Baseball: Gloucester Catholic shines behind Murphy | courierpostonline.com

Courier-Post Staff

PINE HILL — The voices of support were loud and clear from the very start.

\”Get ’em Murph. Sit ’em down Murph.\”

They proved to a sign of big things to come on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon for baseball.

John Murphy set the tone in the first inning, retiring the side with three consecutive strikeouts. The sophomore would go on to sit down nine batters all together and scatter four hits as Gloucester Catholic defeated St. Augustine 7-0 to win the Non-Public A South title at Overbrook High School.

In search of their fourth straight state championship, the Rams (28-5) will take on Seton Hall Prep for the crown Saturday at Toms River East. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

\”John is a young kid on the mound but he really knows how to throw the ball,\” said junior shortstop Phil Dickinson. \”He throws strikes. When he’s on the mound, we don’t have a doubt in our minds. We’ll do the work behind him.

\”You can’t ask for anything more than what he gave us.\”

Dickinson helped provide the Rams’ with an offensive spark. His three-run double to dead center in the second helped give the top seed an early cushion. Pat Hiester then followed Anthony Harrold’s double in the third with a two-run homer to left-center.