By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
The 2025 NJSIAA Softball State Playoffs have arrived. In less than three weeks, six state champions will be crowned at Ivy Hill Park In Newark on June 13.
See my breakdown of the South Jersey public school brackets below to find out which local teams have the best chance to advance from their section and potentially compete for a state title. The first round is slated to begin on Tuesday.
South Jersey Group 1
Seeds
1-Audubon (15-7)
2-Pennsville (19-4)
3-Haddon Township (14-8)
4- Woodstown (12-7)
5- Schalick (13-4)
6- Maple Shade (11-8)
7- Pitman (10-9)
8- Cape May Tech (14-8)
9- Riverside (13-5)
10- Clayton (8-11)
11- Buena (5-18)
12- Palmyra (7-11)
13- Glassboro (7-10)
14- LEAP Academy (10-5)
15- Wildwood (5-12)
16- Paulsboro (6-6)
Favorite
Audubon (15-7): The Green Wave have appeared in six sectional final games since 2017 and have not come away with a trophy. Is this finally the year when they break through? After starting the season with a 7-7 record, Audubon owns an eight-game winning streak, including a stunning 9-3 triumph over top-ranked Kingsway on May 21. Talk about momentum. Junior Emma Speyerer has a team-high 31 hits and a .419 batting average this spring.
Contenders
Haddon Township (14-8): The defending South Jersey Group 1 champions stunned Audubon on its own field in the sectional final last season and have the ammunition to make another run. One of the region’s finest in the circle, Jordan Strauss has a 1.40 ERA with 199 strikeouts in 115 innings pitched for her senior campaign.
Pennsville (19-4): The Eagles were the projected top-seed until the final week prior to the cutoff when Audubon made a late push for the No. 1 slot. Regardless, Pennsville has the most wins (19) out of any other Group 1 squad in the region, with the least amount of losses (4). Two of its four losses came to fellow Group 1 foes in Pitman and Schalick by a combined three runs, while its most recent victory came against previously undefeated Group 3 power Delsea. Which Pennsville team will show up? Kylie Harris recorded a team-high 47 hits and 34 RBIs this spring.
Underdog
Woodstown (12-7): Under first-year coach Rob Hildebrand, Woodstown owns a 12-7 record and is on a four-game winning streak heading into the tournament. The Wolverines are one of the most battle-tested Group 1 squads in the region, with four of their seven setbacks coming against No. 1 Kingsway, No. 4 Delsea, No. 5 Gloucester, and No. 9 Clearview.
Projected Final
Audubon over Haddon Township
South Jersey Group 2
Seeds
1- Gloucester (15-5)
2-Haddon Heights (15-5)
3-Cinnaminson (14-9)
4-Medford Tech (16-2)
5-Barnegat (17-6)
6-Oakcrest (16-5)
7-West Deptford (9-13)
8-Middle Township (10-9)
9-Sterling (10-11)
10-Cedar Creek (6-12)
11-Collingswood (12-9)
12-Overbrook (10-9)
13-Manchester Township (5-13)
14-Haddonfield (6-8)
15-Camden Academy Charter (7-9)
16-Lower Cape May (4-14)
Favorite
Gloucester (15-5): The defending Group 2 state champions know what it takes to make a deep postseason run. The Lions are on a five-game winning streak entering the playoffs. Sophomore Bailey Schoenfeldt is batting an impressive .424 with a team-leading 28 hits.
Contenders
Haddon Heights (15-5): Loaded with a veteran lineup that won back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023, Haddon Heights has the experience and smarts to make a deep run. The Garnets split with top-seeded Gloucester in the regular season, but got walked-off by the Lions in their most recent meeting on May 15. Senior Sami Szabo has 21 hits and a team-high 24 RBIs this spring.
Cinnaminson (14-9): The Pirates have won four of their last five games after winning just one in their last five prior. Cinnaminson’s record isn’t shiny with nine losses on its résumé, but it’s played a competitive schedule against several ranked opponents, including No. 1 Kingsway (twice), No. 2 St. Joseph Academy, and No. 8 Delran (twice). Hannah Derbyshire has 118 strikeouts in 102 innings for the Pirates.
Underdog
West Deptford (9-13): Despite a losing record, West Deptford has consistently played ranked teams tough and has captured some big wins along the way against No. 5-ranked and top-seeded Gloucester and No. 12 Audubon. In two non-league games against No. 4 Delsea, the top seed in the South Jersey Group 3 bracket, the Eagles fell short by one run on each occasion. Taking on a full-time role in the circle, sophomore Jordyn Ambrosius has 122 strikeouts and 25 hits at the plate.
