The 2026 season is off to a fast start, with almost no weather delays and summer-like conditions as we approach the third week of the college softball campaign in Central Jersey. There was plenty of high-level diamond action in the Skyland, Greater Middlesex and Union Country conferences over the first two weeks and some fantastic individual performances were recorded.
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Here are the nominations for the first Central Jersey Softball Player of the Week award of the season. All statistics until Sunday, April 12.
Voting ends Friday at noon.
Nominees selected by Simeon Pincus and Josh Rosenfeld. The winner of the vote will appear as the Player of the Week.
EMMA ANDERSON
Hillsboro
Freshman
The Raiders have endured two rebuilding seasons after reaching two state finals in three years and things are certainly looking extremely positive heading into the season. That starts in the circle where freshman Emm Anderson appears to have emerged as an ace, fueling Boro’s 4-0 start by posting a 0.48 ERA, allowing just two earned runs, 14 hits and just four walks, while striking out 47 in 29 innings.
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LINDA FRANCISCO
northern hunters
Senior
The four-year starter is in her third season with the Lions after playing at Gill St. Bernard’s as a freshman and, following the graduation of Skye Cooke, has taken over as North Hunterdon’s undisputed ace. He has increased his production considerably early in the season, going 5-1 with a 0.85 ERA and two shutouts, allowing just five walks and striking out 56 in 41 innings.
AMANDA LEBERS
Rahway
Junior
Pitcher
The Indians have won five of their first six outings for the second year in a row and their junior ace is also 5-1 and a big contributor. He has allowed just six earned runs for a 1.85 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 10 walks in 22 2/3 innings, and he has also done so at the plate with eight extra-base hits in 21 at-bats for a .524/1.095 batting/slugging percentage and 11 RBI.
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ALLISON MOSCHBERGER
Delaware Valley
Senior
The catcher/third baseman/outfielder has joined Ava Figalora and Lilly Rynearson as the big hitters who have helped the Terriers get off to a 6-0 start and control the Skyland Conference Valley Division race. Moschberger is hitting .619 so far with two doubles, two triples and eight RBIs.
MIKAYLA OTT
Spotswood
Senior
Pitcher
The senior struck out 10 while pitching a seven-inning perfect game at Metuchen in her first start replacing graduated All-Area selection Ava Mormile as Spotswood’s primary pitcher. He then pitched a four-inning no-hitter against Bard in his third start. Overall, he is 4-1 with a 0.62 ERA, 39 strikeouts and 12 walks in 34 innings.
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COURTNEY PAULIKAS
Kennedy
Senior
Pitcher
The 5-0 Mustangs are off to their best start since a 10-0 start to a 21-3 campaign in 2019 and Paulikas has thrown every pitch/He is 5-0 with a 2.69 ERA, 45 strikeouts and just nine walks in 26 innings in the circle, while also producing a .471 batting average and .882 slugging percentage at the plate, and 25 hits. less than 100 for his career.
CARLY PFEIFFER
Governor Livingston
Junior
The junior has not only taken over the shortstop spot from graduating star Chelsea Kiesewetter, but he has also taken a big leap on offense, emerging as the Highlanders’ top hitter to start the season. Pfeiffer is hitting .522 in six games with one home run and a team-high 10 RBIs.
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CHLOÉ RODRIGUEZ
northern plain
Senior
receiver
The former varsity baseball player has become a dominant star in her second season playing softball. He’s batting .708 and slugging 1.958 with six home runs, five triples and 21 RBIs, including a pair of two-homer outings. He also has multiple extra-base hits in five of the Canucks’ seven games and has also stolen eight bases.
ELLA ROYSTER
pingry
Senior
The Big Blue’s star center fielder earned first-team All-Area honors last season and hasn’t missed a beat, leading Pingry to a 6-0 start, despite being promoted to Skyland’s upper division. Royster is hitting .571 with four doubles, a triple, three home runs and 17 RBIs as the Big Blue averages 9.7 runs per game heading into Monday’s action.
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JOSIE VANORE
Sayreville
Senior
Pitcher
Vanore, the only first-team All-Area pitcher returning from last season, has picked up where she left off for the top-ranked undefeated Bombers. He is 5-0 after pitching all but 2/3 innings for Sayreville, posting a 0.84 ERA, 44 strikeouts and nine walks in 33 1/3 frames. He’s also a fixture in the middle of the Bombers’ lineup with three extra-base hits in 14 at-bats.
VOTE NOW!! THE SURVEY CLOSES FRIDAY AT NOON!!
Staff writer Simeon Pincus has been covering New Jersey sports since 1997 and has been on the softball beat since 1999. He can be reached at MessengerSoftball@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter/X @SimeonPincus
Follow GMC softball writer Josh Rosenfeld on Twitter/X @JoshPRosenfeld
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