Previewing SJ Groups 1 and 3 in Softball

by Marc Narducci | May 18, 2026

The NJSIAA softball state tournament will begin on May 26 for public schools and May 27 for Non-Public schools. The seedings will come out later this week, but for our purposes, we will go with projected seeds based on the NJSIAA power points. The cutoff date for the tournament was Saturday.

Sixteen teams will qualify for each public school section.

Here is a look at Groups 1 and 3 in softball, with next week a preview of Groups 2 and 4.

Group 1

Defending champion: Audubon beat Haddon Township, 9-5. The Green Wave won the state semifinal before losing to three-time defending state champ Cedar Grove, 6-0 in the state championship game.

Outlook: During the previous two seasons, one of the area’s top rivalries took place in the sectional final. In 2024, Haddon Township beat Audubon, 5-2, in the South Jersey Group 1 final. Last year Audubon returned the favor, defeating the Hawks to win the sectional final.

This year it doesn’t appear as if both will meet in the final because Haddon Township began the week 6-15, although the Hawks may be capable of pulling an upset in the tournament.

Audubon on the other hand, will be the top seed and the clear favorite. The Green Wave began the week 16-8, but they have played a very difficult schedule. First off, Audubon plays in the Colonial Conference, which means two games against quality teams like two-time defending state Group 2 champion Gloucester. (Audubon lost both games to the Lions, 5-0 and 5-1).

Still, that tough schedule, that also included Group 4 non-league heavyweights Kingsway and Cherokee, should make Audubon ready for the rigors of the state tournament.

Coach Erin Small has used four different pitchers, although senior Kylie Cannaday entered the week having thrown the most innings (61.1) and had a 1.94 ERA. Centerfielder Emma Speyerer, with 167 career hits and a .488 career batting average, is among the most dangerous leadoff hitters in South Jersey. Audubon has good depth in its lineup. Anything is possible in the state tournament, but the Green Wave will be difficult to beat.

That said, projected No. 2 seed Buena, which also began the week 16-8 bears watching. If anybody else wins this section, it would be considered a major upset.

Group 3

Defending champion: Delsea beat Clearview, 4-3. The Crusaders then lost to Steinert, 8-5 in the state semifinal.

Outlook: Both of last year’s sectional finalists, Delsea and Clearview will be factors, but projected top seed Ocean City is the team to beat. However, unlike Group 1, this should be a tight race.

Hammonton is the No. 2 seed and the Blue Devils have split with Ocean City. In its first game, Ocean City earned a 7-3 win over Hammonton, but the Blue Devils won the rematch with last week’s 5-4 win in a Cape Atlantic League tournament semifinal.

Seniors Jessica Mooney and Brooke Douglas give Ocean City one of the deepest pitching staffs. Mooney began the week 9-0 with a 0.68 ERA in 71.1 innings. Douglas was 7-6 with a 3.09 ERA in 77 innings. Douglas is also one of the top hitters in the state (.545, 10 home runs, 33 RBIs).

Tri-County Conference foes Delsea and Clearview have split their games this season and both should be contenders. Clearview is the projected third seed, with Delsea projected at No. 5.

Seneca, the projected No. 4 seed, can’t be discounted, although the Golden Eagles lost a 5-0 decision to Ocean City earlier this season.

Simply put, Group 3 appears up for grabs and even a team not in the top five, could possibly be in title contention in one of the more evenly balanced Groups in South Jersey.

Audubon pitcher Kylie Cannaday / Marc Narducci

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Author: Marc Narducci

Previewing SJ Groups 1 and 3 in Softball

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