No day in the year feels more like a clean slate than Opening Day (I’m looking at you New Year’s). Diamond sports bring an air of optimism and possibility that’s as unique as the shapes and sizes of their playing surfaces. While teams around the state have April 1st circled on their calendar as a day where everyone starts on the same footing, we can’t help but talk about the expectations of the teams that also have several dates in June highlighted. Below you’ll find a list of five teams in the Garden State with aspirations rivaling the size of their projected regular season win totals.

*Note: These are not Power Rankings, but rather a collection of teams we at Big State Sports believe will be a ton of fun to follow this season*

Cedar Grove

2023 Record: 27-3, Essex County Champions, North 1 Group 1 Sectional Champions, Group 1 State Champions.

Talk about a dream season. Not only did coach Nikki Velardi’s squad win every championship they were eligible for in 2023, they won the first of the three by enacting revenge on a Mount St. Dominic squad that beat them twice in the regular season. Additionally, they did all of this with a roster constructed primarily of sophomores and freshmen.

Leading the charge offensively this year will be the junior quartet of Cayce Kavakich (.505, 21 XBH, 31 RBI), Marina Bryant (.347, 10 XBH, 35 RBI), Ava Oeckel (.471, 12 XBH, 24 RBI), and Gia Fernandez (.333, 15 XBH, 32 RBI). Last season this core bashed their way to an astonishing 7.7 runs per game and were speed demons on the basepaths swiping 103 bags. With another season under their belt, there’s no telling where the ceiling is for this lineup.

In the circle, Kavakich was one of just three pitchers in the state to strike out over 300 batters (329 to be exact), leading to a pristine 1.05 ERA, and a WHIP of 0.69 over 187.1 innings. Also on her ledger last year were 16 shutouts, five no-hitters of five innings or more, and a five-inning perfect game against Belleville. Even if she takes a slight step back, the Panthers will have nothing to worry about when it comes to preventing runs.

Graduating just one senior, the band is back together, and the best public school in the state has an excellent chance to win their seventh state title and go back-to-back for the first time in program history.

Haddon Heights

2023 Record: 27-6, South Group 2 Sectional Champions, Group 2 State Champions.

Michelle Hasting’s Garnets were a dominant force last season, winning their second state championship in a row, and fourth overall. Much like Cedar Grove, they did so with a very young roster and will lose just two seniors from last year’s run. The graduation of shortstop/pitcher Maddy Clark (.372, 14 XBH, 19 RBI; 58 IP, 95 K, 2.53 ERA) will certainly sting, but this team’s depth will make them more than capable of absorbing the hit.

A big reason why this team will continue winning is the nation’s top softball prospect for the class of 2025 Sophia Bordan. The Oklahoma commit had a historic 2023, punching out 274 batters in the circle in just 121.1 innings, to go along with a 0.40 ERA. And oh by the way, she tossed SIX no-hitters, including five perfect games, four of which occurred in the state playoffs and the last one in the finals against Jefferson. She can hit too, posting a .333 average with 10 home runs and 20 RBI.

With Bordan dominating in all facets of the game and supporting stars Lydia Trailes, Gracie Granite, and Jordyn D’Amelio, Haddon Heights will have a legitimate shot at being just the sixth program in state history to three-peat in state championships.

Paul VI

2023 Record: 22-4, Olympic-National Division Champions

When mentioning intriguing storylines, this is certainly a squad that has one. Though they got bumped by St. John Vianney in just the quarterfinal round of the Non-Public A playoffs, this dark horse team has every reason to believe that they can be title contenders in 2024.

Alexa Massa’s Eagles feature the dictionary definition of a juggernaut offense. Last season, her lineup hit .444 and slugged .649 on their way to scoring eight runs per game. A gargantuan part of their offensive success was attributed to centerfielder Lisey St. Jean, who posted an astronomical .709 batting average and 1.109 slugging percentage, while swiping 23 bags, hitting five homers and scoring 46 runs. She wasn’t without help though, with six of her teammates hitting at least .410. The scary part is that this entire lineup is coming back with a chance to be even better.

In addition to bludgeoning their opponents, the Paul VI pitching staff will be returning their one-two punch of senior Madison Cooley (81 IP, 95 K, 2.68 ERA), and sophomore Ava Nevius (58.2 IP, 37 K, 1.79 ERA) to keep bats at bay.

Though they’ll have traditional powerhouses Mount St. Domonic and St. John Vianney to overcome, don’t be surprised if the Eagles make a run at their program’s first-ever state title.

St. Thomas Aquinas

2023 Record: 23-4, Greater Middlesex Tournament Champions, South Non-Public A Runners-Up.

While they’ve yet to capture a state championship, there’s no doubting who owns Middlesex County when it comes to softball. Missy Collazo’s Trojans have been the stuff of legends since 2019, winning 59 games in a row against county opponents, including a dominant 14-0 run last season. Right from the get-go they’ll have an opportunity to make it 60 opening up their season April 2nd with a tilt against divisional rivals Monroe.

It needs to be addressed that they’ll be without the services of now U. Albany infielder Mary-Kate Murray (.464, 14 HR, 36 RBI last season), but the offense will still have plenty of weapons to fill up the lineup card. Juniors Elizabeth Negron and Melody Webb hit .434 and .429 respectively last season and combined for 20 extra-base hits and 41 RBI. Add in a second-season from sophomore Hailey Krainski (.387, 6 XBH, 14 RBI), and Hayley Wieczerzak’s abilities (.270, 8 XBH, 15 RBI), and you still have a unit to strike fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers.

Speaking of Wieczerzak, the senior is looking to follow up a dazzling season in the circle, where she struck out 307 batters in 144 innings, on her way to a 0.97 ERA. She also had a trio of five-inning no-hitters and struck out 15 against the dangerous Donovan Catholic in the South Non-Public A Semifinals.

The Trojans are as well-rounded a team as any in the state, and 2024 could be the season where their county success translates onto a bigger stage.

Morris Knolls

2023 Record: 24-5, North Section 1 Group 3 Champions, Group 3 Runners-Up.

In a crowded NJAC, the Golden Eagles put together a memorable season in Rockaway. 2023 saw Keith Heinemann’s squad make it to the state finals for the third time in program history and the first time in 13 years. On their way, they slayed plenty of dragons, conquering Sparta and Roxbury in 2-1, and 1-0 fashion, before winning a war of attrition against an immensely talented Cranford squad 12-11 in the Group 3 finals. Add in some regular-season victories against Group 2 runners-up Jefferson, and perennial powerhouse Mount St. Dominic and you’ve got a recipe for a battle-tested squad prepared to be queens of the hill in 2024.

The key to their 7.4 runs per game scoring offense was a mix of solid contact and savvy baserunning. As a unit, Knolls hit .341 and swiped an impressive 116 bases. Sophmores Taylor Heinemann (.366, 8 XBH, 21 RBI) and Sofia Cruz (.450, 20 R, 36 H) stole 23 and 18 bases respectively, and may need to add to those totals with the graduation of now Monmouth University speedster Gabby Gesualdo (.370, 13 XBH, 25 RBI, 27 SB last season).

In the circle, this is another team with a young player with a wealth of experience. With Abby Friendman off to college, we’ll likely see senior Leah Kleczkowski (110 IP, 103 K, 2.04 ERA) take the lion’s share of innings. We could also see junior Samathna Mundy who pitched will in just 9.2 IP, striking out 12 on her way to a 1.45 ERA.

Though there are some big shoes to fill, the Golder Eagles retain a wealth of talent and can realistically compete for a third state championship this season.

Catch all the softball action live this season on https://www.youtube.com/@BigStateSports!