Deven Sheerin-Exeter

Longtime Exeter baseball coach Justin Freese and his players weren’t sure what to expect this season. The Eagles lost eleven seniors from an (18-8) club that reached the state playoffs for the first time since 2008. After an 11-1 rout of Wilson in five innings, Exeter has outscored its three opponents 35-2! Deven Sheerin wasn’t anticipating this type of dominance. The ace pitcher replied, “Quite honestly, no. I thought we’d struggle with the bats a lot, but these young kids proved me wrong.” Sheerin helped himself on Monday afternoon in Reiffton. The 6’6, 230-pound senior launched a grand slam in the first inning off of Owen Geng. Sheerin went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. The Mount St. Mary’s commit ended the game with an RBI single to left in the bottom of the 5th inning. “I feel like we’re exceeding expectations of everyone and proving a point,” he said. Sheerin allowed just one hit over five frames with ten strikeouts and two walks. He tossed a no-hitter with 14 K in the Eagles’ opener against Cedar Crest. The big right-hander has already blasted three home runs. I asked what would happen if he had to face himself at the plate. “I’d probably strike out on three pitches,” he joked. Leadoff hitter Alex Kelsey started the game with an incredible diving catch in center field. The speedy junior ripped a grand slam of his own to right field in the first inning. Kelsey was the first batter to face freshman Ben Kulp. Interim head coach Bill Underwood went to Kulp after Geng’s fifth walk of the inning. Wilson pitchers issued ten walks. Kelsey had two of Exeter’s six hits and swiped two bags. He led the team with 21 stolen bases and 30 runs a season ago. Freshman first baseman Joel Ummarino went 1-for-2 with two walks. The linebacker on the football team hits third in the batting order. Tommy Hunsicker drove in the Bulldogs’ lone run with an opposite field single in the 3rd inning. The Eagles added two runs in the 4th on a throwing error by Kulp. Exeter hosts Muhlenberg on Wednesday. The Muhls moved up from Division 2 to Division 1 this year. Sheerin believes the competition will be tough across Berks County. “Every division is competitive. I think it’s one of the best leagues in the state,” he stated.