Cory Rible pitches for Bridgewater-Raritan against Immaculata at Diamond Nation in Flemington on May 6, 2024. (Source: @BRRSDComm on Twitter)
While the top two spots in the Week 6 Bellamy & Son Paving Baseball Rankings stayed the same, very little else did, thanks in large part to the way the first three main rounds of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament unfolded.
Holding on to the top spot is Bridgewater-Raritan (18-3). The Panthers were 2-1 this past week, dropping a non-league game at Howell on Monday, before defeating Somerset County opponents Immaculata on Tuesday, 7-1, and Watchung Hills Thursday, 4-3.
Then, South Plainfield (18-3) holds in second, on the strength of the longest winning streak in the CJSR-coverage area. The Tigers went 3-0 this week, all in GMC Tournament games, beating Perth Amboy 11-1 in the first round Monday, South Brunswick 10-9 Wednesday in the quarterfinals, and Edison Saturday in the semis, 8-3. They’ll be in Saturday’s GMC Tournament title game against Old Bridge.
Speaking of which, moving up a place to third this week is Old Bridge (16-6). The defending Central Jersey Group 4 champions would have to be considered a contender again this year, but the Knights also are in Saturday’s GMC Tournament finals, where they’ll take on South Plainfield, looking to bring home the county crown. The Knights won all three GMCT games this week, beating St. Joseph 6-4 on Monday in the first round, North Brunswick 8-5 in Wednesday’s quarterfinals, and Sayreville 10-0 Saturday in the GMCT semis.
Ridge (15-7) moves up from sixth to fourth on the strength of a 3-1 week. After a 12-2 loss Monday at Seton Hall Prep, the Red Devils came back won win 11-1 at Bernards on Wednesday, 8-3 against Rutgers Prep on Thursday, and Saturday at Mendham, by a 4-2 score.
In fifth is Immaculata (13-4) after a 1-1 week in which they lost 7-1 to No. 1 Bridgewater-Raritan on Tuesday, but rebounded to beat Hillsborough at home 5-4 on Thursday.
Spotswood (17-2-1) dropped to sixth, having only played one game last week, an 8-0 defeat at the hands of Middlesex Monday in the GMC Tournament’s first round.
Edison (13-8) rejoins the rankings at No. 7 after a cup of coffee in Weeks 2 and 3. The Eagles beat Piscataway 2-1 Monday in the GMCT’s first round, and topped Middlesex 1-0 in Wednesday’s quarterfinals, but were knocked out in the semis by South Plainfield on Saturday, 8-3.
Woodbridge (15-6) drops three places from No. 5 to No. 8 after a 1-3 week. They started with a 9-2 win over South River Monday in the first round of the GMC Tournament, but then lost three straight: a non-league game to Brearley 4-2 on Tuesday, to Sayreville 4-3 in Wednesday’s GMCT quarterfinals, and another non-conference game Saturday, blanked 1-0 by AL Johnson.
Checking in at No. 9 is Colonia (13-5), which holds from last week. The Patriots rebounded from a 1-0 loss to Sayreville on Monday in the GMCT first round with wins at Linden Thursday and at home over Carteret, 11-1, on Saturday.
And falling three places to No. 10 is Monroe (10-9). The Falcons lost 2-1 to North Brunswick Monday in the GMC Tournament Round of 16, then rebounded with a 12-1 win against Edison Thursday.
Dropping out was St. Thomas Aquinas (12-6), which had a 2-1 week, including a 3-2 loss to South Brunswick Monday in 14 innings in the GMCT first round. The Trojans rebounded with a 2-0 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood Tuesday, and a 15-5 rout of Middlesex on Thursday.
Below is the Complete Week 6 Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten:
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