Catcher Sam Steele is behind Eustace's hot streak

Sam Steele says the key to Bishop Eustace's resurgent baseball season is that "everybody is doing their role."

For Steele, that was a little bit of everything last week.

As the Crusaders went 4-0 and allowed just two runs, Steele made contributions at the plate as well as behind it.

The senior catcher helped guide senior Zac Gallen, junior Devin Smeltzer, and sophomore Justin Hagenman through one of the most dominating weeks of the season for any pitching staff in South Jersey.

"He's so positive," said Smeltzer, the lefthander who worked 14 innings, won two games, and allowed just three hits with 27 strikeouts.

Steele, a Tabernacle resident, said a catcher's responsibilities fit his personality.

"I love catching," Steele said. "I'll do whatever I can to help the team. I try to be positive and keep everybody in the game."

Steele threw out two would-be base stealers as Gallen pitched a shutout in Bishop Eustace's 4-0 victory over Cherry Hill West in a key Olympic National game on Tuesday.

The catcher hit a two-run double as Hagenman shut down Seneca in a 5-0 win on Friday.

Steele was 3 for 4 with a pair of bunt singles in an 8-2 victory over New Egypt in the first round of the Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic on Saturday.

"We're playing more as a team," Steele said of the Crusaders (16-5), who have won four in a row after a 1-4 stretch.

"We all know it's time to pick it up as a team."