By Sean Reilly
It’s an accomplishment for any team to capture a tournament championship at Diamond Nation.
The Diamond Jacks Super 13U have taken that achievement to another level.
The DJacks gained an 8-3 victory over Tri-State Monmouth Arsenal 13U Marucci on Monday afternoon to win the Memorial Day Classic, Powered by Savo Schalk, in Flemington.
It completed a 5-0 weekend with a 47-9 run differential for the DJacks, who never trailed in the tournament.
The team has now gone 17 consecutive games without trailing, and even that was only after allowing one run in the top of the first inning which was quickly followed by a four-run bottom of the frame back on April 5.
Most impressive, the DJacks completed the spring portion of their 2025 season with a 28-0 record, with seven tournament championships, all at Diamond Nation.
It was all a big step up after an 11-6-1 campaign last fall after making the introductory move up to the big 60/90 field.
So what has made the team so good? According to the players, it goes beyond talent.
“I’ve never been on a team with such good teammates and people, and with such good coaches,” said leadoff man Andrew Vasil, who delivered the big blow in the final, a three-run home run with two out in the second inning for a 5-1 lead. “It’s just amazing. Now we have to move forward and hopefully go undefeated in the summer.”
Logan Koziupa continued to thrive in his role as the team’s championship game ace. He relied on a fastball, slider and changeup while working 4.2 innings, throwing 66 pitches (43 for strikes.) He allowed one unearned run on two hits, with five strikeouts and one walk.
“I like to pitch in the big games,” he said. “It’s fun for me. We’ve come together so far as a team, and we’ve gotten a lot better as a whole. And everyone has contributed in some way. It’s definitely special.”
Of the 28 wins, 21 have been decided by at least five runs. Seven have been won by shutout, and only one has been decided by one run.
In the latest victory, the DJacks took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Aaron Erb hit an RBI single with one out and then scored after stealing third and advancing on an overthrow.
The Arsenal scored in the second after Devlin Hye reached on a two-out error and later scored on a wild pitch.
The DJacks gained separation in the bottom of that inning. Alan Peña walked with one out and Rocco Gaeta walked with two out. Vasil was up next, and with a 1-0 count, hit a line drive that went over the head of the center fielder for a three-run inside-the-park home run and a 5-1 lead.
“That really opened up the game, and we just attacked off of that,” Vasil said. “We didn’t want to go 27-0 and lose the last game. That would be kind of sad.”
The lead grew to 8-1 after a three-run bottom of the third.
The inning began with walks to Ryan Sharma and Oliver Stokes. They advanced on a double steal, and Nigro hit a single to left field which scored Sharma and sent Stokes to third.
After an Arsenal pitching change, Peña hit an RBI ground out to shortstop. Nigro scored on a two-out wild pitch.
The Arsenal scored twice in the sixth after Nick Goldberg and Calen Harmata drew consecutive walks with two out before Jacob Vargas drove in both by slicing a double to right field.
A highlight for Arsenal was the relief pitching from Goldberg, who allowed one hit over four scoreless innings, with six strikeouts, no walks and one hit batter. One other DJack reached on an error. In an impressive achievement, the left-hander picked off all three runners at first base.
Next up for the Diamond Jacks is the summer portion of the campaign, which launches with the Home Run Classic this weekend at ‘The Nation.’ The DJacks will open against the NJ Nationals on Friday.
Koziupa and his teammates will be ready.
“We hope to keep this undefeated streak going, and I think we will,” he said. “We’ve been playing good and getting better every weekend. If that keeps going, it will be fun.”