LIBERTY #1 SEED IN SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNEY

The Shore Conference Tournament (SCT) softball seeds were unveiled late Monday night and though St. John Vianney and Middletown North eyeing the top two seeds, it was Jackson Liberty who was selected to lead the field.

Jackson Liberty (16-2, 11-1) recently logged a 4-1 win over the Lancers on April 30, before St. John Vianney took a 4-1 decision from Middletown North in the Monmouth County Tournament finals on May 14, placing Jackson ahead of defending tournament champion Lions and the perennial state power Lancers.

Class A Central champion St. John Vianney (17-1) landed the second seed, while Class A North champion Middletown North (21-3), who has also fallen to non-conference foe East Brunswick and Vineland in the Rancocas Valley Elite Tournament finals, took the third seed.

The SCT will feature 24 teams, meaning the top eight clubs have received first round byes.

Joining Jackson Liberty, St. John Vianney and Middletown North in accepting automatic bids to the Round of 16 are 2015 tournament finalist and fourth-seeded Middletown South (17-3), fifth-seeded Pinelands (16-3), Ocean County Tournament finalist and sixth-seeded Donovan Catholic (17-3), seventh-seeded Red Bank Catholic (15-8) and eighth-seeded Lacey (14-5).

NOTE: Round of 16 games must be completed by May 28. Quarterfinal games must be complete by June 1. Semifinal games must be completed by June 4. The championship game will be played on Wednesday, June 8 at Wall Township High School at 4 p.m.

Find the full list of SCT seeds and opening round pairings below.

Thursday, May 19

(18) Monmouth at (15) Wall, 3:45 p.m. - winner at (2) St. John Vianney

(19) Mater Dei Prep at (14) Ocean, 3:45 p.m. - winner at (3) Middletown North

(20) Manchester at (12) Toms River North, 3:45 p.m. - winner at (5) Pinelands

(23) Point Beach at (10) Marlboro, 4:30 p.m. - winner at (7) Red Bank Catholic

Friday, May 20

(24) Keansburg at (9) Matawan, 3:45 p.m. - winner at (8) Lacey

(20) Colts Neck at (13) Raritan, 4 p.m. - winner at (4) Middletown South

(17) Southern Regional at (16) Brick Township, 4:15 p.m. - winner at (1) Jackson Lib

To Be Announced

(22) Henry Hudson at (11) Manasquan - winner at (6) Donovan Catholic