The 46th annual Shore Conference Baseball Tournament is officially underway, kicking off Wednesday with first-round action that promises plenty of drama before the championship game on Sunday, May 24 at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood.

Defending champion Brick Memorial enters the tournament looking to repeat after last year's thrilling 8-7 victory over Red Bank Catholic in the final—a game that marked the Mustangs' first-ever SCT title. Now, the team is hungry to prove that win was no fluke.

Here's a look at the key first-round matchups to watch:

St. John Vianney (19 seed) heads to Point Pleasant Borough (14 seed) for a 4 p.m. showdown. The winner will face Brick Memorial on Saturday at 10 a.m., setting up a potential early test for the defending champs.

In another intriguing bracket, the Freehold Township (17) vs. Southern (16) winner will advance to take on top-seeded Red Bank Catholic, who will be eager to avenge last year's heartbreaking loss.

The tournament also features a pair of doubleheaders: the Barnegat (24) vs. Wall (9) winner will meet the Keyport (25) vs. Toms River East (8) winner, while Marlboro (21) and Toms River South (12) battle for the right to face Rumson-Fair Haven (5) at 10 a.m.

Stay tuned as we update scores and highlights throughout each round. Whether you're tracking your favorite team or scouting future stars, this tournament is packed with talent and tradition.