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For four years, Donovan Catholic's Bella Maria has been one of the premier representatives of Shore softball. Now, she'll carry that torch to the national stage as the lone New Jersey player in the Premier Girls Fastpitch All-American game at 7 p.m. Saturday on ESPNU.
It's the culmination of a storied prep career driven in equal parts by work ethic and ambition, plus a dose of rare athleticism. The dual roles of the moment —being a star representative of the Garden State and one of the gems of Auburn University's recruiting class—provide the right lens to look at one of the Shore's most impressive athletic journeys.
"The sport is growing so quickly and I know New Jersey softball, like high school softball, it's growing immensely and the talent just gets better and better," Maria said. "I really just want to inspire the next group of girls, because I know the competition will just get better."
The journey is hardly finished, merely moving into a new chapter. But it's already been a long way for the girl from Barnegat.
"Once I committed to Auburn, I realized that all my hard work has finally paid off. But that doesn't mean it stops," Maria said. "There's so many other things I want to accomplish. But I'm really proud of where I'm from and where I started—I'm from a small town, I live in Barnegat."
She was already on her way to the big time, but her selection to the All-American game is a reflection that she's no longer the big fish in the small pond. She's still the big fish, even as the water gets deeper.
"I wasn't even expecting to be selected in the PGF All-American game," Maria said. "It's so crazy how far I've come and I've really worked my butt off because nothing is ever given to you. So I'm proud to be representing New Jersey."
From the moment Bella Maria stepped onto the field for Donovan Catholic, it was clear she was destined for great things even in a program that had produced countless stars. Her freshman year still stands out of an example of what she can do as a purely additive piece in a lineup, producing unmatched highs in RBIs (32), home runs (9) and batting average (.535).
But even as Maria profiles as an outstanding five-tool athlete, the cerebral part of her game was evident as she became a cornerstone leadoff hitter. She went from five walks as a freshman to 20 as a senior, and doubled her stolen base total from her junior to senior campaigns to finish with 32. She was a perennial All-Shore selection, but her game always pointed to an endless upward arrow because of her combination of intelligence and athleticism.
Although she has always taken pride in competing for Donovan, winning a Shore Conference title as a freshman and sectional title as a junior, she knew she had to seek out the toughest competition on the travel circuit. Competing for Intensity since 2018, she knew it would provide the additional level of experience to play at the highest level of college softball.
"High school ball is definitely like very competitive in New Jersey, but the SEC is like a whole different monster," Maria said. "I really do do think playing your travel season to get your prepared for college is very important because you are seeing a different level of competition, and it is definitely a higher level on the travel circuit. A bunch of these girls I faced, I will be playing them in the SEC. So it's a great way to prepare to go to college."
The exposure to elite competition from across the country provides a clearer understanding of the traits of different talent hotbeds and how New Jersey compares. Maria sought to broaden her horizons, and it's given her unique appreciation for the local talent as well as an astute understanding of the sport at a national level.
"California, they're really good at taking extra bases, slapping, they're all really fast. And then Texas, it's like the power hitters. And then in Florida, they're just amazing defensively," Maria said. "It's just really cool to see the differences in everyone's playing style from everywhere across the country. It's really nice to see the kids in New Jersey—high-level athletes are coming out of here. I know Mackenna Savage, she's really good. I know Jules Jackson, she goes to Paul VI. She's really good slapper, getting all the recognition. Then like a lot of seniors, like Madison McDougall. It's awesome to see the attention they're bringing to the sport of softball."
For Auburn softball co-head coaches Chris and Kate Malveaux, the physical traits are not the most exciting aspects of adding a recruit like Maria. It's her intelligence and mental approach that aligns with the culture they continue to build in year three of leading the Tigers. Maria was first on their radar just as she was entering high school, but it was clear that she was on the path to developing into a unique prospect.
"She had a level of physicality and athleticism to what she did," Chris said. "The more you get to know her, she was a very hard worker. She really was chasing to be the best. You could see there's a slight obsession in it for her, and it was pretty cool to see."
For an SEC program with national visibility into elite softball players across the country, athleticism is less of a separating factor. It is Maria's mentality that is the thread across all the different banners that she represents.
"It's her mentality and how competitive she is," Kate said. "The work she puts into her craft just kind of sets her apart to be honest with you. Everybody works hard, but that one will run through a brick wall to make some things happen."
