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Bishop Eustace beats Eastern for Diamond Classic title

Jon Cole wasn't supposed to start. He didn't expect to finish. But the junior righthander went the distance Sunday night in leading Bishop Eustace Prep to a 4-1 victory over Eastern in the championship game of the 42d annual Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic.

Jon Cole wasn't supposed to start.

He didn't expect to finish.

But the junior righthander went the distance Sunday night in leading Bishop Eustace Prep to a 4-1 victory over Eastern in the championship game of the 42d annual Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic.

"I didn't think I would go all seven," Cole said after pitching a four-hitter and allowing just one unearned run.

Junior catcher Nate Steele drove in two runs and senior first baseman Ryan DiMeo scored two runs as Bishop Eustace (20-5) captured the program's sixth title in the prestigious tournament.

Senior Joe Caruso rapped an RBI single in the first inning for Eastern (21-5).

"They made the plays when they needed to and they threw strikes when they needed to," Eastern coach Rob Christ said of Bishop Eustace. "We didn't do what it took to be a champion."

The victory capped an unforgettable weekend for Bishop Eustace, which rose to No. 1 in The Inquirer's Top 10 rankings.

Bishop Eustace beat its archrival, previous No. 1 Gloucester Catholic, 2-1 Saturday, securing the 600th victory of coach Sam Tropiano's career.

Sunday, Bishop Eustace shut out Northern Burlington, 8-0, in the semifinals at Deptford before traveling to Eastern and beating the Vikings on their home field before a large crowd on a warm night.

"I can't even put into words what this weekend was like," Bishop Eustace senior shortstop Chris Jones said.

Said Bishop Eustace senior rightfielder Nick Browne: "These are the weekends dreams are made of."

Pitching carried Bishop Eustace to the title. In four Diamond Classic games, the Crusaders allowed just four runs, including just two in three games in the final weekend.

Tropiano planned to start senior lefthander Kurt Elmer and use Cole in relief. He even printed out the lineup for the title game that way.

Tropiano changed his mind, deciding to start Cole and holster Elmer for relief work.

"Coach told me on the bus over here that I was starting," Cole said. "I was excited. I was a little nervous."

Cole picked up the torch from seniors Tyler Phillips, who shut down Gloucester Catholic, and Justin Hagenmen, who shut out Northern Burlington.

Cole allowed an unearned run on two hits in the first inning. He shut out the Vikings on two hits over the final six innings.

"I liked the fact that he fought through adversity in the first inning and got stronger," Tropiano said. "He smelled it at the end."

CHAMPIONSHIP

Eastern 100 000 0 - 1 4 1

Bishop Eustace 031 000 x - 4 5 3

WP: Jon Cole. LP: Tyler Ronczak.

2B: BE-Steve DeBellis.

SEMIFINALS

N. Burlington 000 000 0 - 0 4 2

Bishop Eustace 001 232 x - 8 9 0

WP: Justin Hagenman. LP: Mike Irvin.

2B: N-Zack Wright, Mike Wainwright; BE-Nick Browne, Ryan DiMeo.

HR: BE-Tyler Phillips.

Mainland 000 320 0 - 5 6 2

Eastern 050 110 x - 7 6 0

WP: Jack Herman. LP: Sal Colangelo.

3B: E-Collin Fabio.