100 Shore high school softball Players to Watch in 2024

2023 was a spectacular display of dominance for Shore softball. Two local programs won arguably the two most competitive state titles, as Marlboro was crowned the Group 4 champion and St. John Vianney took the Non-Public A title. Both those teams were fortunate to not face two other serious local contenders in their respective postseasons - also from the Shore - in Jackson Memorial and Donovan Catholic.

All four of those teams return key contributors as they will once again contend for state titles. And there is a range of other elite performers from across the Shore that will be back for the season that opens April 1. Below is a list of more than 100 standout girls to watch on the diamond this spring.

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Abigail Zebick - 1B/OF - Red Bank Catholic - Sr.

Zebick will be one of the Caseys' senior leaders after leading the team with seven home runs while batting .395 with 25 RBIs last season.

Addison Gallagher - OF - Toms River East - So.

Gallagher burst onto the scene as a freshman last year with .394 average and 24 RBIs, making her the team's top returning RBI leader from last season.

Addison Ditillo - IF/OF - Marlboro - Jr.

Ditillo is one of several star underclassmen returning after the Mustangs won the Group 4 state title. She batted .386 in a team-high 101 at bats with two homers and 22 RBIs while also leading the team with five triples and 29 runs scored.

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Adrianna Lisotto - C - Middletown North - Jr.

Had a seven-game hitting streak at the start of 2023.

Aimee Notaro - IF/OF - Marlboro - Jr.

Notaro batted .422 with nine RBIs and one home run as a sophomore last season and will be counted on again as Marlboro tries to repeat as state champs.

Aki Sykes - IF/OF - Monmouth Regional - Jr.

Sykes is one of several explosive hitters returning for Monmouth this spring. Last season, she hit .552 with 20 RBIs and two home runs.

Alexa Barbera - 2B - Freehold Township - Sr.

The Patriots lost several key seniors from last year's team, but Barbera is a returner who will take on an even bigger role after batting .367 with 14 RBIs and a home run last season.

Alexandra Santos - OF/P - Jackson Memorial - Jr.

Santos is one of multiple elite juniors for the Jaguars after a sophomore season where she batted an absurd .500 with 25 RBIs and six home runs .

Allie Cirigliano - OF - Middletown North - Sr.

With one of the top pitchers in the Shore and a strong defensive game, the Lions are not the type of team to light it up offensively as they grind out wins. But the senior Cirigliano will be their offensive stalwart after she led the team with 19 RBIs last season.

Amy Fitzpatrick - OF - Marlboro - Sr.

Fitzpatrick is the star senior for the Mustangs after leading the team in batting average (.458) last season while finishing second on the team with 29 RBIs.

Angela Christoper - CF - Shore Regional - Jr.

Christoper is one of several talented Shore underclassmen that could spark a turnaround for the Blue Devils. She hit .448 with 16 RBIs last season.

Angela Sasso - P/3B - Colts Neck - So.

Sasso was a breakout performer as a freshman last season. She posted a 2.07 ERA with 172 strikeouts, and was also the Cougars' top offensive weapon with a team-high 25 RBIs and four home runs.

Ashley Palmieri - IF - Point Pleasant Boro - Jr.

Ashley and Dakota Palmieri are quite the duo for the Panthers. Ashley batted .382 with 12 RBIs and a home run last season as a sophomore.

Ashley Viesta - C/OF - Freehold Township - Sr.

Fourth-year starter, solid defense and softball smarts behind the plate; will play at Central Connecticut.

Ava Surinski - SS/2B - Toms River East - Sr.

The speedy Surinski will be one of the Raiders key seniors this season. She is the team's top returning hitter by average (.451) and led the team with 12 stolen bases.

BethAnne Doderer - P, OF - Central - Sr.

26 strikeouts away from 300 for career.

Brianna Dato - OF - Barnegat - So.