It's high praise coming from Kate Malveaux, who was recently inducted into the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame. She understands what it's like to be slightly overlooked and have the ambition to pursue the pinnacle of one's craft. At Heartland Community College, she established a brand new softball program in her first season. In year two, she helped lead that time to a junior college national championship and finished her career at Division I Bradley University.
The mental traits are especially important in the grind of a long college softball season. In their first year leading Auburn, the team reached the NCAA Regionals before faltering to powerhouse host Florida State. Last year the Tigers were 23-10 on March 25, but ran out of gas. They finished the season 4-18 and lost to Florida in the SEC tournament. Mental toughness and resilience are a prerequisite for a competing in the top conference in the country.
"There's some points in the season where the season will kind of beat you up and it takes a toll on you," Chris said. "Bella has this hunger to always get better. She celebrates good moments, but she has this hunger to always get better. If she hits a double, she's still thinking about, what can I have done better? How do I get better at this? If you don't have that, if you're not wired in that type of mindset, you don't have a shot. You look at a lot of these great players that are playing in the World Series or you see them playing in the AUSL, you watch these high-level athletes. They're always training and looking for ways to get better."
With Maria's storied prep career in her home state concluded, the PGF All-American game is a unique moment amidst the transition to college. She represents New Jersey in the game, but is perhaps even more notably representing Auburn alongside future teammate Leah Byrd. Auburn is one of 11 colleges with multiple players in the game, eight of which are in the SEC.
For those operating at the highest levels of the sport, being chosen as one of the 44 players in the game is a serious honor. It reflects Maria's unwavering commitment to her craft and unabashed pursuit of her dreams.
[IMG alt="AUBURN, AL - MARCH 18 - Auburn's Ma'Nia Womack (2) during the game between the #24 Auburn Tigers and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, AL on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Photo by Noelle Iglesias/Auburn Tigers"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/app-com-asbury-park-press/49d33510d47751c68d2280469d213521[/IMG]
"It's a huge thing for our program to have representation there because not every athlete gets to do that in the course of their career," Kate said. "For Bella to have that opportunity says a lot about what her peers and fellow coaches that watch her play think about here. And that's a testament to how intentional she is what she does and how she goes about her business."
Kate and Chris both know that there are no guarantees at this level of softball. Past performance is not purely indicative of future success. The mental gears must always be turning, and those traits in Maria are promising.
"It's hard to say, okay yeah somebody's gonna be the next All-American or somebody for sure is gonna be this level of player once they get here. What we can say is that she has a lot of the pieces to give herself a chance," Chris said. "That other piece of the character and who she is, who her family really is and stands for, you want that in your locker room as well. Both of those sides really excite us."
While the PGF All-American game is an honor and celebration within itself, it's also another way to prepare for the step up in competition in college. Maria has still been a staple competitor on the travel circuit this summer, and will be competing right up until Saturday evening's event on ESPNU.
In addition to competing on the national stage, it's another opportunity to be ready to hit the ground running at the college level in the fall.
"I'm going there in less than a month and I feel pretty ready," Maria said. "There will definitely be challenges, and I'm not going to take anything for granted. But the travel circuit definitely helps me get prepared."
And as much as Maria has been a player that has left an indelible mark on softball in New Jersey, her attitude and approach can help lay a new foundation at Auburn. It takes the type of ambition that has driven the Barnegat product from a small town to the big stage.
"We're excited for her to kind of reshape what Auburn softball is, help creeate that culture," Kate said. "Because she's an incredibly competitive kid who wants to win, who wants to work hard, who's not gonna stop until she gets it figured out. And that's really cool recipe for success in the long run being in an SEC program."
The proof will come with results, but Maria always has proved herself right. As she envisioned success for herself and made it a reality, she doesn't view at a singular shooting star event. She expects to be the first of many in a state where she has set a new standard for softball.
"The kids that are playing in New Jersey right now, the younger kids, there's some freshmen and sophomores that have really caught my eye," Maria said. "It's really inspiring to see these groups of kids. They keep working harder and harder. And I really do think New Jersey will just keep growing and be like a powerhouse."
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore softball standout in elite PGF All-American Game: 'So crazy how far I've come'
Continue reading...
