Baseball – Projecting the Shore Conference Tournament Field

The Shore Conference Tournament will be seeded on Monday night and while there is still a chance for Monday’s slate of games to impact the resumes of a lot of teams, now is as good a time as any to take a look at the field and determine where all of the 29 qualified teams will likely fall. Keep in mind that overall body of work is the first criterion and if teams are close to one another in the seeding, head-to-head and common opponents become more pertinent.

1. Christian Brothers Academy (16-7, 8-5)

Division Wins: Freehold Twp. (2), Middletown South (2), Freehold Boro, Howell, Marlboro, at Middletown North
Division Losses: At Freehold Boro, at Howell, Manalapan, at Marlboro, Middletown North
Non-Division Wins: Dunbar (Ky.), Chestnut Hill (Pa.), at Brick Memorial, Toms River North, Middletown North (MCT), Freehold Boro (MCT), Middletown South (MCT), Red Bank Catholic (MCT)
Non-Division Losses: Episcopal Academy (Pa.), Holy Spirit
Why They’re Here: Despite the seven losses and the second-place finish in A North, CBA is the top seed because of its Monmouth County Tournament championship run and because it has the best pitcher in the state right now.

2. Middletown South (17-4, 11-3)

Division Wins: Freehold Boro (2), Freehold Twp. (2), Howell (2), Manalapan (2), Middletown North (2), Marlboro
Division Losses: CBA (2), at Marlboro
Non-Division Wins: Southern, Donovan Catholic, Mater Dei (MCT), Marlboro (MCT), Colonia, at Wall
Non-Division Losses: At CBA (MCT)
Why They’re Here: The outright A North champs come in at No. 2 and the only blemish on the resume is that they haven’t been able to figure out CBA.

3. Toms River North (15-5, 9-4)

Division Wins: Lacey (2), Southern (2), Toms River East (2), Brick, at Brick Memorial, Jackson Memorial, Toms River South
Division Losses: At Brick, Brick Memorial, at Jackson Memorial, at Toms River South
Non-Division Wins: Monroe, at Central, Central (OCT), Jackson Liberty (OCT), Barnegat (OCT), at Red Bank Catholic
Non-Division Losses: CBA
Why They’re Here: The Mariners are on a nine-game winning streak, have put up two seven-spots against High Division I pitchers, just clobbered RBC and are two wins away this week from winning the Ocean County Tournament and a share of Class A South.

4. Red Bank Catholic (18-4, 13-1)

Division Wins: Long Branch (2), Matawan (2), Neptune (2), Ocean (2), Red Bank (2), Wall (2), at Colts Neck
Division Losses: Colts Neck
Non-Division Wins: At St. Peter’s  Prep, Sayreville, Monmouth (MCT), Ocean (MCT), Howell (MCT)
Non-Division Losses: Barnegat, CBA (MCT), Toms River North
Why They’re Here: Despite a recent slide, the Caseys have been pretty consistent for most of the year and the advantage in schedule strength gives them an edge over a couple other division champions.

5. Point Pleasant Boro (18-1, 14-0)

Division Wins: Barnegat (2), Central (2), Donovan Catholic (2), Jackson Liberty (2), Lakewood (2), Manchester (2), Pinelands (2)
Division Losses: None
Non-Division Wins: Manalapan, Holmdel, Donovan Catholic (OCT), at Point Beach
Non-Division Losses: Barnegat (OCT)
Why They’re Here: The Panthers have a senior-laden roster with a deep, effective pitching staff. With only one loss to Barnegat and an edge over Toms River South in record vs. common opponents, Point Boro snags the No. 5 spot.

6. Toms River South (16-6, 10-4)

Division Wins: Brick (2), Lacey (2), Toms River East (2), at Brick Memorial, at Jackson Memorial, at Southern, Toms River North
Division Losses: Brick Memorial, Jackson Memorial, Southern, at Toms River North
Non-Division Wins: Donovan Catholic, Ferris, Bayonne, Lacey (OCT), Point Beach (OCT), Brick (OCT)
Non-Division Losses: Central, at Manchester
Why They’re Here: If the OCT final was this past week and Toms River South won it, the Indians would have an easy case to be No. 3. As it is, the Indians are a lock for the top six and if Toms River North loses to Brick Memorial on Monday afternoon, they have a case to grab one of the three byes.

