Softball: Fast starts rewarded in latest Morris/Sussex Top 10 rankings
Three Morris and Sussex county programs begin the week with undefeated records.
West Morris, Montville and North Warren have cruised to fast starts with two of the three sitting at the top of this week's rankings.
The Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament gets underway this week with the first two rounds wrapping up by this weekend. The Morris County Tournament seeds will be released next Wednesday.
As we move into Week 3, see which teams landed in the Morris/Sussex Top 10 rankings:
10. Hanover Park (3-2)
Previous ranking: 9
The Hornets managed to play only one game last week, a 20-15 win at Pequannock. But Hanover Park ran into a buzzsaw on Monday in a 14-0 loss at home against No. 5 Morris Catholic. Senior Adriana Carter and junior Alyza Dooley lead the team in RBIs with eight and junior Peyton Sward has 11 hits.
Up next: Wednesday at No. 9 Whippany Park; Thursday vs. Passaic Valley; Saturday at West Essex; Monday at Verona; Tuesday at Newark Academy
9. Whippany Park (3-1)
Previous ranking: 7
The Wildcats squeezed in only one game last week, a 6-0 loss to No. 8 Madison. So far they have played four games, including Monday’s 14-1 win against Pequannock. Whippany Park has an opportunity to close the gap in the NJAC-Liberty.
Up next: Wednesday vs. Hanover Park; Friday vs. Kittatinny; Tuesday vs. Kinnelon
8. Madison (5-3)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
The Dodgers crack the rankings followings wins in four of their last five contests. Madison shut out then-No. 7 Whippany Park, 6-0, on April 12, and followed with a 10-7 victory against Randolph. On Monday, the Dodgers were shut out at home, 3-0, against Kinnelon. Junior Sophia DeCaro leads the team with eight hits and her freshman sister Ellena has a team-high six RBIs.
Up next: Thursday at Lenape Valley; Monday at Parsippany; Tuesday vs. Morris Catholic
7. Morris Knolls (4-2)
Previous ranking: 8
The Golden Eagles move up a spot despite losing to Nutley, 3-2, on Monday. Last week, the Denville school defeated Chatham, 16-1, and Mount Olive, 8-2. Sophomore Hailey Poskonka registered five hits and three RBIs and scored four runs in those games. Morris Knolls starts the week in first place in the NJAC-American.
Up next: Wednesday vs. West Morris; Friday vs. Morris Hills; Saturday at West Essex and Becton; Tuesday at Randolph
6. Sparta (5-2)
Previous ranking: 6
The Spartans won all four games last week, including shutouts over Randolph, 13-0, and Verona, 9-0. In between, they scored two-run victories against Chatham and Ramapo. Sparta’s five-game win streak was snapped on Monday in a 10-4 loss at North Hunterdon. The Spartans start the week in a four-team race in the NJAC-American.
Up next: Thursday vs. Pope John; Friday vs. Kinnelon; Monday vs. High Point
5. Morris Catholic (5-2)
Previous ranking: 5
The Crusaders picked up a big 14-0 road win over division rival Hanover Park on Monday to move into first place in the NJAC-Liberty. Morris Catholic has won three straight since being shut out in back-to-back games at Westfield and Donovan Catholic. Junior Carly Mockenhaupt continues to get it done on both sides as she leads the team in home runs (three) and RBIs (10) and has 38 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched.
Up next: Wednesday at Kinnelon; Friday vs. Newton; Saturday at Red Bank Catholic; Tuesday at Madison
4. Roxbury (4-1)
Previous ranking: 3
The Gaels won two games last week, defeating Randolph, 9-6, and Cedar Grove, 2-0. Roxbury starts the week a game behind Morris Knolls in the NJAC-American. Seniors Maddy Svenningsen and Jayden Pennella lead the team in hits with five and senior Natalie Otto has six RBIs.
Up next: Thursday vs. Chatham; Saturday at Cedar Grove
3. Jefferson (7-1)
Previous ranking: 2
After winning its first six games, Jefferson came up short against High Point, 1-0, last week. The Falcons rebounded with a 6-0 win at Kittatinny on Saturday. They start the week with a two-game lead over High Point in the NJAC-Freedom. Senior Dominique Hartman leads with 12 RBIs and freshman Katie Kopera has a team-high 14 hits.
Up next: Thursday at North Warren; Saturday vs. West Milford and Morris Hills; Tuesday vs. Vernon
2. Montville (8-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Montville is one of three teams in the NJAC to start the week with perfect records. The Mustangs managed to squeeze in only one game last week due to weather but added another win, a 14-0 shutout against Parsippany. Freshman Lauren Kideckel leads the team in RBIs with 12.
Up next: Friday vs. Pequannock; Monday vs. Kinnelon; Wednesday at Mendham
1. West Morris (8-0)
Previous ranking: 1
The Wolfpack extended their win streak to eight straight to start the season and sit tied atop the NJAC-National with unbeaten Montville. Last week, West Morris rolled past Mendham, Bayonne and Pequannock by a combined 30-4 as Maeve Colligan homered in all three games and collected six hits and 11 RBIs to bring her season totals to 15 hits, 24 RBIs and four home runs.
Up next: Wednesday at Morris Knolls; Thursday vs. North Hunterdon; Monday vs. Vorhees
Also considered: Newton (6-2); North Warren (5-0)
Dropped out: Parsippany Hills (5-2)
Stats and records are from games prior to April 19.
Nick Gantaifis is a high school sports reporter for Dailyrecord.com and NJHerald.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis, subscribe today.
Email: gantaifis@northjersey.com
Twitter: @ngantaifis1
This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: NJ softball: Fast starts rewarded in Morris/Sussex Top 10 rankings
