Jami Sands-Boyertown

Paul Roberts — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:25:57 +0000

After more than two decades as an assistant, Jami Sands has become the head football coach at Boyertown. “It’s refreshing and it’s a new challenge. It’s almost as if I was a chef getting new ingredients. It’s gonna be exciting,” he said. Sands was the defensive backs coach at Wilson, his alma mater, for the past four years. He ran for nearly 1,600 yards as a senior in 1995. Sands averaged a staggering 8.6 yards per carry for his career with the Bulldogs. He’s a member of the Wilson Hall of Fame. Sands talked about leaving the staff in West Lawn. “You have to follow where the opportunities go. You can’t always have everything perfect the way you want,” he replied. Sands is a 2001 graduate of Kutztown University. He played both football and baseball for the Golden Bears. Sands spent eight seasons at Lancaster Catholic with head coach Bruce Harbach. He was the defensive coordinator when the Crusaders won the state championship in 2009. Sands was an assistant under Mark Evans at Manheim Township for eight years before going to Wilson. He coached alongside Doug Dahms who holds the Bulldogs school record with 185 victories. Sands takes over a Boyertown program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2013. The Bears were (3-7) overall and (1-4) in the Liberty Division of the Pioneer Athletic Conference in 2023. “It’s a very good division. It’s gonna be a gauntlet for us to run. It’s not a friendly schedule for a first-year head coach,” noted Sands. The Liberty Division includes Spring-Ford, Perkiomen Valley, and Owen J. Roberts. Those three schools won 26 games a season ago. The Bears fell to Methacton and Pottsgrove by just three points apiece. Justin Konnick stepped down following two years at the helm. Sands has been busy evaluating the returning players at Boyertown. “The boys have not been discouraged with moving positions, trying new things that they’re maybe not comfortable with. It’s been a real positive,” emphasized Sands. There are some holes to fill at the skill positions. Cole Yesavage and quarterback Ryder Gehris graduated. Yesavage rumbled for 1,448 yards and 16 touchdowns on a whopping 204 carries. Senior Nick Billetta and junior Logan Oakes will see time at running back this fall. Jason Oakes, Logan’s older brother, led the Bears with 67 tackles last year. Connor Foskey is expected to take over at quarterback. Juniors Tilman Henley and Connor Houck will be two of his targets. Sands makes his head coaching debut this Friday when Boyertown hosts Upper Perkiomen. “I’m just thrilled that Boyertown has given me that opportunity,” he said.

Luke Giering-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 16:42:00 +0000

Baseball is a funny game. One minute you’re in complete control and the next you’re fighting to stay on top. Exeter held off Boyertown 10-8 on a sunny Saturday in Reiffton. The Eagles led 7-0 in the 4th inning, but needed St. Joseph’s commit Alex Kelsey to get them out of a 7th inning jam. Kelsey took over for sophomore Mason Goodhart with two men on and nobody out. The hard-throwing southpaw struck out two and didn’t allow a run to earn the save. Exeter jumped on senior Devin Hoelzle for four runs in the first frame. Joel Ummarino ripped a three-run homer down the right field line. “That was awesome…he’s huge for a sophomore,” said Luke Giering. Ummarino (6’2, 230) plays linebacker and defensive end for the Eagles’ football team. Brenton Feathers, one of four sophomores in the lineup, added a RBI single to left in the 1st inning. Junior Jonah Mayer took over for Hoelzle in the second. Mayer gave up one unearned run on a pair of hits in two innings. Todd Moyer, who’s in his 41st season as the Bears’ coach, then turned to sophomore lefty Luke Hagan. Giering’s two-run line drive double to left off of Hagan put Exeter in front 7-0 in the fourth. Giering went 3-for-3 with two doubles. The Eagles piled up eleven hits. “We’re explosive. We’re definitely dangerous. We’re gonna hopefully show some teams that we’re better than they think,” stated Giering. Exeter has scored 26 runs in three games. Giering and Kelsey are the only senior starters for head coach Justin Freese. This is his 29th year as the Eagles’ skipper. Boyertown got on the board in the 5th inning thanks to a wild pitch and a RBI groundout by Logan Barndt. Exeter tacked on three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman catcher Brandon Weller and sophomore shortstop Jake Franek provided RBI doubles. Chase Youse knocked in their final run with a single down the third base line. Hagan was charged with five runs, four earned, on six hits in 2.2 innings. The (0-3) Bears had managed just two runs in their first two contests. They erupted for six runs in the 6th inning. Randy Wynings launched a RBI double to center before Beck Babb hammered a two-run double to left field. Gavin Miller’s outing ended after he walked Easton Albert with the bases loaded. Goodhart walked cleanup hitter Gavin Slaughter to force in another run. Designated hitter Connor Moyer struck out to end the threat. However, Boyertown was now within two runs at 10-8. The top of the 7th began with an error and a walk. That’s when Freese called upon Kelsey to seal the deal. Miller picked up the win despite not getting a lot of help from his defense. The junior allowed eight runs, seven earned, on seven hits and five walks. He struck out four and hit two batters over 5.2 innings. “He’s a great pitcher. He comes in and throws strikes. We gotta be a little better behind him. Whenever we have Gavin on the mound, we can beat anybody,” remarked Giering. Hafer was 2-for-3 with two runs. Six different players drove in runs for the Eagles. Moyer and Ryan Soffa each had a pair of hits for the Bears. Exeter’s young squad improved to (2-1). “I think it’s a good learning moment,” said Giering.

Bears – Berks Sports Report

Jami Sands-Boyertown

Luke Giering-Exeter