Shore Conference Baseball Tournament Watch: Confusion reigns for seeding

The only thing that is certain when it comes to ranking the baseball teams in the Shore Conference is that the following are the top six teams:

Defending NJSIAA non-public B champion Ranney, three-time defending Shore Conference Tournament champion Red Bank Catholic, Christian Brothers Academy, defending NJSIAA Central Group 2 champion Rumson-Fair Haven, Donovan Catholic and defending Ocean County Tournament champion Jackson Memorial.

The order in which those teams can be ranked can be debated, but those six appear to be a cut above the rest.

After that, there is a lot of parity, confusion and chaos.

As of Thursday night, with the Shore Conference Tournament seeding meeting coming up on Monday night at Red Bank Catholic, 18 teams have clinched berths in the SCT.

Eight other teams are in qualifying position, but still have work to do and six teams currently on the outside looking in, can still qualify if they get hot over the next five days.

Teams must be at least .500 through the games of Monday afternoon in order to qualify.

Trying to project seeds for the tournament is next to impossible after the top six.

The Monmouth County Tournament semifinals on Sunday and the first round of the Ocean County Tournament on Saturday can certainly complicate things further.

Teams who are on the wrong side of the bubble are also likely to try and schedule a game for Monday.

For now, we will rank the teams who have officially qualified and then rank the others when they officially qualify.

Keep coming back through Monday for updated projected seeds

Here are the teams who have officially qualified:

Ranney 15-1; Christian Brothers Academy 12-2-1; Rumson-Fair Haven 13-3; Red Bank Catholic 12-3; Donovan Catholic 11-1; Point Pleasant Beach 13-1; St. Rose 13-5; Jackson Memorial 11-4; Ocean 10-5; Brick Memorial 9-6; Lacey 8-5; Manchester 7-4-1; Southern 7-4; Henry Hudson 7-5; Middletown North 8-6; Marlboro 8-7; Monmouth 8-7; Holmdel 8-7

Here are the teams in qualifying position, but with work to do:

Toms River East 7-5; Matawan 8-7; Toms River South 7-6; Jackson Liberty 6-5-1; Freehold Township 8-8; Point Pleasant Boro 7-7; Neptune 6-6; Keansburg 5-5.

Here are teams still in contention, but on the wrong side of the bubble:

Manasquan 8-9; Middletown South 7-8; Howell 6-7; Wall 7-9; Central 6-8; Shore 6-8.

NOTE: Raritan is 7-9, but only has one game scheduled as of now.

Here are our rankings for teams who have qualified:

The first six reflect how we would seed them as of now

The teams 7-13 are not how we will seed them.

They are just a ranking for now.

1. Ranney (15-1):

Wins: Ocean twice; Neptune twice; Red Bank twice; Manasquan twice; Freehold twice; Matawan; Monmouth, Middletown South; Ferris; Bishop Eustace.

Losses: Delbarton.

Remaining games: Friday: Vs. St. John Vianney; Sunday: Vs. Rumson-Fair Haven in a Monmouth County Tournament semifinal; Monday: At Matawan.

The Skinny: The Panthers are unbeaten in the Shore Conference and have clearly established themselves as the best team in the conference.

2. Christian Brothers Academy (12-2-1):

Wins: Colts Neck twice; Freehold Township; Middletown South; Manalapan; Middletown North; Howell; Holmdel; Matawan; Three wins in North Carolina.

Losses: Middletown North, Marlboro.

Tie: Manalapan.

Remaining games: Saturday vs. Howell; Sunday: At Red Bank Catholic in a Monmouth County Tournament semifinal; Monday: Vs. Middletown South.

The Skinny: The Colts get the nod over Red Bank Catholic for now because they are on track to win Class A North - the Shore's deepest division. However, a defeat to RBC will result in a flip of positions.

3. Red Bank Catholic (12-3):

Wins: Rumson-Fair Haven; Wall three times; Raritan twice; Holmdel twice; Shore; Donovan Catholic; Manalapan; Gloucester Catholic.

Losses: Rumson-Fair Haven; Shore; Old Bridge.

Remaining games: Friday: Vs. Monmouth; Sunday: Vs. CBA in a MCT semifinal.

The Skinny: The Caseys can vault over CBA with a win Sunday. The loss to Shore has them below CBA for now.

4. Rumson-Fair Haven (13-3):

Wins: Red Bank Catholic; Holmdel twice; Wall twice; Shore twice; Monmouth; Raritan; St. Rose twice; Manasquan; Caldwell.

