Shore Sports Insider Week 1 Baseball Top 10, April 7

Shore Sports Insider Week 1 Baseball Top 10

Sponsored by Atlantic Physical Therapy

In the first Shore Sports Insider Top 10 of the 2025 Baseball season, eight of the 10 occupants in the rankings were from the A divisions of the re-aligned Shore Conference, which left all but two of the teams from the B and C divisions asking the obvious question: how do we get a fair shake at a spot in the rankings?

The question is as reasonable as it is obvious in this new Shore Conference landscape, in which all of the most successful teams in recent years play one another twice while the teams with less winning on their recent track records play weaker division schedules. The county tournaments will provide some opportunity, but there will be the passing chance for the B and C teams throughout the season and we already have our first hints at a blueprint through one full week of the 2025 season.

Central Regional has not played a division game yet within its new divisional home in Class B South, but the Golden Eagles got their shot at a ranked opponent and took advantage. Colts Neck, meanwhile, was a fringe top 10 team to begin with and was exceedingly impressive in its first series of the season.

As for the Class C teams: none have cracked the Top 10 yet, but a few new teams from the C divisions appear on this week’s Next 10 thanks to the same formula that Central and Colts Neck followed: beat a team from a higher division and win the other games convincingly.

1. Christian Brothers Academy (3-0, 2-0) Last Week: 1

Thanks to rainouts against Middletown South and Don Bosco, CBA’s first eight days of the season were not quite as unforgiving as they were scheduled to be. Still, the Colts took on an experienced Brick Memorial team and a loaded Ranney squad twice, going 3-0 while posting a 24-13 run-differential. CBA has showcases a deep pitching staff that is still waiting on Michigan commit Dylan Iwanyk to make his debut. On top of that, the bats have been alive in the early going and with a lineup that is mostly intact from last year, CBA may have the hitting to match its impressive pitching this season.

2. Red Bank Catholic (3-0, 2-0) Last Week: 4

The Caseys bump up two spots to No. 2 after an impressive opening to the season. They outscored Manalapan, 20-1, in a two-game sweep, manhandling a team that might have the best top-to-bottom pitching staff of any public-school team in the Shore Conference this season. After committing three consecutive errors to open Saturday’s game vs. Jackson Memorial, RBC cleaned up the defense, scored seven times in the first two innings and took care of the defending Central Jersey Group IV champions, 7-1, heading into a four-day layoff prior to opening a big series with Ranney on Thursday.

3. Toms River East (2-0, 2-0) Last Week: 2

The Raiders had to rally in the late innings to claw past Donovan Catholic in their opener, but asserted themselves as the dominant team in a 10-0 win over the Griffins in the second game of the two-game Class A South series. Toms River East has put 17 runs on the board in two games and the pitching has been solid so far, with Dan Nafziger and Mason Pentz each pitching six innings without allowing an earned run. If the weather cooperates, the Raiders will get a major test to end the week with games against Jackson Memorial and Gloucester Catholic within a 24-hour window.

4. Ranney (0-2, 0-2) Last Week: 3

Although they are still searching for their first win, the Panthers remain comfortably in the top five since both their losses were competitive games against No. 1 CBA. While Ranney does not have the dominant pitching CBA does, it has depth on the mound and a lineup that is a headache for opposing pitchers to navigate. Sophomore shortstop and LSU commit Ricky Lopez is off to a fast start to his high-school career (3-for-6 with a double, homer and four RBI) but don’t sleep on sophomore second baseman Robbie Wrobel’s start either (4-for-5, two doubles, two RBI).

5. Point Pleasant Beach (4-0, 2-0) Last Week: 7

So far, the move out of Class B Central is agreeing with Point Beach. The Garnet Gulls are not only 4-0, but they continue to put up robust offensive numbers, scoring at least eight runs in all four of their games for a total of 45 in four games. The pitching is going to remain a staff effort, with Noah Banick playing the role of No. 1 starter, but Point Beach’s bats and quality defense at key positions on the field have the Garnet Gulls set up to make serious runs at championships in Class B South, the Ocean County Tournament and in Group I.

6. Colts Neck (2-0, 2-0) Last Week: Not ranked

Leaving Colts Neck out of the initial top 10 appears to be misguided after the Cougars absolutely dominated their season-opening series against Rumson-Fair Haven, which then turned around and rolled to wins over Monmouth Regional and Point Pleasant Boro after being outscored, 23-3, by Colts Neck in two games. The Cougars have a junior-heavy core within their deep lineup, which is also getting an early boost from sophomore shortstop Jack Dugo (4-for-6 with a home run and three RBI).

7. Jackson Memorial (2-1, 2-0) Last Week: 8

It took a major effort from opening-day starter and senior right-hander Danny Hutchinson (complete game, 10 strikeouts and 108 pitches) for Jackson Memorial to get past Southern in its season-opener, 2-1. After handling Southern in game two in Stafford Township, Jackson Memorial’s defense faltered and the bats fell silent at Red Bank Catholic on Saturday. It’s an experienced lineup that has shown some depth in the bottom of the order – Nick Sirico homered on Thursday and No. 9 hitter Frank Noviello walked three times while seeing 22 pitches on Saturday – and the most prominent positive so far for Jackson Memorial is the pitching has been on-point.

