Week 5 of the 2026 softball season is in the books, and Central Jersey delivered another round of unforgettable performances. Now it's your turn to decide who takes home the Player of the Week crown.
After a dominant stretch on the mound, Hunterdon Central's sophomore ace is making a name for herself. Following last year's state championship run, the Red Devils faced a rebuilding year after losing eight starters, including Player of the Year Emily Van Cleef. But this young pitcher has found her groove. She went a perfect 3-0 last week, allowing just one earned run over 17 innings while scattering only nine hits. Her standout performances included a non-conference win over Randolph, a key Delaware Division victory against Immaculata, and a Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament win over Wallkill Valley. As Central begins its second trip through the conference schedule, things are finally turning around in the circle.
Meanwhile, the Vikings' junior catcher was a force behind the plate and at the dish. After starting the week with just a single win, her team tripled that total with victories over Carteret and North Brunswick. She went 3-for-5 with a double, triple, and five RBIs in the first game, then followed it up with a double and three more RBIs in the second. She's now slugging .510 on the season, and more than half of her 15 RBIs came during last week's surge.
Over in Bernards, the senior shortstop has been the steady hand guiding a young squad. After the Mountaineers graduated eight players from a team that made three straight sectional finals, she's been invaluable as a leader and producer. Last week, she helped Bernards go 2-1, with the only loss coming by a single run at Mount St. Mary. The week ended with a Somerset County Tournament road win at Somerville. She went 5-for-11 with a double, triple, homer, and seven runs scored. She's now hitting .444 for the season with three doubles, a triple, two homers, nine RBIs, 15 runs scored, and six stolen bases.
Voting is now open, and the winner will be featured as our Central Jersey Softball Player of the Week. Cast your ballot and help us celebrate the athletes who make this sport special.