Berks Sports Report Paul Roberts
Muhlenberg entered Tuesday with a chance to wrap up a spot in the BCIAA playoffs. The Muhls were also hoping to strengthen their position in the District 3-6A power rankings. They’re #13 with the top 14 teams qualifying for the tournament. Longtime head coach Brian Kopetsky sent his ace, Cole Moody, to the mound and the senior righty delivered. Moody went the distance in a 2-0 victory at Exeter. “It was massive. We came into it like a playoff game. It was high energy,” he emphasized.
Moody held the (12-6, 7-5) Eagles to five hits. “He pitched the way he’s been pitching all season. He has been very efficient while striking out batters. It’s a nice combination and he’s not running up a 100 pitch count in five innings which is what Cole did last year,” noted Kopetsky. This is his 27th season at the helm in Laureldale. Moody needed just 90 pitches to get through seven frames. The Northampton Community College commit finished with six strikeouts and only one walk. He pounded the zone with a high-80s fastball. “I love the fastball. I love blowing it by people,” remarked Moody. He also has a very good slider. “They buckle, it’s awesome to see,” he said with a smile. His arsenal includes a curveball and changeup. Moody feels confident in utilizing all four pitches. He improved to (6-0) for the (9-7, 8-3) Muhls. Moody entered the game with a 1.17 ERA.
Muhlenberg got on the board early against Shippensburg commit Kamren Martin. The 6’4 righty made just his second start of the year. Cooper Burr and Marvin Frias opened the top of the first with singles. Moody helped himself with a RBI groundout to shortstop. Exeter threatened in the bottom half of the inning. Jake Hafer, who’s headed to East Stroudsburg, and Jake Franek singled with nobody out. However, Moody got two groundouts and a strikeout to escape the jam. Brenton Feathers ripped a double down the left field line to open the bottom of the fourth. The Eagles weren’t able to get a bunt down to advance him to third base. Moody then got another groundout and a strikeout to keep the shutout intact.
The Muhls made it 2-0 in the fifth without the benefit of a hit. Mason Goodhart replaced Martin who threw 64 pitches in four innings. Martin allowed four hits with one strikeout and no walks. Goodhart walked Aidan Bonte, the No. 8 hitter, to begin the fifth. After a fly ball to center field, Burr hit a grounder to shortstop. Franek threw to sophomore Xavier Jacobs at second base for a force out, but Jacobs dropped the ball. Frias followed with a sacrifice fly to left to knock in Bonte with the second run of the afternoon. Goodhart was charged with one unearned run on three hits over three innings.
Brandon Weller led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to left field. After Matt Woram grounded out to shortstop, Feathers lofted a shallow fly ball to center. Gavin Moody, Cole’s twin brother, made the catch on the run and threw to first base to get Woram for a double play. Cole Moody retired Exeter in order in the seventh as Muhlenberg clinched second place in Division 1. Burr ended up with three of the Muhls’ seven hits. Bonte went 1-for-2 with a walk. Franek was 2-for-3 for the Eagles. They’re in third place in the division with no league games remaining.
Muhlenberg went (11-9) last spring and missed out on the Berks County playoffs. “Last year was a little different when we were the #9 team and we didn’t get in. It’s a goal, they always want to get to [FirstEnergy] stadium. It’s great to be back,” said Kopetsky. The Muhls will be a tough customer with Moody on the hill. “We want to make a run, especially for the seniors. I think it’s a very wide open county. If we bring it every day like this, I don’t think anybody is stopping us,” stated Moody.