Owls – Berks Sports Report

Jack Gabel-West Lawn Owls

Paul Roberts — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:59:18 +0000

West Lawn entered Tuesday needing two wins to capture the Berks County Legion League championship. Pitching has carried the Owls all season, and it didn’t let them down with the title on the line. West Lawn allowed just two runs over fourteen innings to sweep a doubleheader with Exeter. “Steve Carroll, our pitching coach, has put a plan in place all year. Our pitching has been outstanding all year. I can’t be more proud of Dylan because he went out there and set the tone,” said head coach Scott Spatz. Dylan Siwik fired a four-hitter with nine strikeouts and one walk in the first game. “He’s been battling arm injuries. He’s our guy. I consider him our ace. He pounds the zone,” stated shortstop Jack Gabel. The third-seeded Owls blanked the eighth-seeded Blue Jays 2-0 to force a second game in the double-elimination tournament at Owls Field.

Brock Shrawder got the ball for the nightcap for Exeter. However, he suffered an injury and left the game after getting just two outs. Jake Franek took over on the mound with the Blue Jays trailing 1-0 thanks to a sacrifice fly by Austin Snyder. Exeter loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 1st, but failed to score. Mikey Fidler ripped a line drive to first base that Christo Hunsicker turned into an inning-ending double play. A two-out, RBI single to right field by Cole Lavin put West Lawn on top 2-0 in the second frame. The Blue Jays tied it with a pair of runs in the 2nd, but they left the bases loaded. Snyder gave up two runs on five hits over three innings. He struck out five and walked three. The Owls opened the 4th with a single by Michael Bradley and a double from Gabel. With one out and the bases full, Alex Ernesto hit a grounder to third base. Brenton Feathers came home with the throw, but it was dropped which allowed West Lawn to go in front 3-2. Eight errors were committed in the final game, including five by Exeter. A wild pitch by Franek made it 4-2. Hunsicker, who just returned from vacation, tossed three scoreless frames of relief. The Millersville commit held the Blue Jays to one hit. Tyler Herbein, the No. 8 hitter, gave the Owls a 5-2 advantage in the 5th. The catcher hit a leadoff double and then scored all the way from second on a wild pitch. Herbein had three of West Lawn’s twelve hits. “That production was great. We couldn’t have asked for anything more from him. He’s been playing great behind the plate,” noted Gabel. A passed ball in the 5th gave the Owls a 6-2 cushion. Gabel, a rising senior who’s committed to West Chester, broke it open with a 3-run double to left in the 6th. Franek was charged with nine runs on nine hits in five innings. He walked four to go along with three strikeouts. In the 7th, Feathers walked Jack Froelich and Alex Frantz with the bases juiced. West Lawn won 12-2 to earn its 11th league championship. “They never give up. We built a schedule that made them play some games in hot weather and I think it paid off for us,” added Spatz. Gabel, Lavin, and Ernesto provided two hits apiece. “Throughout the whole year, we haven’t been able to get hits. Tonight, we put it together and that’s who we are. When we’re doing that, we’re pretty dangerous,” explained Gabel. Franek had two of Exeter’s six hits on a pair of infield singles. The Blue Jays were missing Jake Hafer and Brandon Weller, two of their top players. They upset top-seeded Norchester in the first round of the tournament. The (23-4) Owls advanced to the Region 2 tournament at Boyertown. They will face South Parkland at 4:15pm on Friday.

