It’s a somewhat different outlook this year for softball in the Colonial Valley Conference, which has long established itself as easily one of the premier leagues in New Jersey when it comes to producing state champions. Normally, there are at least two and often three or more teams capable of cha llenging for league and county tournament supremacy. This may again prove to be the case, but on paper at least Steinert enters the season as an overwhelming favorite to win the CVC’s Colonial Division and the CVC Championship Tournament. A two-time defending Group 3 state champion with all of its starters back, Steinert is attempting to become the first public school in New Jersey to win three straight state titles. It also enters the season ranked as one of the top three teams in the state. Another of the premier programs in the state, Robbinsville looks ready to quite possibly add yet another in its long line of seasons with 20 or more wins. Notre Dame may very well be the third best in a Colonial Division that also includes Allentown, Hightstown and West Windsor United. ALLENTOWN Coach: Heather Devine. Last year: (19-7), No. 5 ranking in the area. Roster: Sophia Centanni (Sr., 2B); Riley Daly (Jr., C/OF); Kayla Foy (Sr., 2B/C); Maddie Kush (Sr., OF); Braylie LaFisca (Jr., P/1B); Taylor Lalla (Sr., C/2B); Kelsey Loughlin (Jr, P/IF); Natalie Mason (So/, 2B/OF); Angelina Minerva (Jr., OF); Kailyn Prekop (Jr., 1B); Makynna Williams (So., P/OF); Alana McBrantney (Jr., P/OF); Faith Logan (So., SS/LF). Strengths: The pitching is in good shape with the return of LaFisca (60 Ks in 89 innings) and Loughlin (83 strikeouts in 80 innings). Daly is an upper-tier catcher who hit .353 with four homers. Minerva supplies speed at the top of the lineup and has good range in the outfield. Outlook; Allentown will remain one of the better teams in the conference, but replacing some of the big graduated hitters will not be easy. HIGHTSTOWN Coach: Lauren Brown. Last year: (14-13), No. 18 ranking in the area. Roster: Kady Olsen (Sr., P);  Olivia Pignatello (Sr., OF); Kayla Horana (Jr., OF); Isabella Espina (Jr., OF); Adriana Cepeda (Jr., U); Hayden Bustos (Jr. C); Sofia Hulme (Jr., IF); Rachel; Kasoff (So., OF); Hayley Bustos (So., U); Pranavi Dronadula (So., OF); Olivia Werden (Fr., IF); Lilian Peto (Fr., IF); Adris Henriquez (Fr. OF); Kamryn Beauvil (Fr., OF). Strengths: A four-year starting pitcher, Olsen gives the team a chance to win in most games. She threw 135 innings a year ago and struck out 161 batters. Cepeda can pitch, too. Olsen (.342, three homers) is one of the most dangerous hitters in the conference. Hayden Bustos (.329) and Pignatelllo (.373) are also dependable hitters. The team has a nice group of newcomers who show promise. Outlook: The Rams will have trouble replacing graduated shortstop Angelina Benetiz (.516) and catcher Julia Luczak (.420, five homers). Still, a winning season and some quality wins appear to be attainable goals. NOTRE DAME Coach: Mike McQuarrie. Last season: (25-2), CVC Colonial Division champion, Mercer County Tournament champion, S.J. Non Public A finalist, No. 1 ranking in the area.Roster: Madalena Creo (Sr., IF/OF); Riley Cunningham (Sr., OF); Kayla Delehanty (Sr.,. IF); Caitlyn Olenchalk (Sr., P/OF); Bianca Pesce (Sr., P/IF); Gracyn Antosiewicz (Jr., C); Jenna Cocuzza (Jr., IF); Anna Hughes (Jr., P/IF); Caitlin Patrick (Jr., C/OF) Mia DiBari (So, IF/OF); Addison Louderback (So., OF); Tessa Schuler (So. IF/OF); Anna Matcham (Fr/, P/IF/OF); Isabella Mayer (Fr., IF/OF). Strengths: The team will have solid pitching with Pesce and Hughes. There are also some returning big hitters. Creo batted  .361 with 11 doubles, Cocuzza hit .344, and Pesce and Antosiewicz are also productive. There are some newcomers who have potential. Outlook: Notre Dame last year may very well have been the best team in the history of Mercer County that didn’t win a state title. As it was, it was the second best team in the state with a host of big hitters and the dominant four-year pitching of Rylee Michalak, who at least check had thrown the most innings for the University of Houston in her freshman season. The team has a new coach and will continue its winning ways. but making a run in an extremely rugged state tournament bracket will be difficult. ROBBINSVILLE Coach: Dave Boehm. Last year: (21-4), No. 4 ranking in the area. Roster: Jules Amoroso (Fr., SS/3B/OF); Tuleen