Losses: Red Bank Catholic; Monmouth; Raritan.

Remaining games: Sunday: At Ranney in a MCT semifinal.

The Skinny: The Bulldogs can make a strong case to move up with a win over Ranney coupled with the split against Red Bank Catholic. They are behind RBC for now because they have one more defeat in Class A Central than the Caseys do.

5. Donovan Catholic (11-1):

Wins: Point Boro twice; Pinelands twice; Lacey twice; Jackson Liberty twice; Barnegat; Brick Memorial; Allentown.

Losses: Red Bank Catholic.

Remaining games: Friday Vs. Barnegat; Saturday: Vs. Barnegat in the OCT; Sunday: Vs. Gloucester Catholic; Monday: At Manchester.

The Skinny: The Griffins have dominated their Class B South opposition, and the win over Allentown is impressive.

6. Jackson Memorial (11-4):

Wins: Toms River North twice; Brick twice; Central twice; Brick Memorial; Southern; Jackson Liberty; St. Joseph (Metuchen); Kingsway.

Losses: Toms River East twice; Brick Memorial; Toms River East; Millville.

Remaining games: Saturday: Vs. Pinelands in the Ocean County Tournament; Monday Vs. Toms River South.

The Skinny: The Jaguars were line for a possible top 3-4 or seed before they lost twice to Toms River East this week.

7. Marlboro (8-7):

Wins: Manalapan twice; Colts Neck; Middletown North; Freehold Township; CBA; Howell; Lacey.

Losses: Colts Neck; Middletown North; Freehold Township; Howell; Middletown South; Manasquan; Old Bridge.

Remaining game: None.

The skinny: The CBA win and the strength of Class A North should help Marlboro get a solid seed.

8. Southern (7-4):

Wins: Central twice; Toms River South twice; Toms River North twice; Brick Memorial.

Losses: Brick Memorial; Toms River East; Jackson Memorial; Lenape.

Remaining games: Saturday: Vs. Jackson Liberty in the OCT; Monday: At Brick.

The Skinny: The Rams have been in the top two in Class A South all season. They split two extra inning games against Brick Memorial. Lost an extra inning game against Jackson Memorial.

9. Middletown North (8-6):

Wins: Colts Neck twice; Manalapan twice; Middletown South; Marlboro; CBA; Long Branch.

Losses: Howell twice; Middletown South; Marlboro; CBA; Monmouth.

Remaining games: Thursday: At Manalapan; Friday Vs. Freehold Township.

The Skinny: The Lions have a CBA win. That could carry them toward a respectable seed.

10. Ocean (10-5):

Wins: Matawan twice; St. John Vianney; twice; Red Bank twice; Manasquan; Three in South Carolina.

Losses: Ranney twice; Manasquan; Middletown South; Hillsborough.

Remaining game: Friday Vs. Neptune.

The Skinny: The Spartans are likely to win the Shore Conference Class B North public school championship. And are probably looking at a seed within the top 15.

11. Brick Memorial (9-6):

Wins: Toms River North twice; Brick twice; Jackson Memorial; Southern; Central; St. Rose; Freehold.

Losses: Toms River South twice; Jackson Memorial; Southern; Manasquan; Donovan Catholic.

Remaining games: Saturday Vs. Brick in the OCT; Monday Vs. Toms River East.

The Skinny: The Mustangs' win over St. Rose should give them a seed over the Purple Roses. Wins over Jackson Memorial and Southern will also help. It will be interesting to see how the seeding committee looks at the two defeats to Toms River South should Toms River South qualify.

12. St. Rose (13-5):

Wins: Asbury Park twice; Henry Hudson twice; Long Branch twice; Keansburg twice; Point Beach; Keyport; St. John Vianney; Monmouth.

Losses: Point Beach; Brick Memorial; Rumson-Fair Haven twice; Notre Dame.

Remaining games: Monday At: Lakewood.

The Skinny: The Purple Roses' win over Monmouth on Wednesday will help them and is better than any win Point Beach, who it is tied for first place in Class B Central, currently has. When Brick Memorial officially qualifies, St. Rose should be seeded behind them. The seed is likely to be in the low teens.

13. Monmouth (8-7):

Wins: Holmdel twice; Shore; Rumson-Fair Haven; Raritan; Middletown North; Long Branch; Manchester.

Losses: Wall twice; Shore; Rumson-Fair Haven; Raritan; Ranney; St. Rose.

