It’s not difficult to identify the softball favorite this year in the Colonial Valley Conference’s Valley Division, which is designed to include the “weaker” six teams in the league. In fact, with a solid returning roster including two pitchers and proven hitters, Ewing might have very well be better than some of the teams in the upper Colonial Division. The action gets underway for most of the teams later this week in a division that also includes rising Princeton, Trenton, Hopewell Valley, Lawrence and the Hamilton/Nottiingham co-op. EWING Coach: Katie Schuh. Last year: (14-10), No. 22 ranking in the area. Roster: Morgan Dwyer (Jr, P/OF); Laila Forti (So.,OF); Emily Gamboa-Ordini (Sr., C/3B); Giuliana Gustino (Jr., 3B/1B); Peyton Hansbury (So., IF); Abigail Mahan (Jr., P/OF);  Sydney Mahan (Jr., IF);  Emma Morris (So., P/OF);  Kimberly Nguyen (Jr., OF); Sophia Ordinik (Fr., 2B/OF); Abigail Singer (Sr., P/1B); Amonnie Wertz Panniel (Sr., SS/C)., Strengths: The Blue Devils have good depth in the pitching department. Singer led the way last year with 113 innings pitched and 114 strikeouts. Morgan Dwyer fanned 49 in 42 innings of work. There are plenty of returning players who have shown they can swing the bat. This group includes capable shortstop Amonnie Wertz Panniel (.398), Gamboa Ordini (.343), Abbie Mahan (.429), Singer (.414), Nguyen (.299) and Velez (.353). The team has power as well. Singer bashed five home runs, and Abbie Mahan hit three. Outlook: This could very well turn into a bust-out year for the Blue Devils. Ewing clearly has the potential to be one of the better teams in the county. HAMILTON/NOTTINGHAM Coach: Gaby Bennett. Last year: (10-13), No. 20 ranking in the area. Roster: Naomi Blackburn (Sr., P/IF):  Summer Howard (Sr., OF); Ava Frascella (Jr., IF); Angelica Roman (Jr., C/IF); Jaimeson Thornton (Jr., P/IF/)OF); Ava Umansky (Jr., OF); Olivia Williams  (Jr., C/IF); Erin Furman (So., P/IF/OF); Lauren Harrison (So., OF); Nevaeh Hobbs (So., OF); Jamie Montgomery (So. IF): Emily Onorati (F.r, C/OF); Charlize Taylor (Fr., C/IF); Mikayla Umansky (Fr,, P/OF/IF); Zoe Vanselous (Fr. P/OF/IF). Strengths: There is a fair amount of players with varsity experience. Top returning hitters include Umansky, who batted .329.. It looks like there’s been an infusion of some young talent. Outlook: With the graduation of Allyson Fonollosa, Hamilton/Nottingham is another squad that’s unproven in the pitching department. If it can get production from some of its new starters, it might make a run at a .500 season. HOPEWELL VALLEY Coach: Gary Nucera. Last year: (4-14) Roster: Jasmine Johann (Jr., SS); Louisa Saindon (Jr., P/1B); Eva Giambanco (Jr., 2B/OF); Lindsay Giambanco (Jr. 2B/OF); Grace Corveleyn (Jr.,  3B/OF); Aniyha Merola (Jr.,  RF); Carolan Falk (Jr/, 3B/C); Elizabeth Zelin (Jr,,  P/1B); Maya Brown (Jr., OF); Layan Navas (So.,OF); Grace Senior (So., OF/3B); Melanie Hujber (So., 1B/OF); Isabel Jacoby (So.,C); Morgan Hale (So/, P/3B); Megan Kurian (Fr., CF); Lyla Baranowski (Fr., OF); Miriam Wood (Fr., C). Strengths: The Bulldogs do have some varsity experience. Johann showed potential with a .283 average as a sophomore. Merola batted .300. Zelin had the second highest total of innings in the circle and batted .433 in a limited number of bats. The numbers look better with five sophomores and three freshmen in the programs. Outlook: Hopewell Valley is young without any seniors on the roster, but Nucera will coach the players up make them competitive against most of the teams on the schedule. LAWRENCE Coach: Dana Williams. Last year: (7-15). Roster: Emma Dobkin (Sr., P/1B); Erin Erdie (Sr. OF); Peyton Valentino (Sr., 3B/C); Hope Lestician (Jr., SS); Grace Tyliczka (Jr., OF); Gabby Yaros (Jr., OF); Danielle Nevius (Jr., 2B); Jadid Leonardo (Jr., OF); Bailey Schager (So., P/3B); Zoey Hartman (Fr., 2B/SS); Annabelle Harger (Fr., 1B/OF); Heather Lestician (Fr., 1B); Ariana Newsome (Fr., OF); Catie Schneider (Fr., OF/2B); Madison Spiteri (Fr., C/1B/3B). Strengths: Dobkin is one of the more productive players in the CVC. A year ago she struck out 149 batters in 92 innings and often kept her team in games against superior opponents. At the plate, Dobkn hit .475 with nine extra-base hits and team high 15 RBIs. Outlook: Although Dobkin will give the team a chance to win in most of its games, for Lawrence to get up to or over .500 it will need for its other players to improve at the plate. There are some young players in the program with potential. PRINCETON Coach: Marissa Soprano. Last year: (7-14). Roster: Mia Abrams-Sartor (Fr., C/3B); Vivian Lutkowski (Fr., OF); Bella Brescia (So., IF); Eko Brown (So., C/3B); Taylor Hamerschlag (So., OF); Greta Knierim (So., CF); Genevieve Ritchie (So., P/LF); Ani Betancourt (Jr., 2B); Sofia DiGioacchino, (Jr., IF); Natalie Hester (Jr., SS); Sienna Lutkowski (Jr., OF); Simryn Patel (Jr., OF);  Erin Pilicer (Jr., P); Jada Speed (Jr., 1B); Deirdre Ristic (Sr., 1B/OF). Strengths: Hester is one of the best shortstops in the conference.  A superior fielder, she’s also strong at the plate. Last year she hit. 475 with two homers and a team high 22 RBIs. Other returnees include Ritchie (.347), Speed (.278) and Lutkowski (.333).  Pilicer did not record a lot of strikeouts a year ago but her control is good and  she was in the circle for the bulk of the innings. Outlook: After years of frustration, Princeton did make significant progress last season with the seven wins and nearly pulled off a humongous upset when it lost to Northern Burlington, 1-0, in the first round of the state tournament. Look for the upward trend to continue and the team to possibly make a run at a .500-type season. TRENTON Coach: Ryan McCamy. Last year: (2-15). Roster: Delianna Marte (Jr. 1B); Quasia Pittman (Jr. 3B); Katiesha Alexis (Sr. P/OF); Sam Torres (Sr. P/OF); Key’Ara Ingram (Sr., IF); Key’Asia Ingram: (So., IF); Chris Inestroza (So., IF); Janiyah Knight ( Jr., IF). Strengths: As always under coach McCamy the Tornadoes will bring a good attitude to the field each day and show improvement as the players gain varsity experience. Outlook: Trenton’s numbers are not as good as in year’s past and the team will be overmatched in conference play, but it will pick up some wins against non-league competition. ...read more read less