By BIll Evans and Jeremy Schneider
By John Munson | NJ Advance Media
Plenty of big games, how many big moves?
It was a challenging week for the state's No. 1 team. Did Donovan Catholic run the gauntlet to stay No. 1? How high did Montgomery jump after another statement win? And what other changes occurred throughout another interesting week in the rankings? Read on to find out.
By Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
20-South Brunswick (6-0)
Last week: Not ranked.
After a pair of low-scoring games against Colonia and Monroe earlier in the season, the offense has picked up with 38 runs in the last three games.
By Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media
19-Washington Township (8-1)
Last week: No. 19.
The Minutemaids rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to take down rival Eastern. Certainly, the story won't end there between the teams, which will meet again in Voorhiees and possibly two other times this season.
By Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media
18-Rancocas Valley (7-1)
Last week: No. 18.
The Red Devils suffered their first loss of the season to Burlington County rival Northern Burlington, stopping a 7-0 start to the season that included a victory in its own Rancocas Valley Elite Tournament.
By Larry Murphy | For the Times of Trenton
17-Northern Burlington (7-1)
Last week: Not ranked.
The Greyhounds forced their way into the rankings with a win over previously undefeated Rancocas Valley and a second-place finish to Kingsway in Overbook's Battle of the Conferences Tournament.
By Jesse Bair | For NJ Advance Media
16-Kingsway (9-1)
Last week: Not ranked.
The Dragons haven't lost since the opening day of the season, winning seven straight including a championship in Overbrook's Battle of the Conferences Tournament.
RELATED: Statewide softball statistical leaders
By Amanda Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
15-Johnson (6-1)
Last week: No. 7.
A win over then-No. 1 Immaculate Heart put Johnson into the Top 10, but it dropped out after a 9-6 loss to Governor Livingston as part of a 3-1 week.
By Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
14-Ramsey (9-0)
Last week: No. 17
The 2015 state Group 2 champion is showing it will be a threat again with six shutout victories in its first nine games.
By David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
13-Notre Dame (7-0)
Last week: No. 13.
Behind ace Angela Giampaolo, the Irish have allowed just four runs this entire season.
By Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media
12-South Plainfield (8-0)
Last week: No. 12.
Five shutouts in the first eight games, including the last two and three of the previous four have the Tigers perched just outside the Top 10 for a second straight week.
By Chris Monroe | For NJ Advance Media
11-Immaculate Heart (6-2)
Last week: No. 11.
After two losses in two days knocked Immaculate Heart out of the No. 1 spot, it has come back with a vengeance, outscoring opponents, 33-1, as part of a four-game winning streak.
By Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
10-Middletown North (8-1)
Last week: No. 10.
Middletown North has won seven straight after a stunning loss to Allentown, including a 5-4 decision against Wall.
By Phil McAuliffe | For the Times of Trenton
9-Robbinsville (5-2)
Last week: No. 9.
The Ravens avenged a 1-0 loss to Steinert with a 3-1 victory in the rematch on home soil.
By Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media
8-West Essex (9-2)
Last week: No. 8 .
A tough 1-0 loss to St. John Vianney was followed up by back-to-back wins over Millburn and Indian Hills.
By Phil McAuliffe | For the Times of Trenton
7-Steinert (7-1)
Last week: No. 5.
Steinert and Robbinsville split a pair of low-scoring games. Will a third matchup be on tap in the Mercer County Tournament next month?
RELATED: Player of the Year Watch now at 10 players
By Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media
6-Watchung Hills (7-1)
Last week: No. 3.
The defending state Group 4 champion ran into the Montgomery buzzsaw this week but bounced back with wins over Somerville, Nutley and Immaculata.
By Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media
5-Egg Harbor (5-0)
The Eagles are no longer Cinderella, but an undefeated start to this season has them 29-1 over the last two years and looking like the favorite to defend their South Jersey Group 4 title.
By Mary Iuvone | For NJ Advance Media
4-Montgomery (7-0)
Last week: No. 15.
Montgomery has become this year's Egg Harbor, an out-of-nowhere team taking the state by storm. A victory over Immaculate Heart put it in the Top 20 and now a win over Watching Hills has moved the Cougars into the Top 5.
By Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media
3-Mount St. Dominic (6-2)
Last week: No. 4.
Mount St. Dominic lost to Donovan Catholic, 1-0, in what could have been a preview of the state Non-public A final, but that was the only run it allowed all week with shutout victories against Montclair and Yorktown (N.Y.).
By Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media
2-St. John Vianney (7-0)
Last week: No. 2
Fast starts to the season have been common for the Lancers the past few years. This season is no different with wins over Caravel (Del.), Cedar Grove and West Essex.
By John Munson | NJ Advance Media
1-Donovan Catholic (10-0)
A tough stretch looked like it might be a one-week stay at the top for the Griffins, who were up to the challenge by knocking off Pinelands, Mount St. Dominic and Lacey.
By Chris Monroe | 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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