By Sean Reilly

Bryson Auten’s third pitching start of the season was also his best to date.

Considering the way the tall right-hander has thrown so far in 2025, that’s not an empty statement. 

Auten fired a six-inning one-hitter, with nine strikeouts and two walks, as the Diamond Jacks Super 14U beat the Bucks County Generals 14U Black, 3-0, for the 14U April Fools Pool A-B tournament championship on Sunday afternoon at Diamond Nation. 

The championship was the second straight for the DJacks, who also won the King of the Diamond tournament last week at ‘The Nation.’ The team is 12-1 so far in 2025. 

Pitching has been a major strength. The DJacks have won six games by shutout, with one run allowed in three others. 

In winning the April Fools title, the DJacks went 4-0 with a 29-1 run differential.

April Fools MVPs Harry Politi, Remington Mortman, Bryson Auten, Jordan Vesey and Mason Matis.

Aside from Auten’s gem in the final, Mason Matis pitched a five-inning no-hitter in a 9-0 win over the Morris County Cubs 14U Navy in the opener on Saturday morning, which was followed by a six-inning two hitter from Harrison Politi (with 10 strikeouts) in an 8-0 triumph over NEB Reynolds. 

In the final pool game on Sunday, Jordan Vesey and Remington Mortman combined on a three-hitter to defeat Prospects Baseball Academy, 9-1. 

It was no surprise then, that the pitching staff was chosen as tournament MVPs. 

“This was my best so far,” Auten said. “My pitches were working and they were making plays behind me. Pitching the whole game and winning the championship is really good.” 

The lone hit for the Generals was a one-out single to left field by Kyle Abromatis in the first inning. Auten struck out the next two batters. 

In the bottom of the first, Chase Hallett led off for the DJacks with a single to center. He moved to second on an errant pickoff throw and stole third before scoring on a wild pitch with the next batter, Vesey, at the plate. 

Vesey doubled to left field and advanced when Drew Gable reached on an error. The Generals then turned a 4-6-3 double play which scored Vesey for a 2-0 lead. 

The DJacks scored their final run in the second inning. Liam Freyre drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a two-out single to right from Hallett, who ended 2-for-3. 

Auten was in total control the rest of the way, allowing only a one-out walk in the third and leadoff base-on-balls in the fourth. He then retired the final nine batters, capped by an outstanding fielding play from Politi at second base to close out the win.