By PJ Potter | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Luis Torres | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
A few county and conference tournaments wrapped up this past week, causing teams to move around in the state ranking.
Gloucester Catholic held on to the No. 1 spot for several weeks this season, but fell to a worthy opponent in Cherry Hill West in the Diamond Classic. This result had a ripple effect throughout the state, which circles us back to the original No. 1 team finding themselves atop New Jersey once more.
With another week of games under our belt, have a look at NJ.com’s latest Top 20 baseball ranking.
1-Delbarton (20-2)
Last week: No. 2
Here’s why: Delbarton reclaims its spot as the No. 1 team in the state on the heels of a eight-game winning streak and having won 18 of its last 19 overall. The Green Wave are clicking on all cylinders right now, with the pitching staff settling in and the lineup producing. Delbarton will look to win its fifth consecutive Morris County Tournament championship as it faces Chatham on Thursday.
2-Don Bosco Prep (21-2)
Last week: No. 3
Here’s why: The Ironmen have won six games in a row as the No. 1 seed in the Bergen County Tournament. During this streak, Don Bosco has taken down Dwight-Englewood and Hackensack to put themselves in the Bergen semifinals. They will look to defend their county title and will have to get through St. Joseph (Mont.) on May 18.
3-Cherry Hill West (20-3)
Last week: No. 7
Here’s why: Winners of six in a row, the Lions take over as the top public school in the state - their highest ranking of the season. They knocked off then-No. 1 Gloucester Catholic on Saturday in the semifinals of the 50th Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic, handing the Rams their first loss of the season and snapping their 28-game winning streak dating back to last season. South Carolina commit Ryder Garino tossed a three-hit shutout, allowing just one hit over the final six innings. With five staters hitting better than .400, the Lions will take on Delsea for the championship in the prestigious South Jersey tournament on Thursday.
4-Gloucester Catholic (21-1)
Last week: No. 1
Here’s why: The last team in the state to lose a game, Gloucester Catholic fell from No. 1 following its loss to Cherry Hill West in the semifinals of the 50th Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic. The Rams quickly regrouped and knocked off Msgr. Bonner (PA) and Washington Township, wrapping up the outright Tri-County Royal title with Tuesday’s victory against the Minutemen. The defending Non-Public B state champion, Gloucester Catholic is expected to earn the No. 1 seed in the South section.
5-Seton Hall Prep (19-2-1)
Last week: No. 6
Here’s why: Seton Hall Prep continues to win, extending its winning streak to 13 in a row and will have a chance to avenge its last loss twice this week with two matchups against Livingston. The first will be on Wednesday with a chance the split the division crown. The second will be on Saturday when the two teams meet in the Greater Newark Tournament championship game.
6-Delsea (20-2)
Last week: No. 5
Here’s why: Winners of the Tri-County Liberty, Delsea heads into Thursday’s championship game of the 50th Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic looking to avenge a loss in last year’s title game. The Crusaders had their 17-game winning streak snapped by Clearview on Monday but will come into the matchup with No. 3 Cherry Hill West well prepared and ready to compete. They defeated Washington Township in the quarterfinals and Northern Burlington in the semifinals - both one-run victories, scoring the deciding run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Last week: No. 10
Here’s why: Lawrence had a thrilling comeback win on Tuesday evening, defeating Allentown 7-6 in eight innings in the semifinals of the Mercer County Tournament. Lawrence trailed 6-2 entering the bottom of the seventh and scored four runs to tie the game. Lawrence then walked it off to clinch a berth in the Mercer County Tournament championship game on Thursday, where it will play Hun at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
8-Gov. Livingston (19-3)
Last week: No. 12
Here’s why: Gov. Livingston is back on the Union County mountaintop. Coach Chris Roof’s team defeated Westfield, 10-8, on Monday, capturing its second Union County Tournament championship in four years. The win also extended Gov. Livingston’s winning streak to seven games. The Highlanders now shift their focus on securing the top seed in Central Jersey, Group 2.
9-Bridgewater-Raritan (19-3)
Last week: No. 14
Here’s why: The Panthers splash back into the Top 10 after three consecutive wins vs. Immaculata, Watchung Hills and St. Joseph (Met.). Bridgewater-Raritan is the No. 1 seed in the Somerset County Tournament and is slated to face Montgomery in the quarterfinals on May 16.
