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Who's the top team? Baseball preseason rankings for the Greater Middlesex Conference

Andy Mendlowitz, MyCentralJersey.com
·5 min read

Here is the opening Top 10 for Greater Middlesex Conference baseball teams. The next two months should feature plenty of tight games and surprising results.

If your team isn’t ranked, or listed higher, don’t fret and just look at 2023’s preseason poll. Old Bridge was ranked No. 8 – and finished as No. 1, while South Plainfield was No. 9 and finished No. 5. Heck, Sayreville wasn’t even included and captured the White Division pennant en route to the final No. 6 ranking.

In other words, let the players decide the games, enjoy the season and check back in June.

More: Baseball preview index: Links to the Courier News and Home News Tribune preseason package

More: Baseball: Vote now! For your pick for reader’s choice Player to Watch in Central Jersey

GMC Preseason Top 10

(last season’s records in parenthesis)

1. Old Bridge (21-9): Many teams would love to have just one of those pitchers – and the Knights roll out all three. The trio of Frank Papeo (Rider commit, 1.64 ERA), Justin Hascup (1.75 ERA) and Justin Meyer (Kean commit, 1.96 ERA) will keep Old Bridge in just about any game. Throw in Luke Hagen (Rutgers-Newark commit, 3.23 ERA) and the Knights seem primed to make a run at repeating as Central Group 4 champions and advancing to another state title game. Those hitting holes to graduation should get ironed out soon enough.

The Old Bridge baseball players pose after winning the Central Group 4 championship on June 2, 2023
The Old Bridge baseball players pose after winning the Central Group 4 championship on June 2, 2023

2. Monroe (14-11): Those arms. The Falcons are another squad possessing three ace-level pitchers in Harrison Lollin (Penn State commit, 1.77 ERA, 83 Ks in 59 1/3 IP), Lucas White (Kean commit, 3.38 ERA, 48 Ks) and Zack Wallace (1.89 ERA). Ohm Desai (2.90 ERA in 19 1/3 IP) helps with the depth, always key come tournament time and in the four and five-game weeks. Lollin (.375 BA) and White (.347 BA) will power up the offense, which needs to replace a handful of starters from last year.

3. North Brunswick (21-7): It’s a new era for the Raiders with the graduation of ace and slugger Zachary Konstantinovsky and with alum Jake Rosenberg taking over as head coach for Mark Blevins. North Brunswick also graduated other key players such as Omar Carreras (8 HR). These current Raiders, though, return enough firepower with leadoff hitter and top defensive shortstop Yomar Carreras (.411, 17 extra base hits) and pitchers Kyle Anderson (2.05 ERA, 41 IP) and Alejandro Jabar (2.06 ERA, 37 1/3 IP) to warrant a high preseason ranking as others step up.

4. Woodbridge (20-6): Balance. That might be the best word to describe the Barrons over the past two seasons. Their lineup hits all over and they get top pitching. Now, Woodbridge loses just two starters and brings back a pair of aces in Eddy Nunez (16-6, 137 Ks the past two seasons) and Ryan Leach (7-1, 2.50 ERA, 73 Ks). Returning All-White Division picks Drew Lukachyk and Tyler Weber pace the offense as Woodbridge should make another run in North 2 Group 4.

5. South Plainfield (15-14): The Tigers flex both a loaded offense and top pitching. That combo should keep South Plainfield fighting for the Red Division pennant and make them a tough out in the postseason. Jayden Alvarez (.410 BA, 24 RBI), Dom Massaro (.402 BA, 29 RBI, 18 SBs) and Zach Robinson (.393 BA, 26 RBI) bring the pop. Aldo Pigna (2.72 ERA) and Kevin Penny (2.33 ERA) lead the talented arms.

6. St. Joseph (21-10): It does seem strange ranking the Falcons this low in the opening poll. After all, St. Joseph and baseball success has often fit together like a ball in a glove. The Falcons have played in the last three GMC Tournament finals with championships in 2021 and 2023. You just know that Mike Murray Jr. and the coaches will have St. Joes ready by mid-May. However, it’s a different tenor this spring with seven graduated starters and four key pitchers, including ace Jimmy Mulvaney. Returning hitters Bobby Christensen and Joseph Zammitti and pitchers Matthew Friedman and Joseph Barca are good building blocks.

7. Sayreville (16-10): The defending White Division champs should once again contend for a pennant with four starters back. All-GMC Jake Romanello (.425 BA, 28 runs, 20 SB) and Jaydon Stio pace the offense. Tommy Schlaline (3.03 ERA, 43 Ks) leads a staff with four returning pitchers who are ready to see significant innings.

8. Spotswood (21-8): The Chargers look to repeat as Blue Division champions despite graduating generational talent Casey Cumiskey (SS/P), as well as other key pieces like Jackson Walsh (1.66 ERA, 75 K’s). In fact, it’s not a reloading spring at all. Spotswood’s returning stars include Carter Cumiskey (1.91 ERA, 72 Ks and .382 BA) and other skilled players taking on a bigger role.

9. Edison (16-10): The Eagles have more than half a dozen names when it comes to its Key Losses from last season. True, Edison must replace stalwarts such as catcher Charlie Taub (Maine) and pitcher Paul di Pasquale (5-1, 1.88 ERA). However, the returners aren’t all that bad. Jaxon Appelman (Coastal Carolina commit, 1.38 ERA, 82 Ks and .381 BA, 5 HRs) is one of the best all-around players in the GMC and he leads several teammates looking for breakout years.

10. East Brunswick (15-12): In the pitching-rich Red Division, the Bears have the arms to match other teams’ aces. Senior righty Dustin McGuinness has been on that high-level since he was a freshman and leads an experienced staff stepping up this spring. East Brunswick always battles in the Red Division and this season should again be in the mix.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Baseball rankings: Greater Middlesex Conference preseason Top 10