Darren Cooper
Welcome to the hard launch of high school softball in North Jersey. I know we had a soft launch with a couple of games last week.
The spring season in New Jersey is a sprint, not a marathon (like winter). Yes, I wish the season went a little further into June, but the NJSIAA has its reasons, namely that some schools hold graduations early. The biggest reason is that the NJSIAA doesn’t want the season to be too long. Period.
I was a big proponent of the Tournament of Champions for softball when it started, but can honestly say I don’t really miss it now that it’s gone. Non-public schools are usually better (surprise). And I think over time it might have become repetitive and dull to have the same teams win it. That is what was happening in basketball and lacrosse TOCs anyway.
The most important titles for 90 percent of the teams in North Jersey are the league/division titles. Please call them divisions. The Big North Conference is a league, with divisions. The North Jersey Interscholastic Conference is a league, that has divisions. It’s not the NJIC Patriot League, it’s the NJIC Patriot Division.
I’m going to break down all the division races in North Jersey – and the county races and one surprise.
This is by far one of the toughest – but most fun − things to do. Also this year, the NJIC mixed up divisions, which was overdue (and one I messed up on), and that changes everything. If I get half of these right, I’ll be happy. This is hard, but I love giving bulletin board material to coaches and kids.
NJIC Colonial Division
I see two favorites here, Butler and Waldwick. Butler won the division it was in last year and brings back a lot of talent, including pitcher Mikayla Eutermarks. Waldwick won its division last year and also brings back a lot of talent. Park Ridge is also in the mix, so is Leonia/Bogota.
Prediction: It’s going to be a tie. I know that sounds like a copout, but this happens more often than you think. I’m betting that Waldwick and Butler split, and then each has a loss to Park Ridge or Rutherford along the way, so each finishes 8-2 in the division.
NJIC Meadowlands Division
This is the most balanced (code word for toughest) division in the NJIC. Weehawken has become a Group 1 power thanks to the McHale sisters (there’s one left). St. Mary has a loaded line-up. Pompton Lakes brings back just about everyone, and Glen Rock has a ton of experience back.
Prediction: Man, there’s a reason to pick anyone. I love what Pompton Lakes has, and Glen Rock. Does Weehawken have enough juice in the bottom of the order? No one is running the table in this division. I think I will go with Weehawken by a game over Glen Rock. But a three-way tie wouldn’t surprise me at all.
NJIC Liberty Division
Another six team division. This one is an old B-PSL configuration (I don’t know why we writers tell people about old leagues when yall probably don’t know what I am talking about). There are two teams that look a tick ahead of everyone else in Hawthorne and Midland Park.
Prediction: I like Hawthorne to win this division outright, but watch out for Midland Park and Elmwood Park is a good spoiler.
NJIC Patriot Division
Six teams that haven’t had a ton of high-level success lately make up this division. Lyndhurst should be much improved. Wood-Ridge has a new coach in Gianna Sarlo and a transfer in from Paramus Catholic. Lodi has maybe the divisions best overall player in AnnaBella LoPresti..
Prediction: I’ll let you in on an old reporter secret. We’re really looking at who has the best pitching. Even the Top 20 rankings, especially early in the season, all you’re looking for is who has the pitcher. So who has the best pitcher in this division? It might be Wood-Ridge, but right now I think it’s Lyndhurst. I will go with the Golden Bears to win it.
NJIC American Division
This one will be fun. You have eight teams and again, some of them haven’t had much success the last few years (one reason for realignment is to give teams a legitimate shot at a championship). Cresskill has a great line-up. New Milford has to replace pitcher Olivia Salvetti, but has plenty of talent coming back, including catcher Brianna Maye.
Prediction: On paper, this is a two team race between New Milford and Cresskill – with Garfield lurking. I believe it will come down to who is able to handle everyone else in the division without any problem. I think Cresskill is going to do it.