7. Marlboro (11-8, 8-6)

Division Wins: Freehold Twp. (2), CBA, Freehold Boro, Howell, at Manalapan, Middletown North, Middletown South
Division Losses: At CBA, at Freehold Boro, at Howell, Manalapan, at Middletown North, at Middletown South
Non-Division Wins: At Woodbridge, at Hudson Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven (MCT)
Non-Division Losses: At Holmdel, Middletown South (MCT)
Why They’re Here: The Mustangs will finish no worse than tied for third in A North and they are one of only two teams to beat No. 2 Middletown South this season.

8. Brick (12-9, 6-8)

Division Wins: At Brick Memorial, at Jackson Memorial, at Lacey, Southern, Toms River East, Toms River North
Division Losses: Toms River South (2), Brick Memorial, Jackson Memorial, Lacey, at Southern, at Toms River East, at Toms River North
Non-Division Wins: St. Rose, Manchester, at Middletown North, Toms River East (OCT), at Brick Memorial (OCT), Academy Charter
Non-Division Losses: At Toms River South (OCT)
Why They’re Here: Brick’s junior-heavy roster shook off a slow start and has done some serious work outside of A South. The Green Dragons have beaten every team in A South the second time through the division except for Toms River North and Toms River South, and they took care of Toms River North in the first meeting.

9. Middletown North (11-9, 8-6)

Division Wins: Freehold Twp. (2), Manalapan (2), at CBA, Freehold Boro, Howell, Marlboro,
Division Losses: Middletown South (2), CBA, at Freehold Boro, at Howell, at Marlboro
Non-Division Wins: At Colts Neck, Red Bank (MCT), St. Rose
Non-Division Losses: Brick, at CBA (MCT), at Jackson Memorial
Why They’re Here: A head-to-head loss to Brick keeps the Lions out of the top eight, but wins over CBA, Marlboro and Colts Neck make them a solid bet to be a top-10 seed.

10. Colts Neck (13-6, 11-3)

Division Wins: Long Branch (2), Neptune (2), Ocean (2), Red Bank (2), Matawan, at Red Bank Catholic, Wall
Division Losses: At Matawan, Red Bank Catholic, at Wall
Non-Division Wins: St. Joseph (Pa.), at Howell
Non-Division Losses: Freehold Boro, Middletown North, Freehold Twp. (MCT)
Why They’re Here: Despite a loss to Freehold Boro and an early exit from the MCT, Colts Neck takes the No. 10 spot on the strength of a win over RBC and a season sweep of Ocean, which beat Freehold Boro.

11. Ocean (17-6, 10-4)

Division Wins: Long Branch (2), Matawan (2), Neptune (2), Red Bank (2), Wall (2)
Division Losses: Colts Neck (2), Red Bank Catholic (2)
Non-Division Wins: Upper St. Clair (Pa.), Mount Tabor (N.C.), Chardon (Oh.), DePaul, Freehold Boro, at Carteret, Holmdel (MCT)
Non-Division Losses: At Rumson-Fair Haven, at Red Bank Catholic (MCT)
Why They’re Here: The Spartans can be classified as a team that has taken care of its business and the win over Freehold Boro should help when they and the other B North teams are compared to the bottom half of the A North standings.

12. Freehold Boro (10-10, 6-8)

Division Wins: CBA, at Freehold Twp., at Howell, Manalapan, Marlboro, at Middletown North
Division Losses: Middletown South (2), at CBA, Freehold Twp., Howell, at Manalapan, at Marlboro, Middletown North
Non-Division Wins: At Colts Neck, Keyport (MCT), at Shore (MCT), at Jackson Liberty
Non-Division Losses: At Ocean, at CBA (MCT)
Why They’re Here: A loss to Ocean keeps Freehold Boro out of the top 10, but any team coming out of A North this year that has some pitching should at least be in the discussion.

13. Barnegat (10-10, 6-8)

Division Wins: Jackson Liberty (2), Lakewood (2), at Central, Pinelands
Division Losses: Donovan Catholic (2), Manchester (2), Point Boro (2), Central, at Pinelands
Non-Division Wins: At Red Bank Catholic, at Lacey, Pinelands (OCT), at Point Boro (OCT)
Non-Division Losses: Hillsborough, at Toms River North (OCT)
Why They’re Here: The Bengals have been a tough team to rank all year, but it’s become pretty clear that they can pitch on any day and they can REALLY pitch on certain days. Wins over RBC and Point Boro are a big deal in this section of the seeding.

