Shore Conference Baseball Top 20 Sees Major Shakeup After Week 2

Unbeaten Colts Neck and Rumson-Fair Haven make big jumps, while three new teams enter the rankings.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 9:09am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a high school baseball game, with the players and field broken down into overlapping, angular shapes and planes in a variety of colors.The Shore Conference baseball rankings are in flux, with several teams making early-season moves to establish themselves as contenders.Neptune City Today

The Asbury Park Press Shore Conference Baseball Top 20 rankings saw significant changes after the second week of the 2026 season. While the top three teams - Christian Brothers Academy, Red Bank Catholic, and Brick Memorial - remained the same, several other teams moved up or entered the rankings. Unbeaten Colts Neck and Rumson-Fair Haven climbed to the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively, while Manalapan, Toms River North, and St. John Vianney made their first appearances in the Top 20.

Why it matters

The unpredictability of high school baseball is on full display in these early-season rankings, as teams jockey for position and establish themselves as contenders. The changes reflect the competitive nature of the Shore Conference, with several squads making strong early-season statements and forcing their way into the top tier of the rankings.

The details

Christian Brothers Academy, Red Bank Catholic, and Brick Memorial maintained their spots at the top of the rankings, but there was plenty of movement elsewhere. Unbeaten Colts Neck and Rumson-Fair Haven, which is also unbeaten against Shore Conference opponents, climbed to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. Manalapan, Toms River North, and St. John Vianney all made their first appearances in the Top 20 after strong starts to the season.

  • Christian Brothers Academy is 3-3 on the season.
  • Red Bank Catholic is 4-1 on the season.
  • Brick Memorial is 5-2 on the season, including a win over previously unbeaten DePaul.
  • Colts Neck is 6-0 on the season, outscoring opponents 58-21.
  • Rumson-Fair Haven is 5-1 on the season, with its only loss coming against Caldwell.

The players

Finnbar Dufficy

Hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to lead Colts Neck to a 6-5 win over Manalapan.

Glen Popes

Pitched five innings and struck out seven batters in Red Bank Catholic's 13-2 win over Middletown South.

Joe Mauro

Pitched two innings with two strikeouts to combine with Glen Popes on a no-hitter for Red Bank Catholic.

Landon Laido

Hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Red Bank Catholic a 3-2 win over Manalapan.

Trevor Kish

Hit a three-run opposite-field home run in the eighth inning to lead Brick Memorial to a 12-9 win over previously unbeaten DePaul.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The early-season shakeup in the Shore Conference baseball rankings highlights the competitive nature of high school baseball in the region. With several teams making strong starts and forcing their way into the Top 20, the race for conference supremacy is wide open and promises to provide plenty of excitement as the season progresses.