Governor Livingston, which has appeared in the last seven championship games, was selected as the top seed for the 42nd annual softball Union County Tournament.
Seeded Monday night in Clark, GL earned the No. 1 seed based on a 10-2 record that includes Union County Conference-Watchung Division wins over defending UCT champion Johnson (7-3) and Westfield (7-2).
GL’s only loss to a county team was its 2-1 setback at Watchung Division foe Cranford on April 7. GL, which began the week tied with Cranford for the Watchung Division lead, had its only other loss to Hanover Park 3-2 at Chatham on April 8. The Highlanders began the week on an eight-game winning streak, including home wins over Summit and Columbia on Sunday.
Westfield is the No. 2 seed, Johnson No. 3 and Mountain Division leader Roselle Park, which lost at Johnson 3-1 Monday to fall to 8-5, is No. 4. Cranford, which began the week at 6-3, is the No. 5 seed.
Rounding out the top eight seeds are No. 6 Dayton, No. 7 Brearley and No. 8 Summit. Dayton defeated Brearley 7-1 at home Monday in Mountain Division play. Dayton improved to 6-2 and Brearley fell to 3-3.
Summit, the Valley Division leader, began the week at 8-3, after falling to GL and Madison at GL on Sunday. Summit outscored its first nine foes 80-9, including four shutouts. The first Hilltopper loss was at Westfield 4-3 on April 12.
Since 20 of the 23 Union County playing schools were seeded there will be four preliminary round games at the higher seeds at 4 p.m. on or by Thursday, April 27.
The eight first round games at the higher seeds will be played at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 29.
The four quarterfinal round games at the higher seeds will be played at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3.
The semifinals are scheduled to be played Saturday, May 6 at Linden’s Flanagan Fields, both at 6 p.m.
The final is set for Saturday, May 13 at Kean University’s Cougar Field in Union, with a 2 p.m. starting time. The game will follow the junior varsity championship game, scheduled for a noon start.
The rain date for the finals is Sunday, May 14.
Johnson is the defending champion for the third time and for the first time since 1982.
Union has won the most titles with 11, while Westfield is next with nine, GL third with six and Cranford fourth with five.
GL last won in 2015 and Westfield in 2014. Cranford last won in 2010, which was its fourth in five years.
Union last won in 2009. The Farmers won a record six straight titles from 1991-1996.
42nd ANNUAL SOFTBALL UNION COUNTY TOURNAMENT
SEEDS: 1-Governor Livingston. 2-Westfield. 3-Johnson. 4-Roselle Park.
5-Cranford. 6-Dayton. 7-Brearley. 8-Summit.
9-Benedictine. 10-Elizabeth. 11-Union Catholic. 12-Union.
13-Scotch Plains. 14-Rahway. 15-Oak Knoll. 16-Kent Place.
17-Linden. 18-New Providence. 19-Plainfield. 20-Roselle Catholic.
PRELIMINARY ROUND:
Thursday, April 27
At higher seeds, 4 p.m.
20-Roselle Catholic at 13-Scotch Plains
19-Plainfield at 14-Rahway
18-New Providence at 15-Oak Knoll
17-Linden at 16-Kent Place
FIRST ROUND:
Saturday, April 29
At higher seeds, 11 a.m.
TOP SIDE OF THE BRACKET:
17-Linden/16-Kent Place at 1-Gov. Livingston
9-Benedictine at 8-Summit
13-Scotch Plains/20-RC at 4-Roselle Park
12-Union at 5-Cranford
BOTTOM SIDE OF THE BRACKET:
18-New Providence/15-Oak Knoll at 2-Westfield
10-Elizabeth at 7-Brearley
19-Plainfield/14-Rahway at 3-Johnson
11-Union Catholic at 6-Dayton
QUARTERFINALS:
Wednesday, May 3
At higher seeds, 4 p.m.
First round winners.
SEMIFINALS:
Saturday, May 6
At Linden’s Flanagan Fields, 6 p.m.
Quarterfinal winners.
FINALS:
Saturday, May 13
At Kean University’s Cougar Field
JV: Noon
Varsity: 2 p.m.
Semifinal winners.
UCT SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS:
2016: Johnson – WP: Gianna Randazza
2015: Governor Livingston – WP: Alanna Namit
2014: Westfield – WP: Elena Scarano
2013: Westfield – WP: Elena Scarano
2012: Governor Livingston – WP: Jordan Robbins
2011: Governor Livingston – WP: Jordan Robbins
2010: Cranford – WP: Kelly Hardman
2009: Union – WP: Amanda Kardys
2008: Cranford – WP: Kelly Hardman
2007: Cranford – WP: Kelly Hardman
2006: Cranford – WP: Elena Morge
2005: Brearley – WP: Jenna Vitale
2004: Roselle Park – WP: Becky Riccitelli
2003: Roselle Park – WP: Becky Riccitelli
2002: Cranford – WP: Christine Pemoulie
2001: Governor Livingston – WP: Lyndsey Sheppard
2000: Union – WP: Rayneesha Adams
1999: Governor Livingston – WP: Gina Turturiello
1998: Westfield – won as 6th seed; WP: Shannon Wagner
1997: Governor Livingston
1996: Union – WP: Laura Labonia
1995: Union – WP: Laura Labonia
1994: Union – WP: Laura Labonia
1993: Union – WP: Alison Brehm
1992: Union
1991: Union
1990: Westfield
1989: Union Catholic
1988: Union
1987: Union
1986: Westfield
1985: Westfield
1984: Westfield
1983: Union
1982: Roselle Park
1981: Johnson Regional
1980: Linden
1979: Johnson Regional
1978: Westfield
1977: Scotch Plains
1976: Westfield
CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Union (11)
Westfield (9)
Gov. Livingston (6)
Cranford (5)
Johnson Regional-Johnson (3)
Roselle Park (3)
Scotch Plains (1)
Linden (1)
Union Catholic (1)
Brearley (1)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCORES, 1987-2016:
2016: Johnson 7, Governor Livingston 0 – at Kean
2015: GL 4, Cranford 3 – at Kean
2014: Westfield 5, GL 2 – at Kean
2013: Westfield 15, GL 1 – at Kean
2012: GL 9, New Providence 2 – at Kean
2011: GL 8, Westfield 1 – at Kean
2010: Cranford 4, GL 3 – at Kean
2009: Union 3, Linden 1 – at Linden
2008: Cranford 2, Union 0 – at Linden
2007: Cranford 13, Linden 0 – at Linden
2006: Cranford 1, GL 0 – at Linden
2005: Brearley 2, GL 1 (10 inn.) – at Linden
2004: Roselle Park 2, Cranford 1 (13 inn.) – at Linden
2003: Roselle Park 1, Cranford 0 (11 inn.) – at Linden
2002: Cranford 3, Union 0 – at Linden
2001: GL 3, Scotch Plains 0 – at Linden
2000: Union 2, GL 1 – at Linden
1999: GL 8, Johnson 3 – at Linden
1998: Westfield 9, Roselle Park 0 – at Linden
1997: GL 5, Cranford 0 – at Linden
1996: Union 4, Johnson 3 – at Linden
1995: Union 11, Westfield 0 – at Linden
1994: Union 8, Cranford 7 – at Linden
1993: Union 16, Cranford 14 – at Linden
1992: Union 13, Westfield 0 – at Linden
1991: Union 1, Roselle Park 0 – at Linden
1990: Westfield 3, Union 0 – at Linden
1989: Union Catholic 4, Union 2 – at Linden
1988: Union 1, Roselle Park 0 – at Linden
1987: Union 3, Roselle Park 0 – at Linden