Softball: Preview, predictions for the state tournament in North Jersey

A softball program from Bergen or Passaic county hasn’t won a sectional title since 2022. Is this a blip or have Morris and Essex counties passed them by?

The 2024 state tournament brackets were released Monday with the first round starting for public schools on Wednesday, and for the non-public schools on Thursday.

Remember, there is no Tournament of Champions. The four sectional winners in each group meet in the group semifinals and play down to group champions.

Let’s break down all the brackets featuring a North Jersey team.

North 1, Group 1

Defending champion: Cedar Grove

What you need to know: Cedar Grove hasn’t been quite as dominant as they were last year, but they had won seven in a row heading into Monday night’s Essex County Tournament final and feature outstanding junior pitcher Cayce Kavakich. They are the top seed. Wallington has the most wins of any team in the section (22) but is only second in power points and got the two seed. Panthers catcher Morgan Gurdak is one of the best players people don’t know about. In years past, this has been a crazy bracket.

What to watch out for: Congratulations to Paterson Charter (10) and Bergen Charter (16) for making the State Tournament. North Warren is a dark horse as the sixth seed. That’s a long trip for Hasbrouck Heights (11) to make in the first round. Wallington pounded three seed Park Ridge, 10-2, in the first round of the Bergen County Tournament.

Prediction: Until someone from Bergen County rises up, Cedar Grove looks like the favorite again. I can see them against North Warren in the final, but Wallington has to be taken seriously.

North 1, Group 2

Defending champion: Jefferson

What you need to know: Ramsey got the top seed at 20-3. The Rams have one of the best line-ups in North Jersey, led by Alana Chetaits and Uma Corcoran, let’s see how they attack this bracket after losing in the Bergen semis on Saturday. Does freshman pitcher Brooke Donofrio get the call in the circle? Jefferson is the two seed and defending champs. They were knocked out of the Morris County Tournament in the quarterfinals, but still Morris County reigns supreme. Ramsey beat three seed Indian Hills 14-4 last week.

What to watch out for: West Milford, the seventh seed, has shown the ability to hang with and beat just about anyone. They’re an experienced team. Don’t be fooled by their 11-13 record. Demarest vs. Glen Rock is an intriguing first round game. Demarest has really had a turnaround year.

Prediction: I think it comes down to Ramsey and Jefferson again. River Dell is an intriguing dark horse. They’ve beaten Indian Hills twice this season and could meet the Braves in the quarterfinals.

North 1, Group 3

Defending champion: Morris Knolls

What you need to know: This is a deep bracket, maybe one of the toughest around. Wayne Valley is another team that has shown it can beat anyone. The Indians made the Passaic County final, lost to DePaul, and then came back and beat the Spartans in a regular season game a week later. Ramapo is the top seed and is led by a big-hitting line-up. They lost to Roxbury last year in the sectional semis. Morris Knolls was the top seed in the Morris County Tournament, but got beat by Roxbury in the quarterfinals.

What to watch out for: Morris Knolls was 16-0 but has lost three of their last four games, but all to state powers. The State Tournament gives them a chance to reset. Keep an eye on Old Tappan, who would love another shot at Ramapo in the sectional semifinals, but will have to get past a good Morris Hills team. This has been the section where Morris County has proven superior the last few years.

Prediction: Let’s call it another Morris County showdown between Roxbury and Morris Knolls in the final.

North 1, Group 4

Defending champion: Columbia

What you need to know: The first thing that stands out is that there are some good first-round match-ups here. Hackensack won’t be intimidated by anyone. No one plays a tougher schedule, which means they could give Montclair some trouble. Passaic Tech is led by Wagner commitment Savanna Czornomor. The Bulldogs are the two seed and have been unpredictable this season. Ridgewood was in line for a top seed, but has struggled in the last two weeks.

What to watch out for: Livingston is the top seed and have to be considered the favorites. Columbia had the dream season last year, but hasn’t been as good this year. Watch out for Ridgewood. The bracket may set up nicely for them.

Prediction: Livingston is still the favorite, but who will they get in the final? I’m going to go with Ridgewood. That would be a rematch from last year.

North 2, Group 1

Defending champion: Weehawken

What you need to know: This is the Indians bracket to lose. They are the defending sectional champs and reigning Hudson County champions again, led by senior pitcher Savannah McHale. They have the best record in this section by far at 24-1.

What to watch out for: Who’s the second best team in this section? It could be Whippany Park, the team Weehawken beat in the sectional final last year, but this year the Wildcats are the four seed. Wood-Ridge is in a good spot to make some noise. The Blue Devils have played in six one-run games this season, going 2-4 in them.

Prediction: Wood-Ridge has a shot to get to the sectional final, but Weehawken is head and shoulders above everyone else in this section.

North 2, Group 2

Defending champion: Bernards

What you need to know: Dayton is the top seed, and playing in the Union County Tournament final Monday night. The Bulldogs are young, but have a good senior catcher in Kate Buckley. In North Jersey, the storyline is Ridgefield Park in this section. This is good senior class for the Scarlets, led by hitter Eliza Mullen and they reached the sectional semis for the first time since 2006 last year. The Scarlets are the three seed, but will have their hands full if they meet Passaic Valley in the sectional semis.

What to watch out for: Hanover Park (5 seed) and Caldwell (4 seed) lurk, as does defending sectional champs Bernards. Rutherford started the season hot, but the bats have gone cold in May. The Bulldogs still have a good line-up and standout pitcher Giana Yaniero, who has 235 strikeouts.

Prediction: This section has always been sneaky good. Becton (12 seed) has some players and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the semis. This one probably comes down to Hanover Park and whoever wins out between Passaic Valley and Ridgefield Park.

Non-Public A

Defending champion: Mount St. Dominic

What you need to know: This section always (I mean, always) comes down to Mount St. Dominic vs. IHA, and this year doesn’t look any different. This is one of Mount’s best teams in recent years, but IHA always plays them close. Bracket wise, Mount St. Dominic has a tougher road to the final, having to get through Holy Angels and probably Paramus Catholic. There are only 11 teams in this section.

What to watch out for: Paramus Catholic has had a bit of a revival here, but are probably still a year away from competing with the Big Two. The big question when Mount St. Dominic plays IHA is at what point during the game will it rain? It always seems to. MKA is led by talented senior catcher Elizabeth Lopiccolo. She’s going to Franklin and Marshall.

Prediction: For both IHA and Mount St. Dominic the season usually only comes down to two games…the county final and the sectional final. IHA is one of the few teams with the skill to beat Mount St. Dominic, but you’d have to call the Lions the favorites. The game usually turns on a mistake in the field.

Non-Public B

Defending champion: Morris Catholic

What you need to know: There are only seven teams in this section. This used to be the section dominated by Immaculate Conception, but that has changed. The school closed in 2023 and the bulk of the players migrated to St. Mary. The Gaels have had a good year. They’ve gone toe to toe with Weehawken and beaten Rutherford twice. DePaul is Passaic County champs. A DePaul/St. Mary game in the sectional semifinals would be fun.

What to watch out for: Morris Catholic hasn’t just won this section the last three seasons, they’ve dominated it. Will they even give up a run?

Prediction: I think St. Mary has closed the gap on Morris Catholic. They have some good bats and pitcher Sarah Mokrzecki is outstanding, but Morris Catholic should still win with ease.