victory over 13-seeded Lenape. Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Southern rallied with two runs to tie the game before Kendra Perrini delivered a walk-off single in the seventh that brought home Abigail Krill with the winning run. Junior Brooke Sutter earned the victory in the circle, striking out four batters.

Southern’s season ended in the quarterfinal round with a 14-8 loss to fifth-seeded Rancocas Valley. Krill paced the offense with a double and three RBIs, while Perrini added two RBIs in the high-scoring contest.

Although the Rams will graduate three starters, the foundation remains in place for another strong season in 2026. Southern returns a talented core from the group that captured the Ocean County Tournament title and made another state tournament appearance.

 

 

8. Barnegat (21-2) Last Week: 8 – After nearly pulling off an upset of second-seeded Donovan Catholic in the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals, Barnegat had an extended wait before beginning its South Jersey Group 2 playoff run. The Bengals showed no signs of rust once postseason play resumed.

As the two-seed, Barnegat opened the sectional tournament with a 14-0 victory over 15-seed Overbrook. Junior ace Gianna Gomez continued her remarkable season by tossing her eighth no-hitter and striking out 13 batters. She also contributed at the plate with a home run, while Riley Schmidt added a homer of her own and drove in four runs.

The Bengals followed with a 3-0 win over seven-seed Medford Tech in the quarterfinals. All three runs came in the first inning, which was more than enough support for Gomez. The junior allowed just one hit and struck out 15 batters, raising her season strikeout total to 320. Brooke Rizzo delivered the key hit offensively with a two-run double, while Gomez accounted for Barnegat’s only other hit.

Barnegat will host third-seeded Haddon Heights in Tuesday’s South Jersey Group 2 semifinal. The programs have not met since 2023, when Haddon Heights earned a 15-0 victory. This year’s Bengals team is far different, however, and will look to continue its postseason run against an Haddon Heights squad that enters the game with an 18-8 record.

 

 

9. Central (15-9) Last Week: Not Ranked –

Central closed the season playing some of its best softball, winning nine of its final 12 games, including a victory over then-No. 9 Holmdel. The Golden Eagles entered the South Jersey Group 4 Tournament as the 7-seed and advanced to the quarterfinals before their postseason run came to an end.

Central opened tournament play with an 11-6 comeback victory over Howell. The Golden Eagles broke the game open by scoring seven runs with two outs in the bottom of the third inning. Junior Kayla Fedor led the offensive attack, going 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, while senior Annarose Torres and sophomore Kayla Rasmussen each drove in three runs.

The season ended with an 8-3 loss to second-seeded Cherokee, which is currently ranked No. 14 in New Jersey. Senior Leah Bollettino accounted for two of Central’s three hits in the quarterfinal defeat.

While the Golden Eagles will say goodbye to six seniors, there is still reason for optimism heading into next season. Both pitchers return, including sophomore Hailey Craddock and freshman Bailee Flora, who gained valuable varsity experience in the circle this spring and could provide a strong foundation for the program moving forward.

 

10. Raritan (21-7) Last Week: 10 –

Raritan had to earn its way into the Central Jersey Group 2 semifinals, picking up a pair of hard-fought victories to keep its season alive. The fifth-seeded Rockets opened the tournament with a 7-5 win over 12-seed Ocean. Sophomore Madison Regiec led the offense with three hits and two runs scored, while Lila Houlihan added two hits, scored twice and struck out five batters to earn the win in the circle.

The Rockets followed that up with one of their biggest wins of the season, knocking off fourth-seeded Delaware Valley 8-6 on the road in the quarterfinals. Raritan trailed entering the sixth inning before erupting for four runs to take control of the game. Payton Fleming came up with a clutch relief appearance, allowing no earned runs over two innings to secure the victory and send the Rockets to the semifinals. Junior Janelle Clausi paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Now the challenge gets even tougher. Raritan will travel to top-seeded Allentown in Tuesday’s sectional semifinal. The Redbirds enter the matchup ranked No. 15 in New Jersey, but the Rockets are the last remaining Shore Conference team in Central Jersey Group 2 and will look to continue their postseason run with another upset.