Remaining game: Friday: At Red Bank Catholic.

The Skinny: The wins over Rumson-Fair Haven, Manchester and Middletown North will help their seed, as will a close defeat to Ranney; The two losses to Wall, who is currently on the outside looking in and to St. Rose will not help.

14. Holmdel (8-7):

Wins: Raritan twice; Shore twice; Long Branch; Red Bank; Keyport; Highland Park.

Losses: Rumson-Fair Haven twice; Monmouth twice; Red Bank Catholic twice; CBA.

Remaining games: Friday: At Wall.

The Skinny: The Hornets have acquitted themselves well against some tough teams. They were competitive in defeats to Rumson-Fair Haven and CBA.

15. Lacey (8-5)

Wins: Pinelands twice; Barnegat twice; Manchester twice; Point Boro; Toms River South.

Losses: Donovan Catholic twice; Point Boro; Marlboro; Central.

Remaining games: Saturday: Vs. Toms River South in the Ocean County Tournament; Monday vs. Jackson Liberty.

The Skinny: The Lions should be seeded ahead of Manchester based on the recent sweep. The win over Toms River South will help the seeding. If Central and Point Boro qualify, then there is a triangle between Lacey, Point Boro and Central.

16. Point Beach (13-1):

Wins: Keansburg twice; Long Branch twice; Keyport twice; Henry Hudson twice; St. Rose; Lakewood; Barnegat; Pinelands.

Losses: St. Rose.

Remaining games: Saturday: Vs. Toms River North in the Ocean County Tournament; Monday: At Asbury Park.

The Skinny: The Garnet Gulls get the seed over Manchester because of a win over Barnegat, while Manchester has a loss to Barnegat.

17. Manchester (7-4-1):

Wins: Point Boro twice; Pinelands twice; Jackson Liberty; Barnegat; Wall.

Losses: Barnegat; Lacey twice; Monmouth.

Tie: Jackson Liberty.

Remaining games: Saturday: Vs. Toms River East in the Ocean County Tournament; Monday: Vs. Donovan Catholic.

The Skinny: The two defeats this week to Lacey and the one to Monmouth will hurt the Hawks seeding. They can help it if they can win their next two.

18. Henry Hudson (7-5):

Wins: Keyport twice; Lakewood twice; Asbury Park; Long Branch; Perth Amboy Tech.

Losses: Point Beach twice; St. Rose twice, Long Branch.

Remaining games: Friday: Vs. Asbury Park; Monday: at Keansburg;

The Skinny: The Admirals have qualified for the first time in several seasons. They will be seeded near the bottom when the number of teams who have qualified is finalized.

Bubble teams In order of record

They will be placed when they qualify

Toms River East (7-5):

Wins: Jackson Memorial twice; Brick twice; Toms River North; Southern; Jackson Memorial; Raritan.

Losses: Central twice; Toms River North; Toms River South; Wall.

Remaining games: Friday: Vs. Toms River South; Saturday: At Manchester in the Ocean County Tournament; Monday: At Brick Memorial.

The Scenario: The Raiders need one more win. The two wins this week over Jackson Memorial will leave a lasting impression on the seeding committee, as does a win over Southern. They will get a solid seed if they qualify.

Matawan (8-7):

Wins: Freehold twice; Manasquan twice; St. John Vianney; Raritan; Colts Neck; Howell.

Losses: Neptune twice; Ocean twice; St. John Vianney; Ranney; CBA.

Remaining games: Friday Vs. Red Bank; Sunday vs. Sayreville at Trenton Thunder; Monday at Ranney.

The Scenario: The Huskies need one win. They will want to get that before the Ranney game. The win over Howell will impress the seeding committee.

Toms River South (7-6):

Wins: Brick Memorial twice; Brick twice; Toms River North; Toms River East; Central.

Losses: Southern twice; Toms River North; Central; Lacey; Westfield.

Remaining games: Friday: At Toms River East; Saturday: At Lacey in the OCT; Monday: At Jackson Memorial.

The Scenario: Toms River South needs one win. None of its games are easy.

Jackson Liberty (6-5-1)

Wins: Point Boro twice; Pinelands twice; Barnegat twice.

Losses: Donovan Catholic twice; Manchester; Freehold Township; Jackson Memorial.

Tie: Manchester.

Remaining games: Saturday: At Southern in the Ocean County Tournament; Monday: At Lacey.

The Scenario: The Lions need a split. Both games are tough.

