Softball rankings and notebook: Greater Middlesex Conference, area UCC, through May 13

(Records through Monday)

1. Old Bridge (18-4) - last week No. 1 — The top-seeded Knights extended their winning streak to eight games with Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament victories over Edison and Sayreville. Old Bridge takes on defending champion St. Thomas Aquinas, with who it has split two meetings, in Wednesday’s semifinal.

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2. South Plainfield (16-4) - last week No. 3 — The second-seeded Tigers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to edge East Brunswick in the quarterfinals of the GMCT after defeating Middlesex in five innings in the opening round. South Plainfield plays host to Metuchen in the semifinals, which it has defeated twice.

3. Metuchen (11-7) - last week No. 4 — The Bulldogs have won five in a row, including comfortable GMCT triumphs over Colonia and North Brunswick. Sixth-seeded Metuchen takes on South Plainfield in the semi.

4. St. Thomas Aquinas (14-6) - last week No. 5 — The five-time defending champ Trojans return to the GMCT semifinals after shutout victories over South Brunswick and Spotswood. St. Thomas takes on Old Bridge in the semifinals, with who it has split two close contests.

5. Spotswood (18-5) - last week No. 2 — The Chargers defeated East Brunswick Magnet before falling to St. Thomas in the GMCT semifinals. Spotswood hosts Matawan on Tuesday and travels to Rahway on Friday in preparation for its state tournament bid.

6. East Brunswick (14-9) - last week No. 7 — The seventh-seeded Bears were beaten by No. 2 South Plainfield in the bottom of the seventh of their GMCT quarterfinal match, after eliminating Monroe. East Brunswick fell to St. Thomas on Monday, and travels to South Brunswick on Wednesday and Middletown South on Friday.

7. Sayreville (12-7) - last week No. 9 — The Bombers extended their winning streak to six games with a first-round verdict over Woodbridge, before falling to top-seeded Old Bridge 2-1 in the GMCT quarterfinals. Sayreville fell at Allentown on Monday as they warm up for a Central Group 4 state sectional bracket that should be loaded with GMC competition.

8. North Brunswick (16-5) - last week No. 6 — The Raiders used last week’s win over Spotswood to earn the No. 3 seeding in the GMCT, where it blanked J.P. Stevens, before losing to sixth-seeded Metuchen. North Brunswick hosts Monroe on Wednesday and visits Ewing on Thursday.

9. Woodbridge (10-6) - last week No. 8 — The Barrons defeated Perth Amboy before falling to Sayreville, who it had beaten twice, in the opening round of the GMCT. Woodbridge travels to Colonia on Tuesday to resume a contest that was suspended last month.

10. Colonia (12-10) - last week No. 10 — The Patriots defeated South River in five innings before suffering a first-round loss to Metuchen in the GMCT. Colonia hosts Tuesday’s replay with Woodbridge while awaiting its state tournament slate.

ALSO RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: East Brunswick Magnet (15-5), Highland Park (13-3), Middlesex (9-9), Monroe (6-12), Mother Seton (14-1), Perth Amboy (9-11), South Brunswick (6-14), Wardlaw-Hartridge (14-2).

THE FINAL FOUR

The Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament semifinals will be staged at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on South Plainfield’s adjoining fields, weather permitting.

All four participants are from the Red Division, meaning both contests will be a third meeting between the teams.

Here’s a deeper dive into the semifinals:

NO. 4 SEED ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (13-6) VS. NO. 1 OLD BRIDGE (18-4)

SEASON SERIES: St. Thomas Aquinas 1-0 on April 5; Old Bridge 3-1 on April 25

Old Bridge’s victory on April 25 snapped St. Thomas’s 66-game winning streak against Middlesex County competition, but the first meeting was more telling -- scoreless for six innings before the Trojans pushed across the lone run in the seventh. Old Bridge placed runners on second and third with none out in the sixth, before Hayley Wieczerzak struck out the side.

Wieczerzak (7-4) and Old Bridge’s Gianna Lombardi (15-4) could not be more different in the circle. Wieczerzak has struck out 139 batters in 71 innings, while Lombardi has fanned just 32 in 124. But Lombardi has issued fewer walks (28 to 37) despite pitching 50 more innings, and recently had a four-game, 26-inning streak without walking a batter.

While Old Bridge foes put more balls in play, the Knights’ stellar defense is up to the task. Zoe Milonopoulos, arguably the best defensive catcher in the GMC, is hitting .493, and few opponents dare run on her. Her sister, Zoe, at shortstop, is batting .493 with seven home runs.

The Trojans’ offensive woes have been well chronicled, and they’ve managed only one hit over the first six innings in Saturday’s 6-0 quarterfinal win over Spotswood. St. Thomas has scored one run or fewer in eight on 19 contests this year, though just once in its last six outings. Shortstop/pitcher Liz Negron and third baseman Sophia Colucci lead the team with .368 batting averages and 21 hits apiece. The Trojans have adjusted and become more patient at the plate, content to get on base by any means necessary, but that strategy may not work against Lombardi, who seldom misses the strike zone.

(6) METUCHEN (11-7) VS. (2) SOUTH PLAINFIELD (15-4)

SEASON SERIES: South Plainfield 8-1 on April 18; South Plainfield 3-1 on May 3

Metuchen has won five in a row and nine of its past 10 outings, the lone blemish being that second loss to the Tigers. Pitchers, Erin Townley of South Plainfield, a junior, and Metuchen sophomore ace Alicia Montalbano have followed similar career arcs. Townley began her sophomore campaign as a pitcher on the South Plainfield staff and ended the season as the ace, starting all seven of the Tigers’ post-season games.

Montalbano led the Metuchen staff in innings last year when she compiled a 3.04 ERA, but has taken her game to another level as a sophomore, lowering her ERA to 1.68 while striking out 120 in 91 2/3 innings. Townley’s ERA is 1.22 this year with 103 strikeouts in 92 innings.

With two stingy pitchers, this game could turn on one at bat, and both teams have the hitters to deliver the telling blow. Outfielders Nicolle Swatko (.458) and Kelsey Geurts (.423), and third baseman Lindsay Oller (.400, five home runs) are the leading hitters for South Plainfield.

Metuchen had its struggles at the plater early in the season but have scored six or more runs in each of their past five outings. Catcher Leslie Flaherty leads with a .411 batting average and four home runs, while shortstop Eva Szap (.354) and Kathryn Morano (.327) both homered in the quarterfinal victory over North Brunswick. Montalbano (.327) also contributes at the plate.

Follow GMC beat writer Josh Rosenfeld on Twitter/X @JoshPRosenfeld

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Softball rankings, notebook: Greater Middlesex Conf., area UCC