Chase Kegerise-Oley Valley

Trying to predict the Berks Baseball League this year has been as difficult as trying to keep the fields dry. Oley Valley entered the weekend with four losses in its first six contests. The starting pitcher for the Lynx, Chase Kegerise, hadn’t been on the mound in two and a-half weeks due to a leg injury. Meanwhile, Berks Catholic was (5-1) and unbeaten in its first three league games. The Saints sent Parker Nein to the hill on Saturday afternoon. The Penn State Harrisburg commit was (2-0) with a sparkling 0.62 ERA. Oley Valley put three runs on the board in the first inning and cruised to a 7-1 victory. The Lynx and Saints are now tied atop the Division 3 standings. “This game was the most important game of the season. They’re a really good baseball team. We needed this win,” said Kegerise. The sophomore lefty allowed one run on six hits over 5.1 innings. Kegerise, an all-division pick last year, relied on his fastball while throwing 90 pitches. He struck out three and only issued one walk. Kegerise noted, “Just getting outs is what it’s all about.” Senior shortstop Paul Petersen took over with two runners on and one out in the bottom of the 6th inning. The All-County selection gave up just one hit in 1.2 innings of relief. Petersen did damage at the plate with a RBI double to right-center in the first frame. “It’s amazing. He’s a really good pitcher, really good teammate. I love him,” said Kegerise. Nate Firek added a RBI single and Kegerise followed with a sacrifice fly to left in the 1st inning. Oley Valley tacked on two more runs in the 2nd on a single by Gryffin Cappellano. The second run scored when the ball was mishandled in left field. Nein was charged with seven runs, six earned, on five hits over 2.1 innings. The senior walked three and hit a batter. Junior Brock Shrawder walked Colin Remmel and sophomore Tim Fries with the bases loaded in the 3rd inning to make it 7-1. The Lynx drew seven walks and finished with eight hits. Petersen and Cappellano combined for four hits. They each scored one run and drove in another. Cappellano, a sophomore catcher, was on base four times. Petersen is batting .458 this season. Dillon Walls had three of Berks Catholic’s seven hits. The sophomore second baseman ripped a leadoff double and scored on Aidan Curley’s single to center. Curley was then thrown out at home on an attempted double steal. The (5-2, 3-1) Saints were limited to four hits after the 1st inning. Mikey Fidler tossed four scoreless innings for Berks Catholic. The junior gave up three hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Oley Valley won the Division 3 title and reached the District 3-3A semifinals a season ago. After a slow start, they’re looking to get back on track. “Hopefully, this turns our season around,” stated Kegerise.