champions – Berks Sports Report https://berkssportsreport.com Paul Roberts Sat, 15 Jun 2024 06:01:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 Bryce Wunderlich-Gov. Mifflin https://berkssportsreport.com/bryce-wunderlich-gov-mifflin/ Sat, 15 Jun 2024 05:57:34 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4290 After earning silver medals in the BCIAA and District 3 tournaments, the Mustangs are bringing gold back to Shillington. Gov. Mifflin used dominant pitching to top Hollidaysburg 2-1 in the PIAA-5A championship at Penn State’s Medlar Field. It’s the first state title for the (24-5) Mustangs. “It feels amazing…it means a lot,” said Bryce Wunderlich. The outfielder was one of just two seniors in the starting lineup. He drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out, RBI single through the middle in the 4th inning. “Just trying to roll the ball with two strikes, do my job. It worked out the way it did. I’m thankful for it,” explained Wunderlich. Dylan Barrett reached on a throwing error by Keagan Hockey at second base. A sacrifice bunt by Matt Koehler and an infield single from sophomore R.J. Weaver set the stage for Wunderlich. Weaver was thrown out at home on Wunderlich’s hit, but two runs is all Gov. Mifflin needed with Ethan Grim and Bryce Detwiler on the mound. “It’s almost a cheat code, honestly, having them on the team. It’s insane what they do,” emphasized Wunderlich. Grim limited the (17-7) Golden Tigers to a pair of hits and three walks over six frames. The hard-throwing righty piled up eleven strikeouts. Grim (8-3) punched out the side on 13 pitches in the top of the 1st inning. He finished the season with 113 strikeouts in 71 innings. “He’s a stud. He’s gonna go somewhere big. I can’t wait to see what he does in the future. He shoved today,” said Wunderlich. Hollidaysburg’s lone run came in the 3rd on a RBI single up the middle by leadoff hitter Jake Hileman. The senior outfielder came into Friday with a .469 batting average and a team-high 38 hits, including ten doubles. The Mustangs answered with a run in the bottom half of the 3rd. Detwiler ripped a ground-rule double to right-center. The UConn commit later scored on a groundout to first base by Travis Jenkins. Branson Adams collected two of the seven hits by Gov. Mifflin. Paul Wedel gave up two runs, one earned, in 5.1 innings. The junior struck out two and walked none. The Golden Tigers brought in their ace, Carson Kensinger, with one out in the bottom of the 6th. The lefty was dealing with a foot injury. Kensinger picked up his tenth win of the year in the semifinals against Monsignor Bonner. The Frostburg State commit went 6.2 innings in that 3-1 victory. Hollidaysburg was also making its first appearance in the state finals. Detwiler wrapped up the game in style by striking out the side in the 7th. The Mustangs are the first Berks County team to win a PIAA crown since Conrad Weiser did it in Class 3A in 2010.

]]> Aaron Anders-Wyomissing https://berkssportsreport.com/aaron-anders-wyomissing-6/ Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:34:00 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4100 Delone Catholic has won seven District 3 championships and four state titles. Head coach Gerry Eckenrode has racked up 665 career victories including 587 over the past 25 years with the Squirettes. Over the past two seasons, however, Wyomissing’s defense has shut down mighty Delone Catholic. The Spartans allowed just 30 points last year when they claimed their first District 3 championship. On Thursday afternoon, it was deja vu all over again. Wyomissing defeated the top-seeded Squirettes 45-32 in the District 3-4A Final at the Giant Center. Head coach Aaron Anders was thrilled with how his team controlled the boards. “They did an unbelievable job of one shot and done. There’s not too many times where they got second shots,” he said. Anders stressed that being unselfish was another key factor. “These girls find each other. Whoever is open, they get it. They don’t care who’s scoring. It’s just a matter of the W,” he stressed. Amaya Stewart piled up 14 points and 18 rebounds. Audrey Hurleman provided ten points including eight in the second half. Annie McCaffrey, the lone senior in the starting lineup, added eight points. Sophomore guard Kacey Maggs gave the (28-0) Spartans an early boost with five points in the opening quarter. Wyomissing had a 13-8 cushion after eight minutes. Delone Catholic scored the first five points of the second quarter, but the Spartans ended the first half with a 9-0 run. They limited the (22-3) Squirettes to six points in the third quarter. Wyomissing was in front 33-19 entering the final period. Delone Catholic came into the game averaging 51 points. The Spartans’ defense has been suffocating all season. They held third-seeded Northern Lebanon to 15 points in the semifinals on Monday. The Squirettes were content to launch from the perimeter, while Wyomissing attacked the basket. Delone Catholic made six 3-pointers and six shots inside the arc. The Spartans hit just two triples. They were 6-of-6 from the free throw line. The Squirettes went 2-for-2 from the stripe. Wyomissing has won two straight BCIAA championships and back-to-back District 3 titles. This is uncharted territory for the program. The players and coaches are enjoying the ride. “It’s special. These kids believe in one another, play for one another and sell out every day,” said Anders.

