Darren CooperYears ago, I had the idea to do way-too-early rankings for softball each year right after the season ended to help me refresh my memory when the next season started. I would always tweak it before the new season, but I found it to be a valuable resource.
I must be getting old because I forgot to do one for 2026, or at least, I can’t find it if I did. That’s OK though. After reviewing all the preview forms and talking to some of my North Jersey friends, I have an early read on who the best teams are for 2026.
Rankings are a living, breathing thing. My philosophy is that each week’s rankings should be the best guess/prediction on what the final ones will look like when the season is done. There are all sorts of different factors at play. Early in the season, head-to-head results matter. As the season goes on, the full body of work becomes an important factor, then titles won: league, county, sectional and state.
High school sports rankings are inherently flawed. Big-school teams would usually beat good small-school teams, but if that was the main metric, things would never change that much. So save that argument.
Here are my first North Jersey Top 25 softball rankings of 2026. To make up for my lack of way-too-early rankings, I’m including my full thoughts on each team. (Last season’s record in parentheses).
25. Park Ridge (14-10)
The NJIC Patriot Division will be a death battle between Park Ridge, Waldwick and Emerson. There are no easy games in this division (even Cresskill has come a long way). Senior Kate Broderick gives Park Ridge a shot in every game.
24. Demarest (13-14)
Demarest is becoming a sports power in North Jersey thanks to a variety of factors. Yes, the academy program is one, but the school has also committed the time and resources. Will freshman Kayla Wang step in and make an impact right away?
23. Leonia/Bogota (14-8)
The job Jackie Albanese has done with this program is one of the best in North Jersey. The Lions have won the last two conference titles, bring back a bunch of starters and are just a scrappy, tight-knit group that plays hard for seven innings every day.
22. Dumont (14-11)
Dumont won a share of the league title last year – I’ve been around long enough to remember when that was never even a thought for this program. The Huskies bring back several starters and, with good pitching, can win 18-20 games.
21. Pompton Lakes (16-9)
This is a program that is just always in the mix. The Cardinals had a youth movement last season and that should pay off in 2026.
20. Hasbrouck Heights (20-6)
The Aviators’ schedule will be tougher in 2026, and they have two young pitchers who showed a lot of promise last year. There’s lots of potential here.
19. Ridgefield Park (19-6)
The Scarlets remind me of Rutherford because the heart and soul of the team, pitcher Gabby Rivera, graduated. Does the winning style carry on?
18. Weehawken (21-7)
The Indians have been the dominant program in Hudson County for the last few years, but some big players have graduated. Sometimes the winning carries over after great players leave Group 1 schools, sometimes it doesn’t.
17. Hawthorne (15-10)
The Bears are not, and will probably never be, deep but they have seven girls back with experience this year and always play hard.
16. River Dell (15-12)
The Hawks will be one of those teams in the Bergen County Tournament who gets seeded around 13th because they won’t have a great record because of their schedule. But they will be a team no one wants to play.
15. Glen Rock (15-8)
The Panthers might be the most experienced team in North Jersey. I’m betting they are super motivated after losing out on the league title to Butler in 2025.
14. Rutherford (17-8-1)
This is where it gets tough. Rutherford leaned on Gianna Yaniero for the last four years in the circle and when she got hurt, Payton Lewis had to step in. The Bulldogs have always had dominant pitching and defense. What will they be in 2026?
13. Passaic Tech (16-9)
The Bulldogs used five different pitchers last year. If one or two steps forward, it will give Passaic Tech a foundation to build on.
12. Wayne Valley (13-9)
When the Indians are rolling, they can beat anyone, I mean anyone. They have tremendous talent. They just need to be more consistent.
11. Waldwick (21-7)
The Warriors reached the sectional final and bring almost everyone back. They’ll be tested in the NJIC Patriot by Emerson, Park Ridge and rising Midland Park.
10. Pascack Valley (19-6)
The Panthers have always been one of those team on the cusp of breaking through. Last year, I think they got a taste of what it’s like to be good. Can they take the next step?
9. St. Mary (20-10)
The loss of coach Sarah Piening is a big deal, but the Gaels have more than enough to compete in Non-Public B. They’re going to play a tough schedule and hope it pays off in late May.
8. Indian Hills (16-6)
Eight returning starters from last year’s sectional-champion team are back. Audrey Amoruso gets the headlines, but catcher Vicki Basich makes this team go. You can win Group 1 if you’re great up the middle (pitcher, catcher, SS and CF), and Indian Hills is great up the middle.
7. Passaic Valley (20-5)
The Hornets have become the measuring-stick program in Passaic County. They’re always athletic − the Allmendingers are great players − they don’t beat themselves and they have a great homefield advantage.
6. Ramapo (18-6)
I know the Raiders will have the offense. Do they have shutdown pitching? Do they need it? If they get consistent defense, they’ll win 20 games.
5. Paramus Catholic (15-6)
This is a program I think is right on the verge of becoming elite. The Paladins could make things really interesting for IHA.
4. Old Tappan (22-4)
I’ve been hearing about this now-sophomore class for two years. The pitching is solid and the bats should be great. Lock in the Golden Knights for 20 wins.
3. DePaul (20-7)
I think new Spartans coach Shawn Stacevicz is smart enough to know that he doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel here. Let Abby Kiem, Kaelyn Brown and others do their thing.
2. Ramsey (22-4)
On paper, Ramsey has a lot back, maybe even more than IHA, but the Rams fell to IHA in the county final last year, 8-1. The Rams are real good but if they want to be No. 1, they’ll have to show it in the games that matter most.
1. Immaculate Heart (24-2)
Last year, I tried to talk myself into not ranking IHA at No. 1 and that lasted for about a week. Hey, the Blue Eagles are No. 1 until someone in North Jersey can take them down. It’s that simple.
Also considered: Northern Highlands (12-13), Midland Park (9-12), Wallington (18-9)
