“Roberts Rankings”-Baseball

A lot of you are probably busy filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket. If there was a preseason bracket for the BCIAA baseball playoffs, Gov. Mifflin vs. Wilson would be a popular choice for the championship game this year. Two-time Berks Player of the Year Tyler Minick has already found his way into the lineup at UConn. The Mustangs still have plenty of firepower including a terrific junior class. Bryce Detwiler, Ethan Grim, Matt Koehler, and Travis Jenkins are all back. Detwiler will join Minick at UConn and Grim is already lighting up the radar gun. He hit 93mph while striking out nine over three hitless innings in Gov. Mifflin’s opener at Myrtle Beach. The rival Bulldogs have some hurlers to keep an eye on as well. Southpaw Matt VanOstenbridge is committed to Penn State and sophomore Ben Kulp got a lot of experience a season ago. The Hunsicker brothers, Tommy and Christo, return along with Nick Fiorini. Remember the name Jack Gabel. The sophomore has a bright future in West Lawn.

Muhlenberg had eleven seniors on its roster in 2023 when the Muhls qualified for the state tournament. The cupboard is far from bare in Laureldale. All-County selection Cam Burr is headed to Kutztown University and senior catcher Shane Rosenberry will continue his career at Wilmington. Eli Keller was starting at shortstop as a sophomore for longtime head coach Brian Kopetsky. Keller and Aaden Lopez are two more impact juniors in Berks County. Oley Valley won Division 3 and reached the District 3-3A semifinals with just two seniors. All-County pick Paul Petersen is the anchor for the Lynx. Lefty Chase Kegerise and third baseman Gryffin Cappellano were both All-Division choices as freshman last year. Twin Valley suffered some key injuries early last season and never got on track. The Raiders should bounce back with Elizabethtown commits Owen Rhoads and Jon Oxendine on the mound. First baseman Paul Colombo is a tough out from the left side. He’s going to Division II Anderson University in South Carolina. Outfielder Kevin Eden will be playing at DeSales next year.

Berks Catholic fell out of my poll at the end of last season. Keep in mind, however, that the Saints only had one senior in their starting lineup. Parker Nein and Trey Stricker give Brandon Shurr a nice one-two punch on the bump. Nein averaged 17 points for the basketball team this winter. He’ll play baseball at Penn State Harrisburg. Exeter coach Justin Freese picked up his 300th career victory a season ago. He will be guiding a very young squad this year. 6’6, 230-pound righty Deven Sheerin left some big shoes to fill, literally. Sheerin moved on to Mount St. Mary’s. The good news is that Alex Kelsey will be patrolling the outfield again in Reiffton. The St. Joseph’s commit is one of the most dangerous hitters in the county. Jon Chwatek takes over in Fleetwood after Roland Green retired. Green, who helped Reading win a state title in 1983, had been the Tigers’ head coach since 2000. Fleetwood returns five starters including outfielder Aiden Soumas. He will stay close to home and play at Kutztown University.

Speaking of Kutztown, the Cougars finished atop the Division 4 standings and captured their sixth District 3 championship last year. They had a special senior class. Dalton Furst, Nick Hugo, Bryce Schafer, Matt Remick, and Dom Pizzelanti led Kutztown to 19 wins. Hamburg has some key pieces to replace as well. Conner Licklider, Luke Bensinger, and Nate Gilbert graduated. Mark Dietrich is the new skipper on “Hawk Hill.” Nick Evangelista moved on to the college level as the head coach at Penn State Schuylkill. Taylor Grim is now running Schuylkill Valley’s baseball program. He’s been the Panthers’ boys basketball coach for a dozen years.

It’s time to unveil my high school baseball rankings for the Berks League. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow! The records listed below are from last season.

“The Great 8”

1. Gov. Mifflin (18-5)

2. Wilson (19-9)

3. Muhlenberg (16-10)

4. Oley Valley (14-9)

5. Twin Valley (10-10)

6. Berks Catholic (13-8)

7. Exeter (12-11)

8. Fleetwood (13-9)