With the first pitch of the 2024 softball season fast approaching, it's time to bestow preseason honors on some of the top players returning to the Shore this season. There were so many breakout stars last season, it should come as no surprise that the vast majority of the first and second teams are comprised of underclassmen. That youth movement is driven by some of the talented young players for reigning state champs Marlboro and St. John Vianney, the latter of which had the most first team selections with three.

The honorees are broken up into into 14 first-team and 14 second-team selections. Several of the more versatile players could certainly qualify for multiple categories, but the selections are generally organized into their most appropriate position group. And although these are the strongest resumes coming into the season, there will undoubtedly be a few more surprises and breakout stars on the diamond this spring.

More: 100 Shore high school softball Players to Watch in 2024

FIRST TEAM

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

There are so many talented and experienced catchers across the Shore this season, but nobody could match the incredible production of Figliolino for the Lancers. As a sophomore, she led the team with 47 RBIs and tied for the team lead with 11 home runs while also batting .450 at the plate. The reigning Non-Public A champion is well represented after returning most of their key contributors from last season.

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

Richards posted excellent numbers last season, even though the Bulldogs finished with a record below .500. She hit .446 with 38 RBIs and nine home runs last season, all of which led the team. The stats are even more outstanding considering the caveat that she only had 65 at-bats over Rumson's 20 games.

Nicole Knox - IF - Red Bank Catholic - Jr.

Knox has been a staple among the best players in the Shore since her freshman year with the Caseys. Now heading into her junior season, she's shown no signs of slowing down. She's coming off a 2023 campaign where she posted a .500 batting average with 22 RBIs and five home runs, displaying her versatility and consistency. With so much experience and a strong group of seniors, RBC will be vying for the top spot in the Shore.

Olivia Kurth - IF - Donovan Catholic - Jr.

The Griffins lost former Player of the Year Julia Apostolakos to graduation last season, but their incredible depth means they have more than enough returning standouts to step up this spring. Kurth is the team's top returning RBI leader after finishing with 38 last season while batting .451 with four home runs. After an untimely postseason exit, this year's Donovan Catholic squad has the motivation and talent to compete for the Non-Public A title.

Gabby Gonzalez - IF - St. John Vianney - So.

As incredible as Figliolino's production was as a sophomore, Gonzalez was just as impressive as a freshman. She tied her teammate for the team-high in home runs with 11 in addition to 41 RBIs. She did so with absurd efficiency at the plate, batting .513 with an outrageous 1.115 slugging percentage. It's astounding to think about what she might accomplish over the next three seasons.

Amy Fitzpatrick - OF - Marlboro - Sr.

The Mustangs win with consistency and efficiency, and the senior is the textbook example of her team's success. Fitzpatrick led the team with a .458 batting average last season and is the team's top returning RBI leader after finishing with 29. She'll be among the experienced leaders for Marlboro as they aim to repeat as Group 4 state champs.

Elena Weinseimer - OF - Manasquan - Sr.

The Warriors finished with a disappointing end to last season, but they are in prime opportunity to finish strong this year with incredible talent and experience across the roster. Look no further than Weinseimer, who led the team with 35 RBIs and nine homers in addition to batting .435 in 2023. This year's team is highly motivated and very capable of challenging powerhouse SJV in the B-North division.

Bella Maria - OF - Donovan Catholic - So.

The aforementioned Griffins lost significant production from last season, but they also return a multitude of talented players that are likely to improve with more experience. That being said, there is only so much room to improve after Maria's breakout freshman campaign in 2023. She led the team with a .535 average in a team-high 99 at-bats. She is also the team's top returning home run leader after finishing with nine last season. She was among the rare few with a slugging percentage over 1.000 while totaling 32 RBIs.

Dominique Lopez - UT - Jackson Memorial - Jr.

The Jaguars are certainly contending with some significant losses, but Lopez returns as arguably their most dangerous bat after a stellar sophomore season. She finished with a team-high 33 RBIs and tied for the team lead with eight home runs while batting .484 last year. After an unexpected playoff exit, Jackson Memorial will be motivated to get back in contention for a Public state title.

Emily Gill - UT - Wall - Jr.

Gill was a solid pitcher in split duty last season for Wall, finishing with a 3.42 ERA and 95 strikeouts. But her remarkable production as a hitter makes her a clear-cut selection for the preseason All-Shore team. She posted a .564 batting average with 36 RBIs and nine home runs last season as a sophomore, all of which led the Knights. With two years remaining, she could continue to develop into a Player of the Year candidate.

Madilynn Boyce - P - Middletown North - Jr.

There is little doubt that the Seton Hall commit enters this season as the best pure pitcher in the Shore. Her production is so outstanding, the numbers can be conveyed in unique ways. For example, she averaged more than 10 strikeouts for every one run allowed and four times as many strikeouts as hits allowed. In traditional terms: she finished with 0.96 ERA and 309 strikeouts.

Lily Hagan - P - Red Bank Catholic - Jr.

Although she split duties on the mound last season for the Caseys, Hagan still emerged as one of the best pitchers on the Shore with a 1.20 ERA and 122 strikeouts last season. She also exemplified her multi-faceted talents with solid offensive production of 13 RBIs and four home runs while batting .388. She'll be an RBC staple as this team has appropriately high expectations for this season.

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

McDougall was a truly outstanding two-way player in her first season of high school softball. She was the top pitcher as the Lancers cruised to a state title, finishing with 1.04 ERA and 219 strikeouts. She also led the Lancers in batting average at .563 with 32 RBIs and five home runs.

Emily Gaudio - P - Marlboro - So.

Gaudio is still working her way back from an injury, but there's simply no way she can't be a preseason All-Shore selection after what she did as a freshman. She ultimately emerged as the team's top pitcher with a 1.72 ERA and 159 strikeouts last season, punctuated by 10 shutout innings in the state title game victory over Hillsborough. If that wasn't enough, she also batted .400 with 14 RBIs and a home run.

More: VOTE: Who will be softball's Player of the Year at the Shore in 2024?

SECOND TEAM

Jordan Terefenko - C - Red Bank Catholic - Sr.

Abigail Zebick - IF - Red Bank Catholic - Sr.

Molly Peters - IF - Raritan - Sr.

Christina Ginex - IF - Donovan Catholic - Jr.

Erin Clancey - IF - Monmouth Regional - Jr.

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

Addison Ditillo - OF - Marlboro - Jr.

Alexandra Santos - OF - Jackson Memorial - Jr.

Danni Forrester - UT - Manasquan - Jr.

Emma Riccardi - UT - Monmouth Regional - So.

Lindsay Fuller - P - Manasquan - Jr.

Angela Sasso - P - Colts Neck - So.

Dani Rodriguez - P - Donovan Catholic - So.

Emily Hersh - P - Jackson Memorial - So.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ softball: Preseason All-Shore team 2024