Greater Middlesex Conference rankings for Week 7

Andy Mendlowitz
MyCentralJersey.com

Top 10

Note: The records are through Sunday, May 21. The results of Monday’s NJSIAA first round public sectional games were not included in this ranking because of deadlines.

1. St. Joseph (19-8)– last week No. 2 – Who’s playing better? The Falcons entered the playoffs on a torrid 15-2 stretch since April 25. Now, the talent was always there, but a handful of players got healthy and everything started clicking. Plus, the bats have been smoking from leadoff hitter Mark Gialluisi to No. 9 batter Will Ramsay and everyone in between. The result was a 2-0 win over North Brunswick in the GMCT final Sunday as Jimmy Mulvaney went the distance on a five-hitter. St. Joseph received the No. 2 seed in the NJSIAA Non-Public A bracket and received a bye in Tuesday’s opening round.

2. North Brunswick (18-6) –last week No. 1 – You can’t get too down on a team for losing a 2-0 game against a hot pitcher. But that’s the cruelty of baseball, sometimes, and the Raiders drop to No. 2 after the GMCT final loss that snapped a 10-game winning streak. North Brunswick, the Red Division champions, still have a lot of big games left. The Raiders drew the No. 2 seed in Central Group 4 and was slated to host 15th-seeded Long Branch on Monday.

3. Monroe (12-8)– last week No. 3 – Monroe got a taste of playoff pressure in the GMCT by defeating South Brunswick 1-0 in the quarterfinals, then dropping a 2-1 game to North Brunswick in the semifinals. That type of anxiety should help the sixth-seeded Falcons as they navigate the Central Group 4 bracket. The talent is there for a run.

4. Old Bridge (16-8)– last week No. 4 – The Knights received the top seed in Central Group 4, and that alone tells you how strong their regular season went. Old Bridge tied for second in the Red Division and battled with just about everyone, including state power Millburn. Seniors Thomas Papeo and Mike Villani have led the way at the plate and Kyle McSorley is the RBI leader.

5. South Plainfield (13-13)– last week No. 5 – That .500 record doesn’t mean anything. The Tigers could beat just about anybody and will be a tough out in the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in North 2 Group 3. Junior Jay Alvarez and freshman Dom Massaro are having explosive seasons at the plate.

6. Spotswood (18-7)– last week No. 6 – The Chargers clinched the Blue Division with last week’s 8-5 win over St. Thomas Aquinas. Senior Casey Cumiskey is the headliner at the plate and on the mound, but Spotswood is far from a one-man team. His younger brother Carter Cumiskey and senior Jackson Walsh have provided valuable pitching innings. Spotswood is the third seed in Central Group 2.

7.Sayreville (14-9) – last week No. 7 – The Bombers have been one of the best stories in the GMC going from last to first in the White Division. Jake Romanello had a breakout junior season hitting over .400 and helped the Bombers draw the No. 7 seed in Central Group 4.

8. Edison (16-9)– last week No. 8 – The Eagles had a terrific bounce back season after going 7-17-1 in 2021. Edison contended in the White Division, ultimately finishing two games behind Sayreville. Junior Jaxon Appelman has emerged as one of the better pitcher-hitter combos in the conference and freshman Robert Roma had an impressive rookie campaign. The Eagles earned the No. 6 seed in North 2 Group 4.

9. Woodbridge (18-5) – last week No. 9 – When the Barrons lost this spring, they always came back even stronger. Woodbridge suffered just one two-game losing streak and that was in the opening week. The Barrons bring that winning mindset as the No. 3 seed in North 2 Group 4 after reaching the sectional final last season. Eddy Nunez and Ryan Leach are a potent one-two punch on the mound. Drew Lukachyk, Ty Kobylakiewicz and Tyler Weber power up the offense.

10. (tie) South Brunswick (10-13)– last week No. 10 – Not much is going to faze the Vikings after going through the tough Red Division. They seem primed to be a pesky out as the No. 10 seed in Central Group 4 and can face second-seeded North Brunswick in the quarterfinals.

East Brunswick (12-11)– last week No. 10 – Can the Bears make another run? East Brunswick reached last year’s Central Group 4 final as the No. 9 seed. Now, they enter as the fifth seed and seem quite capable of pulling out some wins. The Bears have momentum after finishing the regular season with five-straight victories.

NJ baseball: Greater Middlesex Conference Top 10 for Week 7 (mycentraljersey.com)