It's the culmination of a storied prep career driven in equal parts by work ethic and ambition, plus a dose of rare athleticism. The dual roles of the moment —being a star representative of the Garden State and one of the gems of Auburn University's recruiting class—provide the right lens to look at one of the Shore's most impressive athletic journeys.
"The sport is growing so quickly and I know New Jersey softball, like high school softball, it's growing immensely and the talent just gets better and better," Maria said. "I really just want to inspire the next group of girls, because I know the competition will just get better."
You must be registered for see images
The journey is hardly finished, merely moving into a new chapter. But it's already been a long way for the girl from Barnegat.
"Once I committed to Auburn, I realized that all my hard work has finally paid off. But that doesn't mean it stops," Maria said. "There's so many other things I want to accomplish. But I'm really proud of where I'm from and where I started—I'm from a small town, I live in Barnegat."
She was already on her way to the big time, but her selection to the All-American game is a reflection that she's no longer the big fish in the small pond. She's still the big fish, even as the water gets deeper.
"I wasn't even expecting to be selected in the PGF All-American game," Maria said. "It's so crazy how far I've come and I've really worked my butt off because nothing is ever given to you. So I'm proud to be representing New Jersey."
You must be registered for see images attach
A Shore star destined for the big time
From the moment Bella Maria stepped onto the field for Donovan Catholic, it was clear she was destined for great things even in a program that had produced countless stars. Her freshman year still stands out of an example of what she can do as a purely additive piece in a lineup, producing unmatched highs in RBIs (32), home runs (9) and batting average (.535).
But even as Maria profiles as an outstanding five-tool athlete, the cerebral part of her game was evident as she became a cornerstone leadoff hitter. She went from five walks as a freshman to 20 as a senior, and doubled her stolen base total from her junior to senior campaigns to finish with 32. She was a perennial All-Shore selection, but her game always pointed to an endless upward arrow because of her combination of intelligence and athleticism.
Although she has always taken pride in competing for Donovan, winning a Shore Conference title as a freshman and sectional title as a junior, she knew she had to seek out the toughest competition on the travel circuit. Competing for Intensity since 2018, she knew it would provide the additional level of experience to play at the highest level of college softball.
You must be registered for see images attach
"High school ball is definitely like very competitive in New Jersey, but the SEC is like a whole different monster," Maria said. "I really do do think playing your travel season to get your prepared for college is very important because you are seeing a different level of competition, and it is definitely a higher level on the travel circuit. A bunch of these girls I faced, I will be playing them in the SEC. So it's a great way to prepare to go to college."
The exposure to elite competition from across the country provides a clearer understanding of the traits of different talent hotbeds and how New Jersey compares. Maria sought to broaden her horizons, and it's given her unique appreciation for the local talent as well as an astute understanding of the sport at a national level.
"California, they're really good at taking extra bases, slapping, they're all really fast. And then Texas, it's like the power hitters. And then in Florida, they're just amazing defensively," Maria said. "It's just really cool to see the differences in everyone's playing style from everywhere across the country. It's really nice to see the kids in New Jersey—high-level athletes are coming out of here. I know Mackenna Savage, she's really good. I know Jules Jackson, she goes to Paul VI. She's really good slapper, getting all the recognition. Then like a lot of seniors, like Madison McDougall. It's awesome to see the attention they're bringing to the sport of softball."
You must be registered for see images attach
Gem from Jersey becomes pride of Auburn
For Auburn softball co-head coaches Chris and Kate Malveaux, the physical traits are not the most exciting aspects of adding a recruit like Maria. It's her intelligence and mental approach that aligns with the culture they continue to build in year three of leading the Tigers. Maria was first on their radar just as she was entering high school, but it was clear that she was on the path to developing into a unique prospect.
"She had a level of physicality and athleticism to what she did," Chris said. "The more you get to know her, she was a very hard worker. She really was chasing to be the best. You could see there's a slight obsession in it for her, and it was pretty cool to see."
For an SEC program with national visibility into elite softball players across the country, athleticism is less of a separating factor. It is Maria's mentality that is the thread across all the different banners that she represents.
"It's her mentality and how competitive she is," Kate said. "The work she puts into her craft just kind of sets her apart to be honest with you. Everybody works hard, but that one will run through a brick wall to make some things happen."
