How has GMC Tourney first round, quarterfinals affected playoff race?  And there’s more to come Saturday

It’s the last week of play in New Jersey high school baseball before the NJSIAA cutoff, which is this Saturday.

All games played through Saturday, whether regular season or in county tournaments, are considered for qualification, with the top 16 power point values included in the formula.

Some teams will pick up extra games this week to try and improve their standing, but others are locked in to county Tournament play, like in the GMC, which had its first round on Monday, quarterfinals Wednesday, and will play its semifinals Saturday afternoon at East Brunswick Magnet School. 

You can hear those games live on Central Jersey Sports Radio by clicking here.

So, how did some of those games affect the top teams?  We take a look.

Edison, Monroe, Old Bridge in Central Jersey Group 4:  The Eagles had been atop the section for the past few weeks, but dropped to third last week while Old Bridge claimed the top spot partly on the strength of a 4-0 week.  But Edison took it back after Monday’s 10-0 first round win in the GMCT over then 20-1 Piscataway Magnet, giving them the maximum power points you could get (48) and netting 40 after their 8-point loss to Columbia (its lowest value among the best 16) dropped off as a result.  But with Monroe knocking off the Eagles Wednesday, and Old Bridge beating Metuchen, the Knights are back on top as of Thursday morning, at 16-8 (29.746).  Edison fell to second (15-6, 28.611), and now they may not be able to make up that ground, since Old Bridge will play Middlesex in the GMCT semifinals Saturday at 2:30 pm.  A Knights’ loss may not even do it, depending how other games go.

Monroe (10-12, 23.596) climbed a bit, from seventh to sixth, since our last update Sunday, but at a little more than three full points behind fourth-place Hightstown (15-5, 27.088), the Falcons probably can’t get that high, but have a good shot to finish in the top with, guaranteeing them home field at least through the sectional semis.

Middlesex, Piscataway Magnet in Central Jersey Group 1:  The Blue Jays (20-2, 32.482) remain in first – though it’s slightly narrower than before – over second-place Piscataway Magnet (21-2, 29.079), and we think they’re going to hold on regardless what happens Saturday against Old Bridge.  The Raiders weren’t hurt place-wise by their loss to Edison Monday on the GMCT first round, but they’re lead over third-place Point Pleasant Beach (13-4, 28.572) is down from over one point to 0.505.  the Garnet Gulls have 16-win Colts Neck Saturday in the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals Saturday.

South Plainfield in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3:  The Tigers (13-10, 24.708) pulled ahead of North Plainfield (16.8, 23.373) since Sunday, no doubt helped by a 7-6 win Wednesday in the GMC Tournament quarterfinals over Metuchen, which was worth 41 points, their highest value for any game. Saturday, in the semifinals, a win over Monroe would be worth about 27 points, and a net gain of 16 (their lowest game is an 11-point defeat at the hands of Red Bank Catholic, which Monroe beat earlier this season). And with North Plainfield only having one more game before the cutoff against eight-win Warren Hills, and Middletown North (10-10, 21.842) almost three points back, we think South Plainfield should be able to hold on to the No. 4 spot.