Sean McGrath
Scouting Director, New Jersey


With one week left in the New Jersey high school baseball season, state rankings talk starts to creep into play. The only problem is, it is extremely challenging this time of year because some very quality teams were eliminated from some very challenging state brackets. Many teams that have been eliminated from their group would make out extremely well in other groups. Other eliminated teams were juggling two tournaments, county and state, at the same time.

Our Top 25 Power Rankings are developed and constructed with several different thoughts in mind. Here are some examples:
1. Is the team in consideration still in contention in their respective tournament?
2. How talented is the team's roster?
3. Have they already won a playoff-type tournament?
4. What is the overall record?
5. Who did they play/who did they lose to?

No. 1 Don Bosco Prep
With that being said; the clear #1 team in the state of New Jersey is Don Bosco Prep. They are currently undefeated, have won against many of the other top programs, won their county tournament, and are still in contention to win the state's toughest and most talented bracket: Non-Public A. Loaded with talent, Bosco has had a hard time finding a team that could challenge them for seven innings.

No. 2 Bishop Eustace
The winners of the 42nd Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic, a tournament that crowns the top team in Southern New Jersey, Bishop Eustace continued their hot streak with a win over John Murphy and Gloucester Catholic. This team has depth in the pitching staff and a very tough top of the order.

No. 3 Gloucester Catholic
Arguably the most talented team on paper, Gloucester Catholic has a very solid season. Never afraid of a challenge, Head Coach Mike Rucci and his squad played anybody who was willing to play them during the regular season. If it wasn't for an 0-2 record against Bishop Eustace, Gloucester Catholic may have won the Diamond Classic.

No. 4 Christian Brothers Academy
CBA has been very strong all year and currently possess a 25-4 record. They are going into the week with some good problems. On Monday night, CBA will play Red Bank Catholic in the SCT Championship. On Tuesday, they will be playing Bishop Eustace in the Non-Public A South sectional finals. What CBA will have to decide is when to pitch Luca Dalatri, one of the best junior arms in the state. Either way, they know they will have Brandon Martorano, the clear-cut top 2016 catcher in NJ.

No. 5 Northern Burlington
Winners of the Central Jersey, Group 3 championship, No. Burlington sits a 26-4 going into the Group 3 final four. This team is the most talented public school lineup in New Jersey. The battle-tested program will have a tough road to a Group 3 championship but players like Florida Gulf Coast commit Ryan Shinn and Delaware commit Tyler O'Dell make it hard to see them ending the season on a loss.

No. 6 Saint Peter's Prep

No. 7 Mainland

No. 8 St. Joe's (Montvale)

No. 9 Williamstown

No. 10 Buena

No. 11 Bergen Catholic

No. 12 Seton Hall Prep

No. 13 Old Bridge

No. 14 Eastern

No. 15 Governor Livingston

No. 16 Holy Spirit

No. 17  Bridgewater-Raritan

No. 18 Roxbury

No. 19 Bernards

No. 20 Notre Dame

No. 21 LakeLand Regional

No. 22 St. Joe's (Metuchen)

No. 23 Eastern

No. 24 North Hunterdon

No. 25 Colts Neck

It has been another excellent year for New Jersey high school baseball. Please keep your eye on the Top 25 Power Rankings as the final rankings will be put out next week. Wouldn't it be interested to have a Tournament of Champions? Maybe soon...

 

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