8. Middletown North (2-0, 0-0) Last Week: 9

The Lions have yet to play a team in the Shore Conference yet and have blown out a pair of teams from North Jersey – Glen Ridge and Rahway – by a combined 24-0 score in preparation of playing North Jersey Section 1, Group III come state tournament time. Gabe Ahlemeyer was sharp on the mound and at the plate against Rahway and Ryan Clark and Seamus McCabe combined on a no-hitter vs. Glen Ridge. That’s a 2-0 starter without a run allowed and Middletown North has yet to use ace Zach Hampton on the mound. There is still much to prove for the Lions in against a loaded Class A North field, but the early signs are positive.

9. Middletown South (2-0, 2-0) Last Week: Not ranked

Speaking of positive signs coming out of Middletown, the Eagles look poised to make another run at a 20-win season and, perhaps, a share of the A North title. The lineup scored 21 runs during a two-game sweep of Marlboro and junior Peter DeNicola has been an early revelation on the mound (two wins, one run allowed and 10 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings). The best sight for the Eagles, however, is a healthy Brendan Sliva. The senior shortstop missed his entire junior season due to injury, but has hit the ground running in 2025 by going 3-for-6 with a triple and five RBI through two games.

10. Central (4-0, 0-0) Last Week: Not ranked

Coming off a five-win season in 2024, Central figured to get a break by playing in the Class B South division instead of in Class A South this season and that could still be the case. For now, though, the Golden Eagles have not even played a division game yet and are already 4-0, including Saturday’s 10-7 win over preseason No. 5 – and Class A South contender – Brick Memorial. Left-handed ace Vinny Berardi is going to give Central a chance against any opponent against whom he pitches, but Central’s two best wins so far – Brick Memorial and a surprising Freehold Boro squad – have come with Chase Macri and Tyler Woemer getting the starts on the mound and with the offense putting up big numbers.

Dropped Out

Brick Memorial (2-2, 2-0) Last Week: 5 – The loss to Central leaves Brick Memorial just barely out of the Top 10 for now, but the Mustangs have shown plenty of promise in the early going in sweeping Wall and going toe-to-toe with CBA in an opening-day loss to the Shore’s No. 1 team.

Ocean (1-1, 1-1) Last Week: 6 – Tommy Kowaliwskyj is still building up his arm in hopes of reclaiming his role as staff ace and while that is happening, the Spartans will need to hit more than they did in scoring two runs in two games vs. Monmouth. On the positive side of things, they did beat Falcons ace Collin Denton in the season-opener and both Derek Vasquez and Jack Kelly were sharp on the mound.

Manalapan (0-2, 0-2) Last Week: 10 – There is no shame in dropping a pair of games to a very talented Red Bank Catholic team to open the season, but Manalapan hoped its talented group of pitchers would fare better than allowing 20 runs in two games to the Caseys. As long as the Braves can put those results behind them, they should remain a factor in the rankings and in Class A North.

 

The Next 10

Manasquan (3-1, 2-0) – A surprising loss to Freehold Boro keeps Manasquan out of the Top 10 for the time being, but the pitching is looking as good as advertised so far.

Brick (2-1, 2-0) – After leaving some opportunities on the bases in a season-opening win over Manchester in extra innings, Brick has mashed in its last two games, even in losing a competitive game vs. Point Beach on Saturday, 11-8.

Rumson-Fair Haven (2-2, 1-2) – The season got off to an ugly start vs. Colts Neck, but the Bulldogs have bounced back nicely with double-digit run outputs against both Monmouth and Point Boro.

Monmouth (1-2, 1-2) – Although Monmouth has a losing record through three games, the Falcons have to feel good about the performance of Vaughn Bociulis on the mound behind ace Collin Denton, who combined to hold Ocean to two runs in two games, including a shutout by Bociulis.

Howell (1-1, 1-1) – An opening-day loss to Matawan was not the start Howell envisioned, but the Rebels have pitching depth that should benefit them over the long haul, infield defense that figures to round into form with each passing week, and some promising early signs from its inexperienced outfield group.

Wall (0-2, 0-2) – Similar to Rumson, Wall has a young team that got a rude awakening in its season-opener against an older, more experienced team. The Crimson Knights showed fight in the second of their two losses vs. Brick Memorial and should continue to improve while playing in the unforgiving Class A South.

Marlboro (0-2, 0-2) – The Mustangs have talent, but the schedule both within the division and outside of it is brutal. Two losses to Middletown South to open the season would normally be nothing to worry about, but the schedule does not get any easier.

Freehold Township (3-0, 3-0) – So far, the Patriots are enjoying life outside of Class A North. They have scored 33 runs in three games, including a 13-run inning that propelled them to a sweep of St. John Vianney.

Matawan (1-1, 1-1) – Despite graduating eight starters in the batting order and the top three from its 2024 rotation, the Huskies are off to a promising start after splitting a series with Howell, with the loss coming on a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Freehold Boro (2-1, 0-0) – Handily beating Long Branch and losing at Central were expected outcomes for Freehold Boro, but the Colonials caught the attention of the Shore by knocking off Manasquan on Saturday. Throw in a Central’s win over Brick Memorial on Saturday and Freehold Boro looks poised to make a run at a division title in Class C North.