Shore Conference baseball Top 20. Who's No. 1? Who moved into the rankings?
One thing is certain when it comes to Shore Conference baseball so far this season: There is a lot of parity.
Trying to figure who is going to win on a daily basis depends on who is pitching.
The rainy, cold, weather has also played a part in the first two weeks of the season, which has made gripping a baseball pitching-wise and fielding it an adventure at times.
Another thing is certain: With more rain expected the next couple of days and both the Monmouth and Ocean County tournaments beginning, expect more surprises as schedules get jammed up and pitching gets stretched.
Here is the first regular season Asbury Park Press Shore Conference Top 20:
1. Red Bank Catholic (5-2): Last ranking: No. 1.
The Caseys have won four straight since consecutive defeats to Rumson-Fair Haven and Wall. Pitching depth due to the season-ending injury to Seton Hall recruit Steve Svenson is a concern.
2. Donovan Catholic: (4-2): Last ranking: No. 2.
The Griffins still appear to be the team to beat in Class B South despite a season-opening doubleheader split with No. 8 Point Pleasant Borough. Donovan Catholic played powerful Delbarton tough in a 7-5 defeat this past Sunday at Brookdale Community College.
3. Christian Brothers Academy: (3-2): Last ranking: No. 3.
The Colts have lost their last two, but when senior right-hander, Wake Forest University recruit and potential Major League Baseball draft choice Chris Levonas is on the mound, they can beat anybody in the state.
4. Matawan: (6-0): Last ranking: No. 8.
Pitching is the name of the game for the Huskies, who appear poised to have one of the best seasons they have ever had. Matawan has allowed just four runs in its first seven games. It has three straight shutouts and four overall.
5. Toms River East: (7-0): Last ranking: No. 11.
The Raiders are having their most success since the hey days of the program under legendary former coach Bill Frank in the early 2000's. Their start was culminated by the no-hitter Jack Mika threw Monday night against Central.
6. Southern: (5-1): Last ranking: No. 4.
Southern suffered its first defeat of the season Tuesday, when it was defeated by Brick Memorial. But, the chance for perhaps the best season it has ever had is there. The Rams recorded consecutive wins over Toms River South and Brick Memorial in their last at-bat. A two-game series with No. 6 Toms River East begins Thursday.
7. Jackson Memorial: (5-1): Last ranking: No. 10.
The Jaguars are unbeaten in Class A South, which includes a sweep over No. 12 Brick Memorial. Their only defeat was by a run to Red Bank Catholic when the Caseys scored in the bottom of the seventh after Jackson Memorial scored three in the top of the seventh. The start was highlighted by a no-hitter Jovani Hallihan threw Monday against Brick.
8. Point Pleasant Borough: (5-1): Last ranking: No. 15.
The Panthers lone defeat was to Donovan Catholic and Griffins' ace Jake Marciano. They have won five straight since then, including a dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 win over Jackson Liberty on Tuesday.
9. Manalapan (4-3): Last ranking: No. 13.
Manalapan's win Monday over Christian Brothers Academy enables it to move into the top 10. Manalapan has the pitching depth to be a factor late in the season.
10. Middletown South (3-1): Last ranking: No. 12.
The Eagles' lone defeat is to CBA and Levonas. They swept a series from Howell and also have a win over Middletown South
11. Brick Memorial (3-3): Last ranking: No. 9.
The Mustangs snapped a three-game losing streak with a 15-5 win over then unbeaten Southern on Tuesday. Brick Memorial's defeats are twice to Jackson Memorial and to Southern. The first defeat to Jackson Memorial came in extra innings and the defeat to Southern came in the Rams' final at-bat.
12. Wall (4-3): Last ranking: No. 20.
The Crimson Knights split series with Red Bank Catholic and Monmouth and swept a series from Shore.
13. Manasquan (4-1-1): Last ranking: Not ranked.
Manasquan was unbeaten until a 12-0 loss to Rumson-Fair Haven Tuesday in a Monmouth County Tournament preliminary-round game. It swept a series from St. John Vianney, has a win over Ranney and went 1-0-1 against Red Bank with a 2-1 win in the series finale.
14. Ranney (3-3): Last ranking: No. 6.
The Panthers ralliedd from a three-run deficit in the sixth inning to defeat Holmdel 11-7 Tuesday in a MCT preliminary-round game. Before that, Ranney gave up 20 runs combined in defeats to Red Bank and Manasquan and allowed two runs in the bottom of the seventh in a defeat to Ocean on Monday. The Panthers also have wins over Red Bank and Ocean.
15. Point Pleasant Beach (6-0): Last ranking: No. 14.
The Garnet Gulls won five Class B Central games by a combined 102-5 and they also have a nondivisional win over Pinelands.
16. St. Rose (4-0): Last ranking: No. 16.
The Purple Roses have outscored their four opponents by a combined 55-1 and have two five-inning no-hitters.
17. Monmouth (4-2): Last ranking: Not ranked.
The Falcons swept a series from Shore and split series with Wall and Rumson-Fair Haven.
18. Marlboro (4-3): Last ranking: Not ranked.
Marlboro, in coach Angel Navarette's first season at the school, is in first place in Class A North even after a defeat to Howell on Tuesday. The Mustangs swept a series from Freehold Township and have divisional wins over Middletown North and Colts Neck.
19. Colts Neck (5-3): Last ranking: Not ranked.
The Cougars have won four straight since a 1-3 start. They split a series with Manalapan and swept a series from Middletown North and defeated Ocean Tuesday in a MCT preliminary-round game.
20. Ocean (5-4): Last ranking: No. 18.
The Spartans scored two in the bottom of the seventh on a bases-loaded walk and an 0-2 bases-loaded wild pitch to defeat Ranney on Monday. They swept a series from Freehold, defeated Jackson Liberty in 14 innings, were swept in a series by Matawan, split with Ranney and were defeated by Colts Neck Tuesday in a MCT preliminary-round game.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ baseball Top 20. Who is No. 1? Who is new in the rankings?