Dato established herself as a force to be reckoned with as a freshman and was arguably the team's best all-around hitter in her first year of high school softball, hitting .404 with a team-high 18 RBIs.

Brianna Santangelo - 1B/OF - Red Bank Catholic - Jr.

The Caseys lost several key seniors from last season, so players like Santangelo may have a chance to carve out an even bigger role. As a sophomore She batted .369 with 13 RBIs and a home run.

Bridget Kane - SS/C - Point Pleasant Beach - So.

Kane is yet another returning sophomore that had a breakout first season in the Shore Conference. She hit .448 with 20 RBIs and a home run for the Garnet Gulls last year.

Brielle Coppola - P - Wall - Sr.

After Wall lost several key seniors from last year's group, Coppola will be stepping into that senior leadership role as a two-way performer. She was the team's top pitcher last season with a 3.31 ERA and 95 strikeouts while batting .371 with 15 RBIs on the offensive end.

Brooke Lisowski - UT - Middletown South - Sr.

The Eagles will aim to bounce back from last year's subpar campaign and Lisowski will be one of the key seniors trying to lead that turn around. She hit .361 with 8 RBIs and a home run last season.

Cassandra Foley - C - Ocean Township - Jr.

Ocean may have underachieved last season with a 7-14 record, but they have a promising group of returning underclassmen. Foley hit .371 with 15 RBIs and a team-high four home runs last year.

Cassidy Supplee - OF - Point Pleasant Boro - So.

Supplee was a breakout freshman for the Panthers last season, finishing third on the team with 20 RBIs while batting .353 at the plate.

Christina Ginex - SS - Donovan Catholic - Jr.

The Griffins will be loaded again this season after winning the Shore Conference title. Ginex is just one example after she batted .436 with 33 RBIs and five home runs last season.

Dakota Palmieri - P - Point Pleasant Boro - Jr.

Dakota Palmieri was excellent on the mound and in the batters box last season. She had a 3.55 ERA with 100 strikeouts, but was the team leader in RBIs with 27 while hitting .400 with one home run.

Dani Rodriguez - P/UT - Donovan Catholic - So.

Donovan loses last year's two-way star Julia Apostolakos, but Rodriguez is ready to step into that role after last year's freshman campaign that was highlighted by 0.35 ERA over 40 innings in addition to batting .317 with 27 RBIs and four home runs.

Danika Borza - P - Keyport - Sr.

There's little doubt that Borza is the leader of Keyport after her incredible junior season at the plate. She hit an astounding .600 with 24 RBIs and three home runs, all of which were team-highs.

Danni Forrester - UT - Manasquan - Jr.

The Warriors return nearly most of their key contributors from last year's 17-9 team, and Forrester will be a key one. She hit .472 with 27 RBIs and five home runs in 2023.

Dominique Lopez - IF/OF - Jackson Memorial - Jr.

Lopez is a candidate to win Player of the Year this spring after an incredible sophomore campaign in 2023. Last year, she batted .486 and led the team in RBIs with 33 while tied for the team-high with eight home runs.

Elena Weinseimer - UT - Manasquan - Jr.

Weinseimer is another junior who could garner serious Player of the Year consideration based on last year's numbers. She hit .435 while leading the team with 35 RBIs and nine home runs.

Elianna Meola - P - Pinelands - Jr.

Pinelands brings back most of last year's key contributors, none more than important than Meola. She was a solid pitcher with a .375 ERA and 119 strikeouts, but she was a menace at the plate with a team-high .603 average and 21 RBIs.

Elisabeth Figliolino - C - St. John Vianney - Jr.

Figliolino is one of two Lancers that individually hit more home runs (11) than most teams in the Shore. As a sophomore last season, she also led SJV in RBIs with 47 while batting .450.

Ellie Mager - 1B/3B - Colts Neck - Jr.

Mager was an ultra reliable bat for the Cougars last season, hitting .383 with 19 RBIs and three homers.

Emily Ehrman - IF - Point Pleasant Boro - Sr.

