Jake Butka of the TCS Blackhawks is out by half a step on a throw to first base.

By Rich Bevensee

With one out in the top of the fifth inning, Diamond Jacks 15U Gold designated hitter Mike Murphy swung at and missed a fastball from TCS Blackhawks pitcher Patrick Schwarz. 

The swing triggered Diamond Jacks coach Chris Brown to have a talk with Murphy. The count was only 0-1, but body language and the length of the conversation made it very clear it was not an ordinary, pat on the shoulder pep talk.

Murphy certainly digested Brown’s message, because he promptly belted an opposite-field, RBI single into right field to provide the Diamond Jacks a valuable insurance run.

And that run turned out to be a crucial one in the Diamond Jacks’ 5-4 pool play victory over the Blackhawks in the 15 Boys of Summer Tournament on a sweltering Saturday afternoon at Diamond Nation in Flemington. 

Why stop the game on an 0-1 count, Coach?

“We had a man on third base with less than two out and his first swing was more of a defensive swing, more of a ‘I have two strikes on me’ swing,” Brown said. “You gotta take an aggressive swing. I don’t care if you swing and miss. Early in the count, I want you to take some chances. 

“I felt at that point of the game it was important, and look what happened. It was a 5-4 game.”

The Diamond Jacks built a 5-1 lead through their half of the fifth inning but saw the Blackhawks, based in Bridgewater, climb back into the game with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and another run in the sixth. 

In fact, the Blackhawks got the potential tying and winning runs on base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh when Diamond Jacks reliever T.J. Dally came on to spell Matt Hauck. Dally hit the first batter he faced to load the bases and push both the tying and winning runs into scoring position. Dally then threw a tremendous curveball to get a strikeout looking and end the ballgame.

So yes, that Murphy RBI loomed large in the end.

Dally, primarily a middle infielder but used on occasion as a reliever, relished the opportunity to get his team over the hump.

“I’m thinking let them hit it and trust my defense because I know they have my back,” said Dally, a rising sophomore at Nazareth High in Pennsylvania. “It’s hot but you can’t think about the weather, just about throwing strikes to your catcher. I’ve been in a lot of tough situations so I know how to calm myself down and work. Taking it pitch by pitch. I step off the mound, take a deep breath, and trust my catcher.”

Murphy’s clutch hit fueled a three-run fifth for the Diamond Jacks against Schwarz, who had pitched a solid game to that point (two runs allowed on three hits and two walks). 

With one out, Augie Eosso singled home Max Syryca to make the score 3-1. After Tucker Gallagher walked, Murphy drove in Eosso with a single up the middle. With two out, leadoff man Dally drove in Gallagher for a 5-1 lead.

Chase Kishler singled and scored to help the Diamond Jacks take a 2-0 first inning lead.

There was still drama to unfold. TCS (Top Corner Sports) scored twice in the bottom of the fifth when No. 9 hitter Matthew Watkins doubled, leadoff hitter Andrew Hildebrand drove him in with a triple to right center, and Hildebrand scored on a Jake Butka sacrifice fly. 

In the sixth, the Blackhawks cut their deficit to a single run when Colin Murawski singled, took second on an outfield error and scored on a Watkins single. 

Brown was especially pleased with the effort of his starter, lefty Jake Caulfield. The rising sophomore at Mendham High pitched five innings and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. 

The 5-9, 135-pound southpaw relied on his four- and two-seam fastball, curveball and changeup to strand three baserunners in scoring position. And after giving up two runs in the fifth, he retired two of the next three batters to escape further damage.

“I felt confident and I trusted my team,” Caulfield said. “It’s reassuring knowing my team is behind my back and we’ve got runs so I have room to work.” 

The Diamond Jacks drew first blood when Andrew Ruppe belted an RBI triple and Brett Myers had an RBI groundout for a 2-0 lead in their first at bat.

In the third the Blackhawks halved their deficit on a Diego Marcano RBI single. 

For the Blackhawks, Schwarz went 4⅔ innings and permitted five runs on six hits and four walks with six strikeouts.