Softball rankings: Greater Middlesex Conference, area UCC preseason Top 10

Here are the 2024 preseason softball Top 10 rankings in the Greater Middlesex Conference and southern Union County.

(last year’s records in parenthesis)

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (23-4) – With reigning Player of the Year Hayley Wieczerzak returning in the circle, and juniors Liz Negron and Melody Webb leading the attack, the Trojans are the favorites to retain the GMCT title.

2. South Plainfield (21-7) - The Tigers loom as the leading contender in the GMC with a proven slugger in Lindsay Oller and a sophomore hurler in Erin Townley who emerged as a force as last season progressed.

More: Softball preview index: Links to the Courier News and Home News Tribune preview package

More: Softball preview: A team-by-team look at the Greater Middlesex Conference and area UCC

3. Metuchen (19-7) - The Bulldogs lost a lot to graduation, but retain one of the area’s better hitters in Leslie Flaherty, we well as a veteran pitcher with big-game experience in Alicia Montalbano.

4. Spotswood (23-5) - The Chargers also suffered immense losses at the plate to graduation, but have a dominant pitcher in Ava Mormile that should keep them in contention in the Blue Division.

5. East Brunswick (19-7) - The Bears shared Blue Division honors with Spotswood a year ago and another close race is foreseeable with Caitlin Gay heading a veteran pitching staff.

6. Old Bridge (11-16) - The Knights won five of their final six games last spring and figure to continue that momentum behind a veteran battery of catcher Dimitra Milonopoulos and hurler Gianna Lombardi.

7. Colonia (15-11) - Myiah Sutton leads an experienced team with 11 veterans returning, including three pitchers.

8. Middlesex (16-10) - The Blue Jays welcome everyone back from a team that won the GMC Invitational title last year and advanced to a sectional final, led by pitcher Peyton Chie.

9. North Brunswick (12-9) - The Raiders retain a dangerous hitter in Victoria Frobosilo and veteran pitcher in Jordan Tarabokia in their bid to challenge Middlesex in the Blue Division.

10. Sayreville (9-10) - The Bombers appear ready to challenge in the White Division with an experienced squad powered by Rose Joseph.

Best of the rest: East Brunswick Magnet (17-3), Edison (12-10), J.P. Stevens (10-16), Perth Amboy (10-12), Rahway (11-12), South Brunswick (7-17), Woodbridge (9-11).

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Softball rankings: Greater Middlesex Conf., SW UCC preseason Top 10