Freehold Township (8-8):

Wins: Middletown South; Howell; Marlboro; Manalapan; Jackson Liberty; Freehold; Long Branch; Brick.

Losses: Colts Neck twice; Middletown South; CBA; Howell; Marlboro; Manalapan; Wall.

Remaining games: Friday: At Middletown North.

The scenario: The Patriots need a win Friday right now in the only game on their schedule before the cutoff. Seeding them will be complicated because of the many splits in A North they have.

Point Boro (7-7):

Wins: Barnegat twice; Pinelands twice; Lacey; Freehold; Central.

Losses: Donovan Catholic twice; Jackson Liberty twice; Manchester twice; Lacey.

Remaining games: Saturday: At Central in the OCT; Monday: At Neptune.

The Scenario: The Panthers, who have won seven of eight since an 0-6 start, need a split.

Neptune (6-6):

Wins: Matawan twice; Freehold twice; St. John Vianney; Red Bank.

Losses: Ranney twice; Manasquan twice; St. John Vianney; Red Bank.

Remaining games: Friday: At Ocean; Monday: Vs. Point Boro.

The Scenario: The Scarlet Fliers qualify with a split.

The Scenario: The Lions need to go 2-1. The last two are not easy.

Keansburg (5-5):

Wins: Keyport twice; Lakewood twice; Asbury Park.

Losses: Point Beach twice; St. Rose twice; Long Branch.

Remaining games: Monday: At Henry Hudson.

The Scenario: The Titans need to defeat Henry Hudson. If they do, they will be seeded near the bottom.

Manasquan (8-9):

Wins: Neptune twice; St. John Vianney; Red Bank; Ocean; Brick Memorial; Raritan; Marlboro.

Losses: Ranney twice; Matawan twice; St. John Vianney; Red Bank; Ocean; Wall; Rumson-Fair Haven.

Remaining game: Friday: Vs. Freehold.

The Scenario: Manasquan qualifies with a win over 0-13 Freehold.

Middletown South (7-8):

Wins: Freehold Township; Middletown North; Howell; Colts Neck; Marlboro; Ocean; Randolph.

Losses: Freehold Township; Middletown North; CBA; Howell; Colts Neck; Ranney; Allentown; Delbarton.

Remaining games: Friday: Vs. Manalapan; Monday: At CBA.

The Scenario: The Eagles need to win both.

Howell (6-7):

Wins: Middletown North twice; Manalapan; Freehold Township; Middletown South; Marlboro.

Losses: Manalapan; Middletown South; Freehold Township; Marlboro; Matawan; Bridgewater-Raritan.

Remaining games: Friday: At Colts Neck; Saturday: At CBA.

The Scenario: The defending NJSIAA Group 4 champions need to win both.

Central (6-7):

Wins: Brick twice; Toms River East twice; Toms River South; Lacey.

Losses: Southern twice; Jackson Memorial twice; Brick Memorial; Point Boro; Ocean City.

Remaining games: Thursday: Vs. Toms River South; Saturday Vs. Point Boro in the OCT; Monday: Vs. Toms River North.

The Scenario: The Golden Eagles need to go 2-1. All the games are against bubble teams.

Wall (7-9):

Wins: Monmouth twice; Shore; Brick; Toms River East; Manasquan; Freehold Township.

Losses: Red Bank Catholic three times; Rumson-Fair Haven twice; Raritan twice; Shore; Manchester.

Remaining games: Friday: Vs. Holmdel; Saturday: Vs. Hamilton West; Monday: Vs. Robbinsville.

The Scenario: The Crimson Knights, who have lost all three games they have played this week, have to win all three.

Central (6-8):

Wins: Brick twice; Toms River East twice; Toms River South; Lacey.

Losses: Southern twice; Jackson Memorial twice; Brick Memorial; Toms River South; Point Boro; Ocean City.

Remaining games: Saturday Vs. Point Boro in the OCT; Monday: Vs. Toms River North.

The Scenario: The Golden Eagles need to win both games.

Shore (6-8):

Wins: Monmouth; Wall; Red Bank Catholic; Long Branch; Red Bank; Roselle Park.

Losses: Holmdel twice; Rumson-Fair Haven twice; Monmouth; Wall; Red Bank Catholic; Manalapan.

Remaining games: Friday: At Raritan; Saturday: Vs. Freehold.

The Scenario: The Blue Devils have to win both. Raritan has been surging lately. Freehold is 0-13.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ baseball: SCT Watch will lead to complicated seeding