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<p>New Jersey is quietly home to some of the best softball players in the country. From the New York City suburbs across the Hudson River, all the way down to Atlantic City, there are thousands of talented softball players dominating some of the best competition in the nation.</p>
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<p>Below are five of the top uncommitted softball prospects from the 2026 class in the Garden State.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">When you hit almost .800 over a stretch of any portion of games, you're feeling good. When you're doing it over the entirety of your high school season, you're feeling on top of the world. Ava finished her first year of varsity softball batting .784 with 35 RBI, 10 doubles, three triples and four home runs for King's Christian.</p>
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<p>Ava's tremendous season landed her NCSAA Varsity Fastpitch Softball First-Team honors and helped propel her team to the second round of a challenging playoff bracket. Though her fielding percentage behind the plate needs some developing, Ava can use the strong start to her varsity career as a springboard for her future.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Not only did Taylor finish her sophomore season batting .437, but she also mowed down the competition as Delaware Valley's ace. Through 102.1 innings, Taylor struck out 131 batters, while posting a 3.08 ERA. Through two varsity seasons, the stud righty has a sub-3.00 ERA with 231 strikeouts. At the plate, she's mainly a singles hitter, but can also put some balls in the gap that coaches hope will head over the fence in a few years.</p>
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<p>She's already drawn significant attention, earning 16U First-Team All-Tournament honors at the USA Softball Tournament in Oklahoma. Taylor has also attended camps at schools like Coastal Carolina, Stonehill, and St. Francis. Her dual-threat abilities will certainly be a welcome addition to any college program in two years.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Mia is your prototypical leadoff hitter. She's going to get on base more often than not. She's going to play a clean middle infield with solid range at both shortstop and second base. And she's going to quickly run the bases and put pressure on the defense. She finished her sophomore season with a .531 average, scoring 36 runs, while also knocking in 18.</p>
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<p>She has a much more developed eye at the plate than many players her age. And even while playing up a level in travel ball, Mia is able to separate herself as one of the best players on the field at any given time.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Jaelynn profiles as a powerful catcher who can cement the power alley of any college's lineup. She batted .361 last year with eight doubles and 10 walks, showing her ability to know the zone. Jaelynn can also successfully drive the ball to all fields, and will likely develop into a strong power hitter with many more home runs in her future.</p>
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<p>Jaelynn in the batter's box is simply a menacing sight for opposing pitchers. She has a compact swing that allows her to keep her barrel in the zone for a long time. With a strong junior season, it's likely she won't be uncommitted for long.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Riley has an innate ability to blast the ball off of her bat. She has a bit of an uppercut in her swing that allows her to drive the ball deep in the outfield, but it is controlled enough to keep her barrel through the zone for an extended period of time. Riley has a big leg kick that helps her to stay on time in her swing, and the rest is as fluid as it gets.</p>
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<p>Coupled with a slick glove that she can deploy at nearly every position, Riley has a chance to become one of New Jersey's top prospects in 2025.</p>
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New Jersey is quietly home to some of the best softball players in the country. From the New York City suburbs across the Hudson River, all the way down to Atlantic City, there are thousands of talented softball players dominating some of the best competition in the nation.
HEIGHT
5'7"
POS
C
CLASS
2026
School:
King's Christian
Club:
New Jersey Mystics Premier 18U
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HEIGHT
5'5"
POS
RHP
CLASS
2026
School:
Delaware Valley
Club:
Rock Gold Waye National
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School:
Steinert
Club:
Jersey Outlaws Gold DB/Wally 18U
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HEIGHT
5'10"
POS
C
CLASS
2026
School:
Donovan Catholic
Club:
Intensity National
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HEIGHT
5'4"
POS
SS
CLASS
2026
School:
Barnegat Township
Club:
NJ Ruthless Softball-Popowski 18U
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