You must be registered for see images attach
It's high praise coming from Kate Malveaux, who was recently inducted into the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame. She understands what it's like to be slightly overlooked and have the ambition to pursue the pinnacle of one's craft. At Heartland Community College, she established a brand new softball program in her first season. In year two, she helped lead that time to a junior college national championship and finished her career at Division I Bradley University.
The mental traits are especially important in the grind of a long college softball season. In their first year leading Auburn, the team reached the NCAA Regionals before faltering to powerhouse host Florida State. Last year the Tigers were 23-10 on March 25, but ran out of gas. They finished the season 4-18 and lost to Florida in the SEC tournament. Mental toughness and resilience are a prerequisite for a competing in the top conference in the country.
"There's some points in the season where the season will kind of beat you up and it takes a toll on you," Chris said. "Bella has this hunger to always get better. She celebrates good moments, but she has this hunger to always get better. If she hits a double, she's still thinking about, what can I have done better? How do I get better at this? If you don't have that, if you're not wired in that type of mindset, you don't have a shot. You look at a lot of these great players that are playing in the World Series or you see them playing in the AUSL, you watch these high-level athletes. They're always training and looking for ways to get better."
With Maria's storied prep career in her home state concluded, the PGF All-American game is a unique moment amidst the transition to college. She represents New Jersey in the game, but is perhaps even more notably representing Auburn alongside future teammate Leah Byrd. Auburn is one of 11 colleges with multiple players in the game, eight of which are in the SEC.
For those operating at the highest levels of the sport, being chosen as one of the 44 players in the game is a serious honor. It reflects Maria's unwavering commitment to her craft and unabashed pursuit of her dreams.
[IMG alt="AUBURN, AL - MARCH 18 - Auburn's Ma'Nia Womack (2) during the game between the #24 Auburn Tigers and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, AL on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Photo by Noelle Iglesias/Auburn Tigers"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/app-com-asbury-park-press/49d33510d47751c68d2280469d213521[/IMG]
"It's a huge thing for our program to have representation there because not every athlete gets to do that in the course of their career," Kate said. "For Bella to have that opportunity says a lot about what her peers and fellow coaches that watch her play think about here. And that's a testament to how intentional she is what she does and how she goes about her business."
Kate and Chris both know that there are no guarantees at this level of softball. Past performance is not purely indicative of future success. The mental gears must always be turning, and those traits in Maria are promising.
"It's hard to say, okay yeah somebody's gonna be the next All-American or somebody for sure is gonna be this level of player once they get here. What we can say is that she has a lot of the pieces to give herself a chance," Chris said. "That other piece of the character and who she is, who her family really is and stands for, you want that in your locker room as well. Both of those sides really excite us."
Paving the way through PGF All-American game
While the PGF All-American game is an honor and celebration within itself, it's also another way to prepare for the step up in competition in college. Maria has still been a staple competitor on the travel circuit this summer, and will be competing right up until Saturday evening's event on ESPNU.
In addition to competing on the national stage, it's another opportunity to be ready to hit the ground running at the college level in the fall.
"I'm going there in less than a month and I feel pretty ready," Maria said. "There will definitely be challenges, and I'm not going to take anything for granted. But the travel circuit definitely helps me get prepared."
You must be registered for see images attach
And as much as Maria has been a player that has left an indelible mark on softball in New Jersey, her attitude and approach can help lay a new foundation at Auburn. It takes the type of ambition that has driven the Barnegat product from a small town to the big stage.
"We're excited for her to kind of reshape what Auburn softball is, help creeate that culture," Kate said. "Because she's an incredibly competitive kid who wants to win, who wants to work hard, who's not gonna stop until she gets it figured out. And that's really cool recipe for success in the long run being in an SEC program."
The proof will come with results, but Maria always has proved herself right. As she envisioned success for herself and made it a reality, she doesn't view at a singular shooting star event. She expects to be the first of many in a state where she has set a new standard for softball.
"The kids that are playing in New Jersey right now, the younger kids, there's some freshmen and sophomores that have really caught my eye," Maria said. "It's really inspiring to see these groups of kids. They keep working harder and harder. And I really do think New Jersey will just keep growing and be like a powerhouse."
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore softball standout in elite PGF All-American Game: 'So crazy how far I've come'
Continue reading...
