“Claire can certainly strike people out, but I think where she has grown the most as a pitcher the last couple of years is her ability to rely on her defense and be able to pitch to contact,” said Smith. “I thought she had one of her best games during last season when she had great control, struck out only one batter and just trusted her stuff while getting weak contact as we beat Scotch Plains, 5-2, in the (North 2, Group 4) state sectional semis.”

Shupe (38 hits, 15 RBI, .432 BA in 2025) is also a valuable offensive player and will bat leadoff this season in a strong lineup that also includes the St. Thomas Aquinas-bound senior catcher Clevenger (35 hits, 11 extra base hits, 27 RBI, .351 BA) hitting third, and sophomore center fielder Jamie Tarrow (29 hits, .312, 19 runs, 16 RBI) in the cleanup spot.

Returning as the team’s No. 5 hitter is junior third baseman Maya Bernstein (26 hits, 18 runs, 18 RBI, .338) and senior second baseman Abby Coulter (26 hits, 23 runs, .351) hitting sixth or seventh and the veteran senior rightfielder Lexi Kaplan (.278 BA) also batting in the lower third of the deep lineup.

Clevenger, who was the starting catcher as a freshman on the 2023 N1G4 champs, missed her entire sophomore season after undergoing ACL surgery. She returned to regular duty as a junior last spring, but was not ready to catch as she was either the Designated Player (DP) or first baseman as Coulter filled in behind the plate in 2025.

Having a championship-caliber battery of Shupe and Clevenger not only rekindles memories of the 2023 season when they both broke out on the Essex County scene as precocious freshmen and helped the Cougars when they surprised a strong Livingston squad, 7-5, in that N1G4 final, but further enhances the configuration of what should be a very balanced and solid defensive alignment.

Speaking of freshmen in the present tense in addition to Kelly boosting depth in the circle, two other ninth-grade newcomers to watch emerge this spring for the Cougars is slap-hitting, speedy left fielder Allie Tierno, who will bat second in the lineup and has shown an ability to make things happen on the bases during the pre-season, and strong-hitting DP Olivia Ahlberg.
Another youngster set to play a key role is sophomore shortstop Cassie Maguire who is a strong defender.  

Columbia will have a challenging independent schedule this spring including early-season contests vs. Immaculata (2 p.m., Saturday, April 4, in the Private vs. Public Showcase at Ivy Hill Park in Newark, and St. John Vianney (noon, Saturday, April 11, in the NJ Pride Essex Challenge, also at Ivy Hill Park).

NOTES- Smith is 1-3 in state sectional finals, losing his first chance in that title tilt in the 2019 N2G4 final vs North Hunterdon, while also dropping N1G4 final to Morristown, 3-0, in 2024 before falling to a strong Watchung Hills team, 6-1, in the N2G4 championship game last spring….Columbia has not won an ECT title since 1977 when it defeated Caldwell, 15-4, which was the inaugural year of the softball countywide tourney, and the Cougars then also lost in ECT finals to Cedar Grove, 8-1, in 1979, and to Caldwell, 2-1, in 1981…The 2026 Cougars are scheduled to open at SEC-American Division member Montclair 4 p.m. Tuesday March 31 as Mounties coach Mark Griff makes his debut as that team’s new head coach. Then it’s right into SEC action vs. Livingston, 4 p.m., Thursday (April 2)..There is also an SEC crossover contest at Glen Ridge on Friday, April, 10 before the much-anticipated showdown with St. John Vainney in the Pride Essex Challenge on Saturday, April 11...Columbia plays its home softball games at Meadowlands Park in South Orange...Smith is a 2008 graduate of Seton Hall Prep where he teaches physical education and has a desk in an office at SHP that is inbetween two legendary coaches in the now retired Pirates basketball coach Bob Farrell and longtime baseball coach Mike Sheppard, Jr. who is leading another Pirates baseball team this spring...Smith played baseball under Shep, Jr. and also football for former SHP coach John Finnegan during his days at The Prep before attending Montclair State University.                

Follow Sideline Chatter on 'X' @Chattermeister