By Bill Evans and Jeremy Schneider
By David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
No holiday for softball players
Students might be preparing for Easter break, but softball players. ... not so much. There's some big games this week leading into the holiday, including a few taking advantage of the lack of school for a weekday morning or early-afternoon start. See what the big games are as the weather heats up and so does the action on the field.
By Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media
Bishop Ahr at No. 18 South Plainfield, Monday, 4
South Plainfield's 3-0 and tearing opponents apart. Bishop Ahr is undefeated, though, and could provide a unique challenge.
By John Munson | NJ Advance Media
No. 4 West Essex at No. 6 Mount St. Dominic, Tuesday, 4
The two best teams in Essex County square off with a No. 1 ranking in the SEC on the line. Will Mount St. Dominic shake off an early loss to claim a victory in a potential ECT final preview?
By John Munson | NJ Advance Media
Clifton at No. 1 Immaculate Heart, Tuesday, 4
Immaculate Heart took two tough losses this past weekend. How will the Blue Eagles bounce back against a Big North foe?
By Steve Hockstein | NJ Advance Media
Pope John at No. 15 Jefferson, Tuesday, 4
Two of the more talented teams in the NJAC face off with a chance at the top ranking in the league at stake.
By Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media
Bordentown at Rancocas Valley, Tuesday, 4
RV pulled out a 6-5 victory in the semifinals of its own Elite Tournament on Sunday on the way to the title, but a regular-season rematch is just two days away between arguably the two best teams in the Burlington County Scholastic League.
First Player of the Year Watch for 2017
By David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
Vineland at Wildwood Catholic, Tuesday, 4
Wildwood Catholic is a program on the rise as evidenced by a 9-2 thumping of perennial contender Buena last week, but Vineland showed it can hang with some top teams as it took 20th-ranked Millville to the wire last Friday.
By Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media
Middletown South at No. 3 Middletown North, Wednesday, 11 a.m.
These rivals had their Opening Day contest rained out, but they shouldn't have any issues hooking up this week. No. 3 Middletown North was stunned by Allentown over the weekend, so a win over its crosstown foes might take some of the sting off.
By David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
No. 17 Lacey at Jackson Liberty, Wednesday, 11 a.m.
Chelsea Howard has been throwing bullets for Lacey this season, but she'll have to be on her game against a hard-hitting Jackson Liberty squad that seems to be rounding into form.
By Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media
No. 7 Watchung Hills at Montgomery, Wednesday, 3:45
Watchung Hills is the top team in the Skyland conference, but Montgomery has certainly turned heads after besting No. 1 Immaculate Heart this past weekend.
By Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media
Warren Hills at No. 12 Bridgewater-Raritan, Wednesday, 4
Bridgewater-Raritan owns impressive wins over Old Bridge and Immaculata but took a tough loss to Ridge. Will Warren Hills trip up the Panthers as well?
By Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media
No. 8 Robbinsville at No. 9 Steinert, Thursday, 11 a.m.
No. 8 in the state travels to No. 9 for a big Colonial Valley Conference matchup. Robbinsville won the Mercer County Tournament last year, while Steinert was the Group 3 state champion.
By David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
Pinelands at No. 2 Donovan Catholic, Thursday, 2
With No. 1 Immaculate Heart losing twice this week, No. 2 Donovan Catholic is poised to take over the top spot. But can it stay there? The Griffins will have their hands full against a Pinelands team with ace Jessie Rising, who threw back-to-back no-hitters this past week.
By David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
Eastern at No. 13 Washington Twp., Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
It's an old-fashioned Olympic Conference showdown. These teams always put on a show as their three meetings last year will attest. This could be the first of many meetings again this year as well.
By Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media
Sterling at Audubon, Thursday, 3:45
Sterling didn't get to meet up with Audubon in the Camden County Tournament after the Green Wave was dispatched in the semifinals, but two of the Colonial Conference's top contenders will meet up this week.
By Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
No. 11 Johnson at Benedictine, Thursday, 4
The Union County Tournament champion from last season in Johnson, who just bested No. 1 Immaculate Heart, versus a Benedictine program that made a historic run to the Non-Public B final last season and could give Johnson a test.
By Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media
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