14. Howell (10-10, 6-8)

Division Wins: CBA, at Freehold Boro, at Freehold Twp., at Manalapan, Marlboro, Middletown North
Division Losses: Middletown South (2), at CBA, Freehold Boro, Freehold Twp., Manalapan, at Marlboro, at Middletown North
Non-Division Wins: Manchester, St. Rose (MCT), Freehold Twp. (MCT), at Delbarton
Non-Division Losses: At Red Bank Catholic (MCT), Colts Neck
Why They’re Here: The Rebels are a Monmouth County Tournament semifinalist and beat CBA and Delbarton in consecutive games to get into the SCT.

15. St. Rose (15-4, 13-1)

Division Wins: Asbury Park (2), Henry Hudson (2), Keansburg (2), Mater Dei (2), Point Beach (2), Ranney (2), Keyport
Division Losses: At Keyport
Non-Division Wins: Long Branch (MCT), Manalapan
Non-Division Losses: Brick, at Howell (MCT), at Middletown North
Why They’re Here: A midweek win over Manalapan was huge for St. Rose, which can now claim a win over an A North tournament team to go with a Class B Central title.

16. Manalapan (11-11, 6-7)

Division Wins: Freehold Twp. (2), at CBA, Freehold Boro, at Howell, at Marlboro
Division Losses: Middletown North (2), Middletown South (2), at Freehold Boro, Howell, Marlboro
Non-Division Wins: At Bayonne, at Memorial West N.Y., at Pennington, at Southern, Mater Dei
Non-Division Losses: At Point Boro, Holmdel (MCT), Somerville, at St. Rose
Why They’re Here: The Braves can be dangerous now that they are in but an inconsistent season might put them on the road in the first round.

17. Brick Memorial (13-8, 8-5)

Division Wins: Southern (2), at Brick, at Jackson Memorial, Lacey, Toms River East, at Toms River North, at Toms River South
Division Losses: Brick, Jackson Memorial, at Lacey, at Toms River East, Toms River South
Non-Division Wins: Big Walnut (Oh.), Walnut Hills (Oh.), Red Bank, Southern (OCT), at Point Beach
Non-Division Losses: CBA, Freehold Twp., Brick (OCT)
Why They’re Here: The Mustangs have been playing without shortstop Matt Cuppari and James Donlon, which could affect their seeding. If they beat Toms River North on Monday, they should fly up this list – possibly into the top 10.

18. Wall (9-8, 8-6)

Division Wins: Long Branch (2), Neptune (2), Red Bank (2), Colts Neck, at Matawan
Division Losses: Ocean (2), Red Bank Catholic (2), at Colts Neck, Matawan
Non-Division Wins: Manasquan
Non-Division Losses: Rumson-Fair Haven (MCT), Middletown South
Why They’re Here: A win over Jack Sheehan and Manasquan plus a divisional win over Colts Neck will keep Wall in the conversation for a home game.

19. Manasquan (9-5, 9-3)

Division Wins: Holmdel (2), Monmouth (2), St. John Vianney (2), Raritan, Rumson-Fair Haven, at Shore
Division Losses: At Raritan, at Rumson-Fair Haven, Shore
Non-Division Wins: None
Non-Division Losses: At Wall, Freehold Twp.
Why They’re Here: With two Division I arms from the same family at the top of the staff, the Warriors are a team no one would be comfortable drawing. Despite the presence of Tommy and Jack Sheehan, Manasquan has a light resume that doesn’t really warrant a seed any higher than this.

20. Manchester (10-10, 8-6)

Division Wins: Barnegat (2), Central (2), Pinelands (2), Donovan Catholic, at Jackson Liberty
Division Losses: Lakewood (2), Point Boro (2), at Donovan Catholic, Jackson Liberty
Non-Division Wins: Toms River South, at Keyport
Non-Division Losses: At Howell, at Toms River East, Brick, at Jackson Liberty (OCT)
Why They’re Here: A win over Toms River South this week not only got the Hawks into the SCT field, but it made them a viable top-20 team that can boast a reasonable top-16 argument.

21. Monmouth (10-7, 6-4)

Division Wins: Rumson-Fair Haven (2), Shore (2), Holmdel, at Raritan
Division Losses: Manasquan (2), Raritan, at St. John Vianney
Non-Division Wins: Academy Charter, at Matawan (MCT), Ranney, Mater Dei
Non-Division Losses: At Long Branch, Red Bank, at Red Bank Catholic (MCT)
Why They’re Here: The Falcons might finish behind Shore and St. John Vianney in the A Central standings, but neither of those other two had to face Tommy Sheehan from Manasquan twice. Monmouth also has an MCT win over Matawan to its credit.