Bulldogs Shut Down the Muhls

Paul Roberts — Sat, 03 May 2025 18:52:11 +0000

On Senior Night, it was a junior who stole the show at Owls Field in the Berks County High School Baseball Showcase. Ben Kulp allowed just three hits over five innings as Wilson defeated Muhlenberg 6-0 on Friday. The 6’2, 215-pound righty racked up nine strikeouts. “Kulp had a lively fastball, was throwing his curveball for a strike, and then coming back with a nice split,” explained head coach Bill Underwood. Kulp (4-2) walked just two while throwing 81 pitches. He entered the day with a 0.93 ERA. It was a different story for Muhls’ senior Aaden Lopez. He gave up five runs on five hits and four walks. Lopez (1-3) only lasted two innings. He has issued 36 walks in 21.1 innings this season. The (13-6) Bulldogs got a pair of runs in the 1st on RBI singles by Alex Ernesto and Nick Herron. Ernesto went 1-for-1 with two walks and a run. Herron provided two of Wilson’s seven hits. The Bulldogs added three runs in the 2nd to go up 5-0. After a bunt base hit by Colby Kostelac, Tyler Herbein followed with a bloop single down the right field line. The throw into second base got away and rolled all the way to the fence on the left field line. The throwing error put Wilson in front 3-0. An RBI single to left by leadoff hitter Jack Gabel made it 4-0. He would later come around to score on a wild pitch by Lopez. Gabel, a junior shortstop who’s committed to West Chester, knocked in another run in the 3rd on a groundout to third base. Sophomore Ryan Rosenberry hit three batters and walked another in that inning. Kaden Ballas pitched the last two frames for the Bulldogs. The senior limited the (11-8) Muhls to one hit. Ballas had two strikeouts and one walk. “With a six run lead, Ballas did what he needed and that was to throw strikes,” said Underwood. Cole Moody and Eli Keller had two hits apiece for Muhlenberg, which was playing its fifth game in six days. The Muhls are likely out of contention for the BCIAA playoffs. Meanwhile, Wilson is headed to the Berks County playoffs after finishing second in Division 1. The Bulldogs are the defending county champions. The BCIAA quarterfinals are on Thursday, May 8th with doubleheaders at Owls Field and Muhlenberg.

Berks County High School Baseball Showcase

Paul Roberts — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 19:23:39 +0000

The Berks County High School Baseball Showcase begins later this month. The event includes 14 teams from the Berks League. The showcase runs from Wednesday, April 30th to Saturday, May 3rd at Owls Field in West Lawn. Thursday, May 1st is a scheduled rain date. Admission each day is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Wilson will hold its Senior Night ceremony on May 2nd. Here’s the slate of seven games.

April 30:

Berks Catholic vs. Wyomissing at 4:15pm

Gov. Mifflin vs. Daniel Boone at 7pm

May 2:

Kutztown vs. Antietam at 4:15pm

Wilson vs. Muhlenberg at 7pm

May 3:

Hamburg vs. Tulpehocken at noon

Twin Valley vs. Conrad Weiser at 3pm

Oley Valley vs. Brandywine Heights at 6:30pm

Nick Crocona-West Lawn

Paul Roberts — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 12:33:00 +0000

The Shillington Dodgers went into Monday knowing that they needed two wins to claim the Berks County Championship. West Lawn made sure that there wouldn’t be a nightcap. The Owls soared to a 3-0 lead after one inning and cruised to an 8-1 victory. Nick Crocona struck out the side in the top of the 1st. “It definitely gave me a lot of confidence moving forward because they have some talented hitters in the top of their lineup,” said Crocona. Mansfield commit Ryan Sekulski hammered a 2-run triple to left field in the bottom of the frame. Lucas Gensemer followed with a RBI single up the middle. Three of West Lawn’s five hits came in the 1st. “You feel like you have much more of a cushion. You feel a lot more relaxed,” noted Crocona. The right-hander tossed five scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks. He allowed five hits. The (17-5) Owls erupted for five runs in the 3rd. After Charlie Frantz tripled, Christo Hunsicker lofted a sacrifice fly to center. A passed ball and an error at third base allowed the next two runs to score. Shillington trailed 6-0 before Jordan Shutter’s 2-run bloop single to right field. Crocona, who’s headed to Ursinus, gave a lot of credit to Shutter. He replied, “That’s my guy. I feel like we connect so well. He knows what I want to go to. He’s a phenomenal catcher.” Crocona improved to (2-2) with a 2.60 ERA this summer. Gensemer threw the final two innings at Owls Field. He gave up an unearned run on one hit and a pair of walks. Bryce Detwiler went the distance on the mound for the Dodgers. They upset Boyertown to reach the championship game. Detwiler allowed five hits and three walks. The rising junior at Gov. Mifflin struck out six and hit a batter. He was an All-Berks selection during the high school season. Detwiler went 2-for-2 with a walk. Matt Koehler drove in Shillington’s lone run with a single to right field in the 6th. West Lawn advanced to the Region 2 tournament which begins on Saturday at Boyertown. “We’re having a great time. We have great friendships all around and we bond so well,” said Crocona.