Ehrman is one of several key returners from last year's 17-9 squad. She hit .385 with 14 RBIs and displayed her astute vision at the plate with 22 walks.

Emily Evans - P/IF - Southern - Jr.

The Rams return two of their top three bats from last season with Evans undoubtedly being one of them. She hit .364 with 20 RBIs and a home run while also leading the team with 59 strikeouts on the mound as a pitcher.

Emily Gaudio - P/UT - Marlboro - So.

Gaudio is still recovering from a significant knee injury, but she was a breakout star as a freshman both as a hitter and on the mound. She had a 1.72 ERA over 138 innings while also batting .402 with with 14 RBIs and a homer.

Emily Gill - P - Wall - Jr.

Gill is a dark horse candidate to be included in the Player of the Year conversation after last year's incredible campaign. She hit .564 with 36 RBIs and seven home runs as a sophomore, leading the team in all categories.

Emily Hersh - IF/P - Jackson Memorial - So.

Hersh appears likely to takeover as the team's top pitcher after posting a 1.92 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 40 innings last season as a freshman. She also batted .375 with 14 RBIs.

Emily Kurth - C - Donovan Catholic - Sr.

The Kurth sister duo is one of many talented such duos on the Shore. Emily will be relied on as a senior leader after .442 with 21 RBIs last season.

Emily Richards - IF - Rumson-Fair Haven - Jr.

Richards was absolutely outstanding as a sophomore last season. She hit .446 with 38 RBIs and nine home runs, leading the Bulldogs in each category.

Emily Zellman - IF - Southern - So.

Zellman was tremendous as a freshman for the Rams, hitting .450 with 16 RBIs in her first season of high school softball.

Emma Mioduzewski - IF - Holmdel - Sr.

Mioduzewski is one of several key seniors returning for the Hornets as they try to build on last year's campaign. She led the team with 15 RBIs while batting .391 at the plate.

Emma Riccardi - UT - Monmouth Regional - So.

The Falcons are not shy about their offensive identity and they will put on a show with their multitude of hitters. There is no better example than Riccardi, who led the team in RBIs (37) and home runs (5) as a freshman while also batting .507 at the plate.

Emma Spagnolo - C/SS - Henry Hudson - Sr.

Spagnolo will once again be relied on as a key source of offense as a senior. Last season, she led the team with 24 RBIs while batting .448 at the plate.

Emmaleigh Raymond - C/3B - Long Branch - Sr.

Long Branch is coming off a difficult campaign in 2023, but Raymond is a returning bright spot from that team. The senior is coming off a season where she led the team with a .500 batting average and 20 RBIs.

Erin Clancey - OF - Monmouth Regional - Jr.

Clancey is a speedster for the Falcons, but she is also a legitimately dangerous hitter. She led the team with a .529 average in addition to team-highs in stolen bases (17) and runs scored (37) while also adding 25 RBIs.

Francesca Cinelli - IF/OF - Howell - Sr.

Howell returns a lot of strong underclassmen with experience, but Cinelli will be one of the team's key seniors after hitting .333 with 14 RBIs and three home runs last season.

Gabby Gonzalez - 2B - St. John Vianney - So.

Yes she's only a sophomore, but Gonzalez has to be considered an early favorite for Shore Player of the Year. As a freshman, she hit an absurd .513 with 41 RBIs and 11 home runs.

Gabriella Bryce - SS/P - Colts Neck - So.

In addition to Sasso, Colts Neck had another breakout freshman last spring. Bryce hit .295 with 20 RBIs and three home runs in her first season of high school softball.

Georgia Tym - C - Point Pleasant Borough - Sr.

Three-year starter who will play collegiately at East Stroudsburg.

Gianna Massimino - SS/3B - Neptune - Jr.

After losing last season's top hitter to graduation, Neptune will be counting on Massimino to continue to grow her offensive game. She hit .346 with 19 RBIs and two home runs in 2023.