22. Matawan (9-9, 6-8)

Division Wins: Red Bank (2), Colts Neck, Long Branch, Neptune, at Wall
Division Losses: Ocean (2), Red Bank Catholic (2), at Colts Neck, at Long Branch, at Neptune, Wall
Non-Division Wins: Shore, Keansburg, at Academy Charter
Non-Division Losses: Monmouth (MCT)
Why They’re Here: The Huskies have not done much outside the division, but wins over Colts Neck and Wall are going to help their case separating from this pack.

23. Jackson Liberty (10-9, 7-7)

Division Wins: Donovan Catholic (2), Lakewood (2), Central, at Manchester, at Pinelands
Division Losses: Barnegat (2), Point Boro (2), at Central, Manchester, Pinelands
Non-Division Wins: Jackson Memorial, at Union City, Manchester (OCT)
Non-Division Losses: At Toms River North (OCT), Freehold Boro
Why They’re Here: A win over then-unbeaten Jackson Memorial seemed huge at the time, but the Jaguars have won just three games since the Lions took them out. Jackson Liberty is very young overall, so they have the look of a wild card in this area of the seeding.

24. Shore (10-6, 8-4)

Division Wins: Holmdel (2), Raritan (2), Rumson-Fair Haven (2), at Manasquan, St. John Vianney
Division Losses: Monmouth (2), Manasquan, St. John Vianney
Non-Division Wins: At Long Branch, Academy for Urban Leadership
Non-Division Losses: Matawan, Freehold Boro (MCT)
Why They’re Here: The Blue Devils have a win over Manasquan, but neither Sheehan was on the mound that day. Other than that, the resume doesn’t have much to highlight, particularly in the non-divisional portion.

25. Mater Dei Prep (12-8, 11-3)

Division Wins: Asbury Park (2), Henry Hudson (2), Keansburg (2), Keyport (2), Ranney (2), at Point Beach
Division Losses: St. Rose (2), Point Beach
Non-Division Wins: At St. John Vianney (MCT)
Non-Division Losses: At Central, at Middletown South (MCT), Raritan, at Monmouth, at Manalapan
Why They’re Here: A comeback win over St. John Vianney in the MCT gets the Seraphs a few extra spots in the field.

26. St. John Vianney (7-7, 6-5)

Division Wins: Raritan (2), Rumson-Fair Haven (2), Monmouth, Shore
Division Losses: Holmdel (2), Manasquan (2), at Shore
Non-Division Wins: Red Bank
Non-Division Losses: Cranford, Mater Dei (MCT)
Why They’re Here: Like Shore, the Lancers don’t have much to go by and the loss to Mater Dei hurts their case.

27. Keyport (11-7, 10-4)

Division Wins: Asbury Park (2), Henry Hudson (2), Keansburg (2), Ranney (2), at Point Beach, St. Rose
Division Losses: Mater Dei (2), Point Beach, at St. Rose
Non-Division Wins: At Dunellen
Non-Division Losses: At Freehold Boro (MCT), at Lakewood, Manchester
Why They’re Here: The Red Raiders could have boosted their case by beating Lakewood or Manchester, but they were competitive enough to feel good heading into the postseason, especially with a win over St. Rose under their collective belt.

28. Keansburg (8-8, 8-6)

Division Wins: Asbury Park (2), Henry Hudson (2), Point Beach (2), Ranney (2)
Division Losses: Keyport (2), Mater Dei (2), St. Rose (2)
Non-Division Wins: None
Non-Division Losses: At Matawan, at Lakewood
Why They’re Here: The Titans beat Point Beach twice during the regular season, which offsets a lack of non-divisional results and keeps them from taking on the last seed.

29. Point Pleasant Beach (11-9, 8-6)

Division Wins: Asbury Park (2), Henry Hudson (2), Ranney (2), at Keyport, at Mater Dei
Division Losses: Keansburg (2), St. Rose (2), Keyport, Mater Dei
Non-Division Wins: Lakewood, Donovan Catholic, at Jackson Memorial (OCT)
Non-Division Losses: At Toms River South (OCT), Point Boro, Brick Memorial
Why They’re Here: The Garnet Gulls do have three non-divisional wins, but none are against teams in the SCT field. The two head-to-head losses to Keansburg probably means Point Beach will be the No. 29 seed.