Another exciting week of high school softball is in the books, and the talent on display across Morris and Sussex counties has been nothing short of spectacular. From clutch hitting to dominant pitching, these student-athletes delivered performances worth celebrating. Now, it's your turn to decide who deserves the Player of the Week honors for May 4-10. Read on for the standout stats, then cast your vote in the poll below.
Samantha Bertuglia, Montville (So., 2B)
The sophomore second baseman was a force at the plate, going 7-for-12 with a home run, five runs scored, and 11 RBIs as the Mustangs swept a perfect 3-0 week. Her biggest moment came on May 5, when she went 3-for-4 with three runs, a homer, and six RBIs in a 20-5 rout of Sparta.
Megan Bochner, Morris Catholic (Sr., C)
The senior catcher was nearly unstoppable, collecting 11 hits in 14 at-bats with a home run, four runs, and eight RBIs across three wins. On May 7, she exploded for a 4-for-5 performance with four runs and six RBIs in a 17-2 victory over Morris Tech. With 43 hits this season, Bochner has already surpassed her combined total from the previous three years (52).
Haley Fox, Morris Catholic (Sr., 2B/P)
Fox did it all for the Golden Eagles, going 6-for-11 with three runs and five RBIs while leading her team to a historic repeat as Morris County tournament champions—a first for the program. She earned the win in the circle against Morris Catholic in the final and scored the game-winning run in a dramatic 10-9 victory. Fox also notched the 150th hit of her career during the championship game.
Lily Inauen, Randolph (Jr., C)
The junior catcher showcased her power with a 7-for-13 week, including two home runs, five runs, and eight RBIs for the Redhawks. In a May 8 win over Morris Tech (11-2), she went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs, and a stolen base.
Mackenzie Lockburner, Pope John (Jr., UTIL)
Lockburner was a key contributor as the Wildcats reached the final of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament. She tallied five hits in 10 at-bats with six RBIs, including a 2-for-3, three-RBI performance in a 6-4 semifinal win over North Hunterdon on May 9.
Morgan Murphy, Montville (So., P)
The sophomore pitcher was dominant on both sides of the ball. At the plate, she went 5-for-6 with a home run, three runs, and three RBIs in wins over Sparta and Pompton Lakes. In the circle, Murphy allowed just one earned run across 12 innings, picking up her 11th and 12th wins of the season.
Megan Swartz, Pope John (Sr., P)
The senior pitcher was a strikeout machine, fanning 19 batters while allowing only two earned runs over 11 innings of work. Her command and composure kept the Wildcats in the hunt all week.