Giuliana Cardin - OF - St. John Vianney - Sr.

Cardin is part of a contingent of senior leaders for the Lancers as they aim to repeat as state champs. She hit .349 with 18 RBIs and two home runs last season.

Grace Grimaldi - OF - Freehold Township - Fr.

The first-year player is also a catcher.

Isabella Maria - OF - Donovan Catholic - So.

Maria is one of several sophomores that are set to dominate Shore softball for the next few seasons and is on the short list for Player of the Year. As a freshman, she led the Griffins in batting average (.535) while also adding 32 RBIs and nine home runs.

Isabella Plath - SS/2B - Raritan - Sr.

Plath will is one of the team's top returning bats and will be relied on as a senior. She hit .374 with 25 RBIs last season.

Isabella Wuelfing - P - Marlboro - Fr.

After Emily Gaudio was a breakout freshman for the Mustangs last season, Wuelfing could be one to watch this spring. She'll be filling in on the mound along with Ciravello until Gaudio returns from injury.

Isabelle Cattelona - 1B - St. John Vianney - Sr.

Cattelona will be one of the senior leaders on a Lancers team loaded with talented underclassmen. She hit .369 with 28 RBIs and three home runs last season.

Jillian Scotto - P/OF - Ocean Township - Jr.

Scotto will aim to make strides on the mound this season, but at the plate she was tremendous. She hit .397 with 21 RBIs last year.

Jordan Diefes - P - Monmouth Regional - So.

Diefes is another exciting young player for Monmouth. As a freshman, she hit .527 with 20 RBIs and two home runs.

Jordan Terefenko - C/IF - Red Bank Catholic - Sr.

Terefenko is one of several key seniors that will be entrusted with leading the Caseys. She had a stellar junior year with a .420 average, 25 RBIs and five home runs.

Jordyn Gautier - RF - St. John Vianney - Sr.

Gautier is another key senior for the Lancers as they aim to repeat as Non-Public A champs. She hit .412 with 15 RBIs last season.

Julia Cruz - IF - Jackson Memorial - Sr.

Cruz is the senior leader on a Jaguars team that mostly consists of standout underclassmen. Last season, she put up solid numbers offensively with a .300 batting average in addition to 13 RBIs and two home runs.

Julia DelMasto - OF/IF - Raritan - Jr.

DelMasto could be primed to step into a bigger role after an excellent sophomore season where she finished with a .394 batting average in addition to 15 RBIs and a home run.

Jules Georgiano - C/3B - Jackson Liberty - Jr.

As Jackson Liberty aims to make a turn around from last year's season, Georgiano will be key. She led the team with a .361 average and seven RBIs last season.

Juliana Cackowski - CF/P - Manchester - Sr.

Manchester will rely on Cackowski to take on an even bigger offensive role after the versatile hitter posted a .389 average with 11 RBIs and one home run last season.

Kassidy Colangelo - 3B/OF - Toms River South - Jr.

Toms River South will need to replace their top three hitters from last season, and Colangelo will be key as she is the team's top returning hitter with 22 RBIs and three home runs last season in addition to a .347 batting average.

Keira Murphy - SS - Howell - Jr.

Howell is a sneaky candidate to take the next step after last season's 9-10 campaign. Murphy is one of several quality bats coming back after hitting .478 with 15 RBIs and three homers in 2023.

Kennedy Whitehead - P - Red Bank Regional - Jr.

Whitehead will try to improve on last season as a pitcher, but she is a strong hitter who posted a .403 batting average last season.

Kylie Roberts - IF/OF - Southern - Sr.

Roberts will be a key senior for the Rams after she led the team with a .466 batting average and 12 stolen bases last season.

Lana Rudolph - 3B - Ocean Township - Jr.

Rudolph rounds out Ocean's group of excellent underclassmen. She led the team with a .524 batting average and 22 RBIs while also adding three home runs last season.