Projected Final
Gloucester over Haddon Heights
South Jersey Group 3
Seeds
1-Delsea (21-1)
2-Clearview (15-4)
3-Absegami (19-6)
4-Pinelands (16-4)
5-Hammonton (17-8)
6-Ocean City (14-9)
7-Timber Creek (10-7)
8-Triton (12-10)
9-Camden Tech (9-7)
10-Lacey (10-10)
11-Toms River East (5-11)
12-Cherry Hill West (14-10)
13-Toms River South (9-13)
14-Deptford (6-13)
15-Mainland (4-17)
16-Cumberland (7-16)
Favorite
Delsea (21-1): The last remaining undefeated team in the region before falling to Pennsville on May 21, fourth-ranked and top-seeded Delsea is the clear favorite in S.J. Group 3. The Crusaders have prevailed in several close games and know what it takes to win against playoff competitors. They earned a convincing 13-4 victory over second-seeded Clearview in late April and notched two triumphs over eighth-seeded Triton. It’s been hard for opposing offenses to figure out the lethal pitching duo in freshman Cailyn Centeno and senior Iris Chapman, who have a combined 169 strikeouts sharing time in the circle this spring.
Contenders
Clearview (15-4): First-year coach Matt Schneider has the Pioneers playing at an elite level. Clearview has run the table this spring outside of setbacks to No. 1 Kingsway (twice), No. 3 Vineland, and No. 4 and top-seeded Delsea. Freshman Ella Redheffer has racked up 31 hits and 15 RBIs for the Pioneers.
Ocean City (14-9): The Red Raiders are a dangerous sixth seed in this bracket after playing against an always competitive Cape-Atlantic League schedule throughout the season. Junior pitcher Brooke Douglas has a career-high 139 strikeouts this season.
Underdog
Absegami (19-6): Absegami hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2012 season. The third-seeded Braves are set to change that as long as they take care of business against 14th-seeded Deptford in the opening round. Sophomore pitcher Meghan Johansen recently reached 200 career strikeouts.
Projected Final
Delsea over Clearview
South Jersey Group 4
Seeds
1-Kingsway (20-2)
2-Vineland (18-3)
3-Rancocas Valley (16-6)
4-Southern (15-8)
5-Cherokee (15-5)
6- Millville (13-8)
7- Egg Harbor Township (11-13)
8-Gloucester Tech (10-7)
9-Williamstown (12-11)
10-Lenape (9-8)
11-Howell (12-9)
12-Central Regional (8-13)
13-Cherry Hill East (14-8)
14-Washington Township (6-14)
15-Atlantic Tech (8-14)
16-Atlantic City (10-13)
Favorite
Kingsway (20-2): Kingsway looked unstoppable before suffering a 5-2 walk-off loss to parochial state power Donovan Catholic and uncharacteristically recording six errors in a 9-3 upset loss to No. 12 Audubon the next day. Despite the sour run, Kingsway is still the undisputed top squad in South Jersey and among the top public school programs in the state. The Dragons came up short in the sectional playoffs as the top seed last season, so it’s time for a redemption tour. Hannah Weismer is batting .500 with 33 hits and 33 RBIs. Jessa Pieters and Ava Snyder have combined for 146 strikeouts in the circle, with the latter owning a team-high .513 batting average and 39 hits at the plate.
Contenders
Vineland (18-3): After an 11-1 season-opening loss to Kingsway, the defending South Jersey Group 4 champions went on an 18-game win streak that was recently snapped with losses to Millville and No. 2 St. Joseph Academy. Are the Fighting Clan getting cold at the wrong time? Only time will tell. Leah Mears has been a force with the bat this spring, smashing 41 hits with a .554 average.
Rancocas Valley (16-6): The Red Devils played a competitive game with Kingsway in the RV Elite Tournament final back in April and have won their last four games entering the tournament. Katie Dick has powered the Rancocas Valley offense with 39 hits and 31 RBIs.
Underdog
Cherokee (15-5): Cali Taylor has been one of the top pitchers in the region for Cherokee, holding a 1.00 ERA with 160 strikeouts in just 91 innings pitched. The junior recently reached 300 career strikeouts and doesn’t plan on halting that number anytime soon. The Chiefs have won eight of their last nine games and will be a real tough out as the fifth seed.
Projected Final
Kingsway over Vineland
My final set of South Jersey Rankings prior to the state tournament:
1- Kingsway
2- St. Joseph (Hamm.)
3- Vineland
4- Delsea
5- Gloucester
6- Cherokee
7- Haddon Heights
8- Delran
9- Clearview
10- Rancocas Valley
11- Cinnaminson
12- Audubon
