By Bill Evans and Jeremy Schneider
By Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Double trouble
Pitching is the name of the game in softball. But you need some offense too. So if you have a good pitcher who can help herself at the plate, you've taken a big step towards being a competitive team. With that in mind, N.J.com takes a look at 20 athletes we consider among the top dual-threat players in the state. These girls can set them down and knock them in.
By Jesse Brothers | The Jersey Journal
Sophie Chong, Weehawken
One of the most dominant players in Hudson County, she has four home runs, 13 RBI and 12 runs scored this year to go with 99 strikeouts and a 9-2 record.
By David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
Emily Cimino, Wildwood Catholic
One of Wildwood Catholic's super sophs, Cimino is hitting .667 with three home runs, 13 runs scored and 12 RBIs while posting a 2.80 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 40 innings.
By Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Kelly Duffy, Sayreville
A masher at the plate with 17 RBI, five home runs, seven doubles and 20 runs scored, she also has 73 strikeouts and an 8-2 record.
By David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
Angie Dunphy, Rancocas Valley
The senior is hitting .457 with 10 runs scored and 15 RBIs, while posting a 2.50 ERA on the mound.
By Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media
Grace Fagan, Kingsway
After missing last season, Fagan has come back with a vengeance. The Mississippi State commit has 114 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched with a 0.94 ERA and is hitting over .500.
RELATED: Softball Player of the Year Watch list
By Noah Murray | For NJ Advance Media
Victoria Galvin, Manasquan
Galvan's pitching continues to improve as she has a 1.64 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 47 innings. At the plate, she is one of the state's most feared power hitters, drawing walks with regularity.
Alyssa M. Davis
Mackenzie Garrick, South River
The state’s leader with 159 strikeouts and a Pace commit, she has a 12-1 record and has allowed just eight earned runs while batting .773 with 34 hits, 31 RBI, 24 runs scored, seven doubles, six triples and three home runs.
By Larry Murphy | For The Times of Trenton
Angela Giampolo, Notre Dame
An injury prevented the Villanova commit from pitching most of last season, though she was still able to rake at the plate. This year, the right-hander has the Irish undefeated on the field with a .473 batting average, three home runs, 17 runs scored and 15 RBIs and a 064 ERA.
By Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Riley Kernan, Middletown North
Kernan has been a rock for the perennial Top-10 teams for years. Offensively, she is hitting .378 with 10 RBIs, while producing a 1.86 ERA and 68 strikeouts in the circle.
By Rob Samuels | For NJ Advance Media
Caitlyn Murray, Carteret
Just a junior but dominating this year with 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, nine doubles, five home runs, a 10-2 record and 72 strikeouts.
By John Munson | NJ Advance Media
Lindsay Nelson, Donovan Catholic
The sophomore has helped lead the Griffins to an undefeated record and the state's No. 1 ranking. She has a 1.02 ERA and 86 strikeouts in the circle, while hitting .429.
By Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
Gianna Randazza, Johnson
A Boston College commit who's hitting .478 with 18 RBI, seven doubles, two triples, there home runs and 12 runs scored while striking out 50.
By Chris Monroe | For NJ Advance Media
Summer Ramundo, DePaul
One of the best players in Passaic County, she has 17 RBI, four home runs, and 74 strikeouts.
By George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
Julie Rodriguez, Old Tappan
A UCLA commit, Rodriguez has a .676 batting average with .769 on-base percentage and three home runs. In the circle, she has posted a sub-1.00 ERA.
ESSENTIALS: Rankings, scoreboards, schedules, brackets and more
By Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media
Demi Rivera, St. John Vianney
The senior Player of the Year candidate has led the Lancers to a 12-0 record. She has a 1.04 ERA, while batting .600 with three home runs, 16 runs scored and 19 RBIs.
By Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Angela Saric, Indian Hills
She's blasted four home runs and driven in 13 runs, while striking out 70 in the circle.
By Mary Iuvone | For NJ Advance Media
Peyton Schnackenberg, Montgomery
The key for arguably the biggest surprise team of the year, she has 13 RBI, three home runs to go with a 9-0 record and 94 strikeouts.
Varsity Aces
Jennifer Sweeney, Dumont
At the center of things for one of the surprises of the year in Bergen County, Sweeney has 26 RBI, 29 hits, 20 runs scored, five home runs and a .630 batting average while striking out 94 en route to an 11-1 record.
By Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media
Tori Szrom, Egg Harbor
Last season, Szrom was part of a 1-2 punch on the mound and in the middle of the lineup with first-team all-state player Nicole Wisser. This season, Szrom has shouldered the load in both areas and has led Egg Harbor to an undefeated record and the state's No. 5 overall ranking.
By Jesse Bair | For NJ Advance Media
Mahogany Wheeler. Millville
The freshman has been one of this season's breakthrough stars beginning on the first day of the season when she led the Thunderbolts to the Ron Vinick Tournament title. She has blasted six home runs with a .429 average, 18 runs scored and 19 RBIs. On the mound, she has a 1.79 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings.
By Mary Iuvone | For NJ Advance Media
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Bill Evans can be reached at [email protected] or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @BEvansSports. Like our High School Softball Page on Facebook.
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