]]> A 5-peat for Wyomissing https://berkssportsreport.com/a-5-peat-for-wyomissing/ Mon, 20 Nov 2023 14:32:00 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=3905 Wyomissing’s football team won its fifth straight District 3-3A championship on Saturday at Bob Wolfrum Field. The Spartans have claimed twelve District 3 titles overall! Their all-time record in the District 3 playoffs is (42-18). Here’s a look at the past five championship games. Only one of them was decided by less than 21 points.

2023: (42-14) vs. West Perry

2022: (63-7) vs. West Perry

2021: (55-13) vs. Boiling Springs

2020: (38-16) vs. Middletown

2019: (24-21) vs. Middletown

]]> Ruben Rodriguez-Reading https://berkssportsreport.com/ruben-rodriguez-reading-10/ Sun, 06 Mar 2022 12:40:00 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=2574 A loss isn’t always a bad thing over the course of a long season. The Red Knights got tripped up at Muhlenberg 63-61 on February 8th. Ruben Rodriguez told me that they learned a valuable lesson that night. Reading has been laser-focused since coming up short in Laureldale. The (25-3) Red Knights have won seven straight games by an average of 23 points! Warwick was their latest victim in the District 3-6A championship at the Giant Center. Rodriguez poured in ten points in the first four minutes, including two 3-pointers. The all-state guard finished with a game-high 23 points in a 68-43 victory over the (20-6) Warriors. Rodriguez started the game with a dunk and ended a 16-2 run in the fourth quarter with another slam. The 6’1 junior described his emotions on those plays. Rodriguez provided another highlight in the final seconds of the third period. After stealing an inbounds pass, he banked in a 3-pointer from NBA range to put Reading in front 50-36. The Berks County Player of the Year is averaging nearly 20 points this season with 33 treys. Warwick was searching for its second District 3 title and first since 1984. The seventh-seeded Warriors got within five points at 41-36 in the third quarter. The top-seeded Red Knights exploded for 25 of the next 27 points. Joey Chapman opened the final period with three straight baskets. The 6’1 senior guard had a career-high 19 points. Rodriguez was very pleased with how Chapman passed out of the high post against Warwick’s 2-3 zone. Rodriguez also praised Amier Burdine for his defense on Tate Landis who’s committed to York College. Landis was limited to ten points and just three in the second half. The 5’11 sharpshooter averages 18 points. Rodriguez challenged Burdine to pick up his defensive intensity at halftime. Avery Sapp and 6’2 freshman Caleb Johnsen had ten points apiece. Reading led 17-15 after eight minutes and 35-23 at the break. Xavier Davis chipped in with nine points and Myles Grey added seven. The Red Knights were 9-11 from the free throw line, while the Warriors went 7-11. Reading connected five times from beyond the arc and forced 15 turnovers. The Warriors slip to (1-4) all-time in the District 3 Finals. The Red Knights earned their record 23rd District 3 championship and second in a row. I asked Rodriguez about playing for the winningest program in Pennsylvania. The Red Knights have piled up 2,213 victories. Reading is a remarkable (134-51) in the District 3 playoffs. The Red Knights will host Downingtown West on Wednesday at 7pm in the first round of the state tournament. Rodriguez said, “I think we can win it all.” Reading is the defending state champion in Class 6A.

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