Last week: No. 4
Here’s why: Morris Knolls’ run in the Morris County Tournament came to an end in the semifinals for a second consecutive season when Chatham snapped Morris Knolls’ eight-game winning streak. Coach Eric Mindrebo’s team bounced back with wins over Morris Hills and Mendham as senior Luke Dickerson now has the state lead in home runs with 15.
11-South Plainfield (19-3-1)
Last week: No. 13
Here’s why: South Plainfield’s winning streak reached 12 games before a 6-6 tie to Spotswood, but South Plainfield extended its unbeaten run to 14 games, including the tie to Spotswood, by picking up a win over Sayreville on Tuesday. Coach Scott Gleichenhaus will be looking to guide his team to a Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament championship when it takes on Red Division rival Old Bridge for the third time this spring on Saturday.
Last week: No. 17
Here’s why: The defending South Jersey Group 3 champion, Mainland earned a share of the Cape-Atlantic American title with St. Augustine and will host rival Ocean City in the semifinals of the CAL Tournament on Wednesday. The Mustangs have won three of their last four and eight of 10, defeating Kingsway and Cape May Tech in their last two contests. Ethan Mitnick, Chase Camac, Cohen Cook and Jake Blum have helped pace the offensive attack.
13-St. Joseph (Mont.) (18-5)
Last week: No. 18
Here’s why: The Green Knights are winners of seven straight ball games with Bergen County Tournament victories over Pascack Valley and Glen Rock. SJR has made it to the county semifinals once again and will have their hands full against Don Bosco Prep. However, this team is gelling at the perfect time and perhaps has yet to reach their full potential.
14-North Hunterdon (17-5)
Last week: Unranked
Here’s why: Mark it down. The Lions have won 12 games in a row, which include H/W/S Tournament wins vs. Hunterdon Central and Pope John. North Hunterdon has made it to the tournament final and will face Phillipsburg, a team they defeated in their second game of the 2024 spring. Over this stretch of wins, the Lions have tossed eight shutouts.
Last week: No. 16
Here’s why: The Panthers are staying on the same path they’ve been on all season. They fell to St. Joe’s in the county tournament, but still display one of the best records in the state with quite a number of big-time wins. Glen Rock is running the NJIC and has yet to show any sign of handing that off to another squad.
16-Westfield (16-4)
Last week: No. 15
Here’s why: Westfield had an incredible comeback fall just short in the Union County Tournament championship game against Gov. Livingston on Monday. Trailing 10-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Westfield scored eight runs and sent the winning run to the plate. But the comeback fell just short, but the Blue Devils showed a ton of resiliency fighting their way back. Westfield will look to close out the regular season before gearing up for the state tournament next week.
Last week: No. 20
Here’s why: Following back-to-back losses to Mainland, the Hermits rebounded with a pair of wins before falling to Neumann-Goretti of Philadelphia in a non-league game Tuesday. They knocked off Rancocas Valley before defeating Egg Harbor Township on Monday to earn a share of the CAL American title. The Hermits are scheduled to host Hammonton in Wednesday’s Cape-Atlantic Tournament semifinal and are in position to receive a top seed in the upcoming Non-Public A South playoffs.
18-Old Bridge (17-6)
Last week: Unranked
Here’s why: Old Bridge is back in the rankings this week as coach Matt Donaghue’s team has won seven of its last eight games. Old Bridge will be playing in a county championship game on Saturday when it takes on No. 11 South Plainfield. Old Bridge will be looking to avenge two losses to South Plainfield as well.
Last week: Unranked
Here’s why: The Rams own the top seed in the Shore Conference Tournament. This team has won seven of their last eight contests, including a tournament win over Manalapan, and is revving up for what could be an unprecedented run for them this spring.
20-Lakeland (17-6)
Last week: Unranked
Here’s why: The Lancers won their fifth Passaic County Tournament championship on May 14, swinging by Pompton Lakes in a 4-1 victory. They defeated then-ranked DePaul in the semifinals to put the state on watch. Lakeland has claimed eight games in a row and is getting hot at the perfect time.
Teams to watch: Cherokee (12-8); Christian Brothers (14-5); Eastern (18-5); Livingston (17-5-1); Ocean City (15-6); Ramapo (14-8); Rancocas Valley (15-7); Red Bank Catholic (15-6); Ridgewood (20-4); St. Peter’s Prep (15-7)
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