By Sean Reilly
Duncan Erne loves to compete at Diamond Nation.
Whether it’s playing for his Morris County Cubs 10U Navy team, or taking part in another event at the complex like the All-Ripken games, he’s clearly in his element taking the field in Flemington.
This weekend was no exception. He capped off another fine tournament showing at ‘The Nation’ by going 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch, along with two runs scored, as the Cubs 10U Navy gained a 7-1 victory over the Westchester Giants Gold 10U in the final of the Diamond Nation 10U Youth World Series on Monday afternoon.
The Cubs ended the tournament with a 6-0 record and 59-12 run differential. They are 56-6-1 overall in 2025, with nine straight wins and 20 victories in the last 21 games.
Much of that success has come at Diamond Nation.
“I feel like it’s our home field,” said Erne, who was 9-for-14 in the tournament, with five doubles and two triples, along with eight runs and five RBI. “We play here a lot, and usually play well. I love this place; the vibe and the fields here are great. It’s all very friendly.”
The Cubs also got a well-pitched game from Henry Gliottone, who pitched all six innings and allowed four hits, with two strikeouts and two walks. He threw 75 pitches, 49 of them for strikes.
“My team made plays and made my job easier,” said Gliottone. “Getting a lead made me more hyped on the mound. Whenever I go out there and my team gives me a lead, it means that I’m just going to throw better that day.”
Gliottone used a variety of pitches to maintain control.
“I throw a changeup, a fastball and a curve,” he said. “I went more with my fastball, because they were a little bit late, and I thought I’d throw more fastballs and let my defense make plays behind me.”
Westchester, which ended the tournament with a 4-2 record, scored first.
The New Rochelle, N.Y.-based team produced a run in the top of the second. Nate Wang reached on a leadoff error, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout. Crosby Hewitt then supplied an RBI groundout to shortstop.
Henry Gliottone (left) scattered five hits and Duncan Erne (right) was 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch for the Morris Cubs 10U Navy in the 10U Youth World Series final.
The Cubs tied the game in the bottom of the frame after Mikey LaPorta led off with a double to center and scored when Gliottone hit a grounds rule double to center with one out.
The Cubs pulled away starting with a three-run third.
Jeffrey Fortunato led off with a single to shortstop. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Matt Gentile. Erne followed with a double to center, with Fortunato holding at third. Phoenix Pitts hit a two-run single and took second on a throw to the plate. Pitts scored when Dominic Pietrodangelo singled to center.
The other runs came in the fifth inning.
Gentile got aboard on a bunt single with one out, and Erne was hit by a pitch. Pitts hit a double that scored Gentile, and Erne scored on a wild pitch that also moved Pitts to third. Pietrodangelo followed with a sacrifice fly to center.
Fortunato ended 2-for-3, Pitts was 2-for-2 with a walk and Gliottone was 2-for-2 for a Cubs team that suffered three of its six season defeats back in March.
As for Erne, aside from competing for the Cubs, he’ll be back at Diamond Nation in August for the All-Ripken games, which he also participated in last year.
“That was a lot of fun,” he said of his 2024 experience at the special event. “There are a lot of good players, and playing against them is something that will help make me better as I get older.”