Last season’s records in parenthesis
1. Watchung Hills (28-3) – The Warriors, who are are coming off their second state Group 4 championship in three seasons, also won the Skyland Conference Delaware Division and advanced to their third straight Somerset County final. And while Watchung Hills took some graduation hits, there’s plenty back, including ace and reigning Player of the Year Riley Bobrowski and first-team All-Area slugger and standout pitcher Mia Simon.
2. Hunterdon Central (15-11) – The Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament champion Red Devils went to the sectional finals last year, and though ace Kaitlyn Kozar graduated, return otherwise intact, bringing back a group that includes first-team All-Area shortstop Zoe Totaro and senior Emily Van Cleef, who is poised to resume her role as the team’s ace and continue as one of its biggest bats.
3. North Hunterdon (19-10) – The Lions went to the final of the North 2 Group 3 Tournament last year after overcoming a slow start, and while catcher Kylie Petak is a big graduation loss, North returns a talented group, led by first-team All-Area third baseman Samantha Dougerty and four-year starter Katie Reed, as well as three frontline pitchers in Skye Cooke, Layla Francisco and lefty Camryn Campbell.
4. Immaculata (16-7) –The defending Somerset County Tournament champion Spartans lost some top-level talent to graduation, including longtime ace Caroline Colitti, but there is a potent group of talent returning, including second-team All-Area pick Heather Ryden and third-teamer Mollie Ferreira. Add some promising newcomers and it should maintain Immaculata’s position as a legit contender to repeat in the county, challenge in the Delaware Division, and, perhaps, go deeper in the state tournament.
5. Governor Livingston (20-8) –The Union County Conference Watchung Division champion Highlanders reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2017, and while they did lose a couple of key pieces to graduation, including first-team All-Area outfielder Emma McElroy, they get a ton back, led by shortstop Chelsea Kiesewetter and junior ace Alyssa Monaco, and should remain one of the favorites in Union County and the UCC.
6. Pingry (15-11) – The Big Blue enjoyed their winningest season in five years, advancing to the program’s first-ever Somerset County Tournament semifinals and claiming their first state Prep A championship since 2016. Now, with Delaney Swain the only key graduation loss, Pingry returns loaded with a group led by ...
