Shore Conference Baseball Top 20 with the state tournament about to get underway
The home stretch of the scholastic baseball season is here.
The Shore Conference Tournament champion will be decided Wednesday night when Southern and CBA meet. The Monmouth County Tournament champion will be decided Friday when Christian Brothers Academy and Red Bank Catholic meet for the second time in five days and, also on Wednesday, the NJSIAA Tournament begins for non-public schools and Thursday for the public schools.
Here is the final regular season Asbury Park Press regular season Shore Conference Baseball Top 20. The final top 20 will appear with the All-Shore teams.
1. Southern (19-4): Last week: No. 1.
The Rams have advanced to the Shore Conference Tournament championship game for the first time. They will meet Christian Brothers Academy Wednesday at 7 p.m. at ShoreTown Ballpark, Lakewood. Southern is the No. 3 seed in NJSIAA South Group 4 as it bids for its first sectional title since 2017 and third overall. The Rams will host Toms River North in the first round Thursday.
2. Christian Brothers Academy (16-5): Last week: No. 2.
The Colts advanced to their first SCT final since they won their third straight in 2016. Will Fahey scored from third base on a wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the seventh to give CBA a 5-4 win over four-time defending champion Red Bank Catholic. CBA will be trying to set the SCT record for championship with eight tonight against Southern. The Colts can extend their Monmouth County Tournament record for championship to 10 Friday at Brookdale Community College against Red Bank Catholic. The Colts are the 3 seed in Non Public South A.
3. Wall (16-5): Last week: No. 4.
The Crimson Knights were defeated by Southern in the SCT semifinal. The Shore Conference Class A Central champions get the nod over Red Bank Catholic for this spot because of the divisional title over the Caseys. Wall is the 3 seed in Central Group 2 and will host two-time defending Central 2 champion Rumson-Fair Haven in the first round Thursday.
4. Red Bank Catholic (16-8): Last week: No. 5.
The Caseys' four straight SCT championship run and 18-game SCT winning streak came to an end with the defeat to CBA in the semifinal. Red Bank Catholic will try to win its first MCT title since 2018 and fourth overall Friday against CBA. The Caseys, the defending NJSIAA Non-Public South A champions, are the top seed in South A.
5. Colts Neck (15-9): Last week: No. 6.
Colts Neck gets the nod over Middletown South for this spot because they split with the Eagles and have two wins over CBA while Middletown South went 0-3 against CBA. All three of those teams shared the Shore Conference Class A North championship. Colts Neck is the 6 seed in Central Group 3 and will host two-time defending Central 3 champion Middletown North Thursday in the first round.
6. Middletown South (17-8): Last week: No. 3.
The Eagles were defeated by Red Bank Catholic in the SCT quarterfinal. They are the 3 seed in Central Group 3 and will host Jackson Liberty Thursday in the first round.
7. Manalapan (15-11): Last week: No. 7.
Manalapan was defeated by Wall in the SCT quarterfinal. It is the 2 seed in Central Group 4 and will host Montgomery Thursday in the first round. Manalapan has the pitching to be a major contender to win its first sectional title since 2019.
8. Toms River East (17-6): Last week: No. 8.
The Raiders are the 8 seed in the always tough South Group 4 bracket and will host Washington Township Thursday in the first round.
9. Jackson Memorial (14-10): Last week: No. 9.
The Jaguars were defeated by Southern in the SCT quarterfinal. It was the third time this season Southern defeated Jackson Memorial. Jackson Memorial is the No. 3 seed in Central Group 4 as it bids for its first sectional title since 2018. The Jaguars will host West Windsor-Plainsboro North Thursday.
10. Brick Memorial (17-8): Last week: No. 10.
The Mustangs are the 5 seed in Central Group 3 and will host Hopewell Valley Thursday.
11. Matawan (17-4): Last week: No. 12.
The Huskies, who advanced to the Central Group 3 semifinal last season, are the 8 seed in that section this year and will host Hamilton East Thursday. Matawan has the pitching to be a major contender.
12. Point Pleasant Beach (20-4): Last week: No. 13.
The Garnet Gulls recorded their second win of the season over Donovan Catholic. They now begin their attempt to win the Central Group 1 championship for the third straight season. Point Beach is the top seed in the section and will host Somerset Tech Wednesday.
13. St. Rose (18-8): Last week: No. 15.
The Purple Roses' win over Ranney last Saturday vaulted them ahead of the Panthers in the Non-Public South B power rankings. They are the 4 seed and will host Ranney Tuesday in a sectional quarterfinal.
14. Ranney (15-7): Last week: No. 11.
The Panthers are the 5 seed in Non-Public South B and will play at St. Rose Tuesday in a sectional quarterfinal as they begin their attempt for the second sectional championship in three years and third straight appearance in a sectional final.
15. Donovan Catholic (14-10): Last week: No. 14.
The Griffins had an up and down week. They defeated Red Bank Catholic and then were defeated by Toms River North and Point Pleasant Beach. Donovan Catholic is the 6 seed in Non Public South A and can beat anybody if ace senior left-hander Jake Marciano is on the mound. The Griffins host St. Joseph (Metuchen) Wednesday and if they win, they will play at CBA Tuesday.
16. Monmouth (16-8): Last week: No. 17.
The Falcons are the 6 seed in Central Group 2 and will host Delran Thursday. If they win, they will play the Wall-Rumson-Fair Haven winner Tuesday.
17. Shore (13-8): Last week: No. 18.
The Blue Devils are the 2 seed in Central Group 1 and could be on a collision course to meet Point Pleasant Beach in the sectional final.
18. Ocean (16-8): Last week: No. 19.
The Spartans, who won three games last week are the 7 seed in Central Group 2 and will host Point Pleasant Borough Thursday.
19. Point Pleasant Borough (13-10): Last week: No. 20.
The Panthers, who beat Point Beach and lost to Freehold Borough on consecutive days last weekend, are the 10 seed in Central 2 and will play at Ocean Thursday.
20. Jackson Liberty (15-8): Last week: Not ranked.
The Lions won four straight games last week to earn a berth in the state tournament. They are the 14 seed in Central 3 and will play at Middletown South Thursday.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ Baseball: Top 20 rankings headed into the state tournament.
