Sean McGrath
Scouting Director, New Jersey

Bishop Eustace 2 -- Gloucester Catholic 1

Game Played May 29
Coming into this game; everybody treated this game like a "championship" of its own kind. Bishop Eustace had already beaten Gloucester Catholic in the 42nd Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic, a tournament for the best teams in Southern New Jersey. This time around, potential redemption and a trip to the Non-Public A Championship would be on the line. Gloucester Catholic would turn to their senior ace, John Murphy (#1 in NJ 2015 Rankings), to take on Tyler Phillips (#3 in NJ 2015 Rankings). This game attracted a handful of professional scouts as it included these two professional prospects on the mound as well as eight other division one commits.

The pitching match up lived up to its hype as the game would be decided on two unearned runs for Bishop Eustace. The game was highlighted by the talented arms. John Murphy, a Maryland commit, would go 6+ innings pitched before being relieved of his duties after a lead-off hit by pitch. He would give up 6 hits and 2 unearned runs while walking one and striking out 8. Tyler Phillips went a CG in the win, giving up only 3 hits and 1 unearned run, walking three and striking out 6. Both teams would score their first runs on bases loaded walks but apart from that, the pitching was excellent.

Murphy was 87-92 for much of the game, mixing in a plus breaking pitch at 73-75 and plus feel for a changeup at 80-81. Phillips was 88-93 with a tight curveball that was 74-76 miles per hour. 6-foot-5 Jr. LHP Eric Grafton also looked impressive in relief of Murphy. The projectable arm was 80-83 with a big 10/4 slurve type breaking pitch at 70. He would induce two groundballs in the 7th inning but both would result in errors. After So. Shayne Clower scored the game winning run on the 2nd error, Grafton struck out Browne, forced a pop up, and got a routine 1-3 ground out to end the inning.

Offensively, the game was highlighted by two RBI walks. Apart from that, Sr. Iona commit Fran Kinsey would get a hard base hit to left field to reach the 100 career hits milestone and Sr. Maryland commit Nick Browne would go 2-4 with two singles.

This game proved to be a scout's dream; two high level prep arms going toe-to-toe in a low scoring one-run ball game. However, poor defense would cost Murphy and Gloucester Catholic as they fell 2 to 1.

Bishop Eustace will move on the face Christian Brothers Academy in the Non-Public A South Championship.