The Notre Dame and Steinert softball teams will once again this year do more than battle for Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division and Mercer County Tournament championships.
Two of the premier programs in New Jersey, what these two powerhouse teams will also do is vie for state championships.
Notre Dame came very close to doing exactly that last year before dropping a tough 2-1 loss to state champion St. John Vianney in the Parochial A South Jersey final.
Steinert, meanwhile, came on strong to capture its third Group III state championship in the last seven years the tourney has been held. During that span, the Spartans have also finished second in the state twice.
Throw in the CVC’s Valley Division Robbinsville and you are talking about three of the true heavyweights in New Jersey softball.
As for the rest of the CVC’s Colonial Division, a capable Hightstown team appears to be the best of the rest.
HIGHTSTOWN
Coach: Tom Meneskie
Last year: 12-10
Roster: Olivia Pignatello (Jr., CF); Angelina Benitez (Sr., SS); Julia Luczak (Sr., C/1B); Kady Olsen (Jr., P/1B); Hayden Bustos (So., C/3B); Adriana Cepeda (So., P/1B); Sophia Hulme (So., 2B); Kayla Horana (So., LF); Haley Bustos (Fr., RF); Grace Cutler (Sr.); Isabella Espinal (So.); Pranavi Dronadula (Fr.)
Strengths: The Rams have a veteran team that has returned basically intact. Headed to Seton Hall on a softball scholarship, Benitez will once again anchor the infield at shortstop. Last year she batted .446 while collecting 33 hits and 19 stolen bases. Luczak is a big hitter who smashed nine homers, drove in 38 runs and had a .429 average. Olsen (.344 also supplies power) and is a capable pitcher who struck out 123 batter a year ago. Pignatello batted .324.
Outlook: The Rams have the potential to finish well over .500 and can play with just about anyone on a good day.
NOTRE DAME
Coach: Chris Jackson
Last year: 22-3; CVC Colonial Division and Mercer County Tournament champion; Parochial A state semifinalist; No. 1 ranking in the area.
Roster: Rylee Michalak (Sr., P); Addison Louderback (Fr. OF); Bianca Pesce (Jr., P/1B); Maddie Everett (So. SS/P/3B); Kalyn Rosica (Sr., IF); Cara Mazzucco (Sr. OF); Mary Lech (Sr., C); Gracyn Antosiewicz (So., C/IF); Anna Hughes (So. P/1B); Riley Cunningham (Jr., OF); Jenna Cocuzza (So., IF/OF); Gianna Iannaccone (Jr., OF); Madalena Creo (Jr. OF); Alayna Giampolo (Sr., IF); Emily Brown (Jr. C); Emma Marchese (Sr., P/1B); Ella McColgan (Sr. IF)
Strengths: This team is loaded with returning and proven players. At the top of this list is the hard throwing Michalak, a University of Houston recruit who recorded 223 strikeouts a year ago and has over .500 in her career. McColgan (Assumption) hit .458 and stole 18 bases. Marchese (Fairfield) batted .366, bashed seven homers and led the team with 25 RBIs. Pesce (Merrimack) hit .386 and is a capable pitcher. Mazzucco (Millersville) can also hit and will take over in center field following the transfer of Helen Woloshyn to Council Rock South. Giampolo (Wagner College) is a productive batter who had a .384 average with 10 doubles and 21 RBIs. Antosiewicz hit .400 as a freshman. Creo hit .358 and drove in 17. Rosica will start in the infield. Hughes gives the team even more pitching depth and Louderback is a talented freshman.
Outlook: Although repeating as a CVC and MCT champion would be nice, what the Irish really want to do is win a state championship and finish as the No. 1 team in New Jersey. It’s entirely possible they could do just that.
PRINCETON
Coach: Marissa Soprano
Last year: 8-14
Roster: Eko Brown (Fr., C); Genevieve Ritchie (Fr., P); Ella Barzilowski (Sr., OF); Ani Betancourt (So., 2B); Maddie Castillo (Sr., 3B); Sofia DiGioacchino (So., IF); Natalie Hester (So., SS); Logan Hollingsworth (Sr., OF); Delaney Keegan (Sr., LF); Yeahna Lee (Sr., IF); Sienna Lutkowski (So., OF); Simryn Patel (So., IF); Erin Pilicer (So., P); Deirdre Ristic (Jr., 1B); Jada Speed (So., IB); Ellie van der Schaar (Sr., CF)
Strengths: Hester is a travel ball player and capable shortstop who hit .333 last year after transferring in as a freshman. Keegan batted .364 and there is a sizable amount of returning players who showed potential. One of them is returning No. 1 pitcher Pilicer. Ritchie and Brown appear to be promising additions.
