Power Point Analysis: South River, Bernards are highest-ranked in Group 2 Central, North 2

Central Jersey Sports Radio continues to look at the power points races for the state playoffs – now exactly three weeks from the cutoff date of look at power point standings for the NJSIAA baseball playoffs – with a closer look at the Group 2 sections.

For an explanation on the baseball power point formula, check out Thursday’s story on the Group 4 playoff analysis by clicking here. Current analysis is based on standings on NJ.com through games played on Friday, April 25.

Central Jersey Group 2: This might be one of the toughest sections in the state, and the highest-ranked team here from the CJSR coverage area is South River. After a 7-0 win Friday afternoon over GMC Blue leader North Plainfield, the Rams find themselves sixth in the standings with a record of 8-3, and a 16.701 power point average. Other than first-place Governor Livingston (10-0, 27.921), which has a nearly ten-point lead over second-place Manasquan (9-2, 18.104) there are a lot of teams bunched up here. Consider that there are six teams – from seventh place up through second – that are within 2.07 points of each other! That means South River could very well be in play for as high as a two-seed, but a loss of two points could put them as low as 12th. That’s a pretty wide range in any section.

East Brunswick Magnet (11-2, 14.954) – which is having its best year in decades – is in a similar situation. They’re three away from No. 2 – which they won’t realistically reach – but are also just more than two points from missing the playoffs, and yet they currently sit in 10th. They should make it either way, but it demonstrates how tightly-packed this section is, and any prolonged winning or losing streak by even one team could have a profound impact on the standings. Spotswood (8-5, 13.025) checks in at No. 15, and should be a good bet to make the playoffs, but the Chargers might have to on a run if they’re going to solidify that well before the cutoff date. Otherwise, they could end up sweating it out. The good news is, there’s probably only two teams currently out of the playoff picture that could have a realistic chance of getting in: Wall (17th, 6-6, 11.696) and Point Pleasant Boro (18th, 6-5, 11.55). Only two other teams are below them – Jackson Liberty at 3-8 and Willingboro and 0-7 – and neither are withing range.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2: The leader here is Passaic Valley at 9-3 with an 18.052 power point average, but they don’t have the biggest of leads. They’re just 1.068 points ahead of second place West Essex (6-4). The only area team here (one of our pet peeves of the classifications) is Bernards. The Mountaineers, despite a 4-7 record, are in the thick of things with a 10.9 average, good for 12th place. They should start on the road, and they should make the playoffs. Nobody from 17th place down has more than three wins, with Leonia at 3-10 and Snyder and Harrison both 1-8 on the year.