Baseball: GC's Murphy commits to Maryland

By Phil Anastasia

Gloucester Catholic junior pitcher John Murphy has committed to attend the University of Maryland on a baseball scholarship, according to Rams coach Mike Rucci.

Former GC star pitcher Mike Shawaryn, who has referred to Murphy as a "little  brother," is a freshman at Maryland.

Murphy, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, was 8-1 as a sophomore and helped GC to the NP A state title. He had an 0.61 ERA with 77 strikeouts and 12 walks.

Murphy shut out St. Augustine in the NP South A title game.

As a freshman, Murphy was 7-2 with a 1.39 ERA with 46 Ks and 10 BBs.  He pitched a three-hitter in a 4-1 win over Don Bosco Prep in the 2012 NP A state title game.

Murphy also was a key member of the pitching staff that led Brooklawn to the American Legion World Series title in August. Shawaryn was the ace of that staff and former Rancocas Valley star Nick Cieri, who also is a freshman at Maryland, was a key player for Brooklawn.

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