Ali (Sr. C); Abby Veisz (Sr., 3B/C/P); Ariana Tomlinson (Sr., CF);  Katie Murphy (Jr. OF/IF);  Jordan Grodski (Jr., OF/1B); Lexi Lopez (Jr., PIF):  Aubrey Sagar (So., 1B/OF); Lucie Canuso (So., OF/IF); Izzy Ghen (So., IF/OF);  Cassidy Luna  (Fr., P/1B; Caroline Kapferer (So., C/3B/1B); Soph.,Alyssa Todd (Fr., IF/C); Lilly Sasaki (Fr., OF). Strengths: An outstanding outfielder and a terror on the bases, Tomlinson is one of the best players in the CVC. Drexel commit Ali (.310) is an excellent catcher and like Tomlinson (Seton Hall) has a Division 1 scholarship..Grodsky (.350), Sagar and Murphy are among the returnees players. After waiting for her turn behind Katie Ziliani, Lopez is the No. 1 and will be one of the best pitchers  in the county. There’s depth there as well with Canuso and Luna also on the pitching staff. The team has some talented newcomers and look for Amoroso to move right in give the team solid play at shortstop. Kapferer is another player to watch. Outlook: Despite losing five key starters, the Ravens could very well be the second best team in the CVC behind Steinert. The status of Tomlinson is unclear following an off-season knee injury, but she could return in time for the tournaments in May. Robbinsville could also make a lot of noise in states. Especially when you consider it’s once again in Group 2 and no longer in the loaded Central Jersey 3 bracket. STEINERT Coach: Jenn Melker. Last year: (24-5), Group 2 state champion, No. 2 ranking in the area. Roster: Addison Hassan (Sr., C); Katie Simonka (Sr., P); Gia DiMeglio (Sr., OF); Rosalie Horchuck (Sr, IF; Ellie MIller (Jr.,P); MIa Pope (Jr., SS); Bianca Walsh (Jr., 2B); Danica Spak (So., OF); Aleiya O’Neal (So., 3B); Francesca Casteliano (So.,  C); Nikki Donovan (So.,OF); Lindsey Siwczak (Fr.,P); Victoria Poppert (Fr., C); Gabby Piscotta (Fr., C); Aleena Eckel (Fr., C). Strengths: When you return every player from a state championship team there are obviously a lot of them. A Marist University commit, Pope was named to the All-Area team in her first two seasons. A tremendous shortstop, Pope hit .531 with 51 hits a year ago. Walsh (.322) is an outstanding second baseman and specializes in big hits in the big games. Ditto for Hassan (.352), who consistently comes through in the clutch and is the starting catcher. Castellano (.329), DeWitt, Miller (.396), third baseman O’Neal (.365) and DiMeglio are among the other returning starters. The pitching is every bit as strong as the hitting and fielding. A winner of two state finals in the past two years, Simonka struck out 172 while pitching to an ERA of 1,25. Miller (66ks in 51 innings, 0.69 ERA) might very well be the second best pitcher in the CVC. As always, the team has some freshmen you just know can play. Outlook: Steinert clearly projects as one of the top five teams in the state, including the parochial schools. It has a legitimate shot at becoming the first public school team to win three straight state titles and capture a fifth state championship in the last nine seasons the tourney has been held. WEST WINDSOR UNITED Coach: Shannon Campbell. Last year: (13-13), No. 19 ranking in the area. Roster: Anushka Arvind (Sr., P/1B/OF); Ava Barbrow (So., CF); Olivia Carrabba (Sr., SS/1B); Kaila Castiglione (Jr., DH); Audrey Chen (Sr., P/OF); Elia Dorfman (So., 2B); Nuha FNU (Sr., OF); Priya Higley (So., OF); Satya Hsu (Fr., C); Deanna Hu (Jr., SS); Emily Mahatamachai (Jr., 2B); Paige Manotakos (Fr., 2B); Sanjita Saxena (Fr., P); Vivian Schladt (So., P/OF); Nikki Stulak/Simalova (Fr., 1B); Jessica Vacchi (So., C); Annie White (Fr., OF). Strengths: The speedy Hu is one of the premier lead-off batters in the area. She  hit .559 a year ago with 10 stolen bases after hitting .541 as a freshman. Hu was a center field the last two years and has moved to shortstop following the graduation of Julia Dorfman. Among the other returnees are Arvind (.348) and Castiglione (.412, two homers). There are multiple pitching options. Schladt showed lots of promise as a freshmen and led the staff with 69 innings pitched. Chen and Arvind combined for 90 innings in the circle. Outlook: After making significant strides last year and coming close against Northern Burlington in the playoffs, United got hit very hard by graduation. The team will have to start working its way back up again, but as last season showed it can be done. ...read more read less