Outlook: Princeton made significant progress last year by upping its win total to eight. Getting to the .500 level will be difficult, but the team should continue its upward trend.
STEINERT
Coach: Jenn Melker
Last year: 21-5; Group III state champion; No. 2 ranking in the area.
Roster: Riley Mikolajczak (Sr., 1B); Addison Hassan (Jr., C) Katie Simonka (Jr., P); Gia DiMeglio (Jr., OF); Ellie Miller (So., P/U); Mia Pope (So.,SS); Bianca Walsh (So., 2B); Brooke DeWitt (So., OF); Zoey Ricigliano (So., OF); Danica Spak (Fr., 1B); Aleiya O’Neal (Fr., 3B/P); Francesca Castellano (Fr., C/3B); Nikki Donovan (Fr., OF).
Strengths: As always, the Spartans have a deep and talented group of players. An excellent shortstop, the speedy Pope was all-Area selection as a freshman and collected 39 hits for a .500 average. She’s a lefty hitter who can both slap and drive the ball. Walsh made the all-CVC team as a freshman and plays second, making the Spartans very strong up the middle. Also a lefty hitter, Walsh hit .488, showed power with 27 RBIs and led the team in runs scored with 39. Simonka didn’t pitch a lot last year, but showed what she’s capable of by coming up huge and winning the state final after starting pitcher Isabella Bonacci was injured early in the game. Look for an expanded role for Miller, who is also a quality pitcher. Hassan is strong behind the plate and hit .357 with 17 RBIs. Spak is part of a capable group of other returning starters. The team has four freshmen with plenty of potential who will also contribute.
Outlook: Although the team took a big hit with the graduation of Bonacci and Ceara O’Neil, Steinert should remain one of the top clubs in New Jersey and can make a run for what would be its fourth state title in the last eight seasons.
TRENTON
Coach: Ryan McAmy
Last year: 1-13
Roster: Jiasia Robinson (Sr., P); Ambar Pena (Sr., LF); Delianna Marte (So., P/IF: Jubilee Acevedo (So., P/IF); Quasia Pitman (So., IF); Frankeila Cruz Lopez (Sr., OF/C); Malonnie Shephard (Sr., OF); Gabby Smith (Jr., OF); Yemeli Santana (Sr., IF); Saidi Almonte Garcia (So., IF); Samili Almonte Garcia (Sr. OF/IF); Iliana Castro (Fr., IF/Of/C); Kateisha Alexis (Jr., OF/P)
Strengths: Pena is a team leader and will anchor the outfield. Robinson has returned in the circle and can spark the team batting leadoff. Pecheco is a capable catcher and one of the team’s top hitters. There are a bunch of newcomers who show promise.
Outlook: If the Tornadoes can improve their run production and defense, some wins could be in the works.
WEST WINDSOR UNITED
Coach: Mark Lee
Last year: 10-14
Roster: Audrey Chen (Jr., P/OF); Anushka Arvind (Jr. P/OF); Olivia Duguay (Sr., RF); Izzy Krausse (Sr. LF/3B); Emily Mahatamachai (So., 2B/OF); Ava Barbrow (Fr., IF/OF); Olivia Carrabba (Jr. 3B/IF); Katrina Vacchi (Sr. C/OF); Ava Mayer (Sr., 1B): Julia Dorfman (Sr., SS/IF); Samantha Pelosi (Sr., 2B/SS); Deana Hu (So., CF); Esme Madia (Sr., IF/OF); Vivian Schladt (Fr., P/OF); Hiir Bhatt (Sr., OF); Kaila Castiglione (So., P/1B); Ella Dorfman (Fr., OF/IF): Farihah Begum (Jr., OF); Priya Higley (Fr., OF/IF); Shruti Maddi (Fr. OF/IF); Jessica Vacchi (Fr. C/OF)
Strengths: Hu had an outstanding freshman season with 40 hits and a robust .541 average. She’s also a fine outfielder. Julia Dorfman, Castiglione, Krausse and Mayer all showed the ability to hit the ball. Chen and Arvind have varsity experience in the circle.
Outlook: If the pitching improves and some of the new starters contribute, the team could make a run at a .500 season.