Berks Baseball Showcase

Paul Roberts — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 18:58:00 +0000

13 teams will participate in the Berks County High School Baseball Showcase at Owls Field in West Lawn this week. Seven games will take place between Wednesday and Saturday at Ted Palka Park. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students which allows you to see all of the games on that day. No food or beverages are permitted into Owls Field. The concession stand will be open during the showcase. Here’s the schedule:

Wednesday:

Exeter vs. Wilson at 4:15pm

Gov. Mifflin vs. Muhlenberg at 7:30pm (The Mustangs and Muhls are tied for first place in Division 1 of the Berks League)

Thursday:

Oley Valley vs. Wyomissing at 4:15pm (The Lynx are in first place in Division 3)

Brandywine Heights vs. Antietam at 7:30pm (The Bullets sit atop Division 4)

Saturday:

Kutztown vs. Schuylkill Valley at noon

Conrad Weiser vs. Fleetwood at 3:30pm

Daniel Boone vs. Wilson at 7pm

Ryan Kelly-West Lawn

Paul Roberts — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 23:12:00 +0000

Ryan Kelly struggled with his command in the opening round of the Berks County Legion League playoffs, but he didn’t let that impact him at the plate. The left-handed hitter ripped a 3-run homer in the third inning of West Lawn’s 6-2 win over Shillington on Wednesday night. Kelly took advantage of the short porch at Owls Field. It’s 305 feet down the right field line. His blast just made it over the fence and provided a spark for the third-seeded Owls. Kelly, a rising sophomore at McDaniel College, only lasted 3.1 innings. The righty allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits and five walks. He struck out five. Kelly walked Tristan Huyett with the bases loaded in the top of the first. Matt Novotny walked the first three batters that he faced in the bottom half of the frame, but the rising senior at Gov. Mifflin was able to get out of the jam without giving up a run. Shillington put runners on the corners in the third inning with nobody out. Hunter Unger grounded into a double play which gave the sixth-seeded Dodgers a 2-0 advantage. The (16-10) Owls answered right back. Evan Gabaldon stroked a two-out RBI single before Kelly’s 3-run shot. West Lawn added two more runs in the sixth when Ryan Sekulski’s fly ball to right field was dropped. Kelly gave credit to Lucas Gensemer and Christo Hunsicker who combined to toss 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. They each allowed one hit. Hunsicker got speedy leadoff hitter Mason Woolwine to ground out to third with two outs and the bases juiced in the top of the sixth. Gensemer and Hunsicker were 1-for-3 at the plate. Gabaldon provided two of West Lawn’s five hits. Shillington managed four hits. Novotny finished 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. The right-hander pitched 5+ innings. He gave up five runs, four earned, on five hits and six walks. Novotny also hit a batter while striking out four. The Dodgers fall to (4-11). Kelly stressed that the competition in the Berks League is tough and they can’t overlook any teams. We talked about using wood bats. He said, “It’s a huge difference. Pitchers just have to throw more strikes. It changes the entire game.” Kelly has been working on a two-seam fastball this summer. He helped Wilson capture two District 3 championships during his high school career. I asked him about competing against college hitters this past season at McDaniel. He replied, “They’re a lot more patient. No one swings at bad pitches and every at bat counts.” Kelly participated in a league for college players last month at Myrtle Beach. He enjoys being back in West Lawn and playing baseball with his friends. He described the rivalry between the Owls and Shillington. West Lawn will visit Bear Stadium on Thursday at 7pm to battle #2 seed Boyertown. The tournament shifts to Owls Field on Friday. The winner advances to the Region 2 tournament which will be held in Quakertown.