Lauren Davenport - UT - Wall - Sr.

Davenport will be another key senior for the Crimson Knights after an excellent junior campaign in 2023. She is coming off a season batting .434 with 23 RBIs and a home run.

Lily Hagan - 1B/P - Red Bank Catholic - Jr.

Hagan is likely to emerge as one of the best pitchers in the Shore after a terrific sophomore season with a 1.20 ERA and 122 strikeouts. She also hit .388 with 13 RBIs and four homers.

Lindsay Fuller - P - Manasquan - Jr.

Fuller was a two-way standout for the Warriors as a sophomore last season. She led the team with a 2.25 ERA and 62 strikeouts while batting .429 with 19 RBIs and a home run.

Maddison Waitt - C/CF - Freehold Boro - Sr.

Waitt is one of several key returning seniors for Freehold Boro. She was tied for the team lead last season with 13 RBIs and two home runs while batting .382.

Madeline DeChristopher - OF - Matawan - Jr.

Matawan is in a tough spot after losing numerous quality seniors from last year's team. DeChristopher will be tasked with a bigger role after batting .373 last season.

Madilynn Boyce - P - Middletown North - Jr.

Boyce is still only a junior, but she might be the best pitcher in the conference. As a sophomore, she posted an 0.96 ERA with an incredible 309 strikeouts as she was the backbone of Midd North's 20-6 season.

Madison Groschel-Klein - IF - Southern - Jr.

Groschel-Klein is a versatile hitter who is likely to be the Rams top bat again as a junior. Last year, she hit .418 while leading the team with 30 RBIs.

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Madison McDougall - P - St. John Vianney - So.

SJV has not one, but two sophomores that have to be considered early favorites to win conference POTY. McDougall had a 1.04 ERA and 219 strikeouts last season as a freshman, and if that's not enough she also hit a team-high .563 with 32 RBIs and five home runs.

Madison English - C - Lacey - Sr.

After the loss of the team's top two RBI leaders from 2023, English will likely be asked to take on a bigger offensive role as a senior after hitting .446 with eight RBIs and two home runs last season.

Madisyn Zito - P - Howell - Jr.

Zito is still developing as a pitcher, but she's established herself as a key hitter for the Rebels. She hit .339 with 18 RBIs and two home runs last season.

Maggie Leach - UT - Brick Memorial - Jr.

Leach was the bright spot for the Mustangs last season with a .350 average, 13 RBIs and five home runs, all of which led the team.

Maggie Turnbach - 3B/SS - St. Rose - Sr.

St. Rose absolutely has the talent and experience to bounce back from last year's disappointing season. Turnbach will be a key senior after she led the team in batting average (.515) and home runs (2) while also adding 25 RBIs.

Makiyah Ross - C/IF - Toms River North - Jr.

The Mariners might be primed for a turnaround as they return their top three hitters from last season, including Ross. As a sophomore, she hit .359 with 19 RBIs and two home runs.

Marian Moore - P/OF - St. Rose - Jr.

Moore's development as a pitcher will be a key factor for the Roses, but she is an established hitter after leading the team 32 RBIs while batting .414 at the plate.

Marissa Herman - UT - Monmouth Regional - Jr.

Herman is yet another dangerous bat for Monmouth. Last season she hit .411 at the plate with 22 RBIs.

Mary Kovaleski - SS/2B - Manalapan - Jr.

Hit .429 as a freshman then .459 in fulltime role as a sophomore.

Mikayla Klein - 1B/OF - Barnegat - Sr.

Klein will try to spearhead a turnaround season as a senior after she hit .371 with 16 RBIs and one home run in 2023.

Molly Peters - 3B/C - Raritan - Sr.

Peters was Raritan's top bat last season, so naturally she'll be tasked with being a key offensive contributor as a senior. She hit .450 with 30 RBIs and two home runs, all of which were team-highs.

Nicole Knox - SS - Red Bank Catholic - Jr.

Knox is yet another versatile and ultra-dangerous hitter for the Caseys. As a sophomore, she led the team with a .500 average in a team-high 92 at bats while also adding 25 RBIs and five homers.

Nina Striano - OF - Jackson Memorial - Jr.

Striano is yet another elite Jaguar junior. She hit .449 with 23 RBIs and three home runs last season.

Olivia DeFonce - 3B - Shore Regional - So.

DeFonce was a breakout freshman for the Blue Devils last season, hitting .423 with 21 RBIs and two home runs.

Olivia Kurth - IF - Donovan Catholic - Jr.

Like Emily, Olivia Kurth was outstanding for the Griffins last season. She is the team's top returning RBI leader with 38 last season in addition to four home runs and a .451 batting average.

Paige Cannon - IF - Point Pleasant Boro - Sr.

Cannon will be one of the Panthers' top senior leaders after she hit .343 with 21 RBIs and a home run last season.

Paige McManus - SS/OF - Trinity Hall - Sr.

McManus will be one of the Monarchs' top returning seniors as she tries to spark a turnaround season. Last season she led the team with a .389 batting average and 18 stolen bases.

Paityn Knapp - P/IF - Howell - So.

Knapp returns after a breakout freshman season where she led the Rebels with 24 RBIs while batting .400 and adding two home runs.

Peyton Gallagher - 2B/SS - Toms River East - Sr.

Gallagher is another key senior returning to lead this very experienced Raiders squad. She hit .423 with 14 RBIs and four home runs last season.

Rachel Quirk - OF - Holmdel - Sr.

Quirk is yet another senior leader for this year's Holmdel squad. She is a well-rounded hitter who batted .397 with 12 RBIs and a team-high three homers.

Riley Lawrence - SS - Shore Regional - Sr.

Shore will try to bounce back from last year's campaign with leadership from star seniors like Lawrence. She batted .471 with 21 stolen bases and 30 runs scored, all of which led the team.

Sarah Flynn - IF/OF - Keansburg - Jr.

Keansburg lost most of its top players to graduation after winning the division last year, but Flynn is one of the team's key returners. She hit .389 and was second on the team with 22 RBIs.

Sienna Smith - OF - Freehold Township - Sr.

Third-year varsity starter will play collegiately at Stockton.

Sophia Heckel - 1B - Manalapan - Jr.

The Braves struggled last season in the gauntlet that is A-North, but they return most of the roster and could turn the corner this spring. Heckel will be key after she led the team with 21 RBIs and six home runs last season.

Sophia Lasater - OF/1B - Red Bank Catholic - Jr.

Compared to some of the gaudy numbers of other Caseys, Lasater's strong 2023 season maybe doesn't get the shine it deserves. As a sophomore she hit .329 with 17 RBIs and three homers.

Sophia Capasso - C/OF - Central Regional - Sr.

The Golden Eagles lost some key seniors from last year's group, but Capasso is more than ready to take on a leadership role in her final season. Last year, She led the team with a batting average of .472 and was second on the team with 18 RBIs.

Stephanie Ciravolo - P/1B - Marlboro - Sr.

Ciravolo might be counted on more as a pitcher given Gaudio's return from injury, but the senior is excellent as a batter with a .409 average last season.

Sydney Zylinski - OF - Point Pleasant Beach - Jr.

Zylinski has plenty of potential to build on last season after an incredible campaign in a relatively small sample size. She hit .455 and led the team with 24 RBIs, doing so in only 44 at bats.

Taylor Buro - UT - Brick Township - Sr.

Buro is the unquestioned senior leader of the Dragons after she led the team in batting average at .448 and tied for the team lead in RBIs with 12.

Victoria Oliveira - CF - Toms River North - Sr.

Oliveira will be the unquestioned backbone of this offense as a senior after she leading the team in RBIs (24) and home runs (3) last season while also posting an .342 batting average.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ softball 100 Players to Watch in 2024