Penn – Berks Sports Report

Matt VanOstenbridge-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 08:12:00 +0000

Wilson senior Matt VanOstenbridge had to deal with back tightness this season. It’s safe to say that the Bulldogs’ ace is healthy again. The southpaw tossed a one-hitter in a 1-0 victory over Fleetwood last week. On Wednesday, VanOstenbridge was even better. The Penn State commit fired a no-hitter against Exeter in the Berks County High School Baseball Showcase at Owls Field. “It felt amazing. Everything was working, all four pitches…I felt very effortless. I felt very smooth,” he said. Wilson rolled over the Eagles 11-0 in five innings. VanOstenbridge struck out ten, walked one, and hit a batter. The lefty hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 17 innings. He needed just 68 pitches to get through five frames. VanOstenbridge helped himself with a RBI single in the second inning. C.J. Fernandez followed with a two-run single to center field. Wilson tacked on four runs in the bottom of the 3rd. Cooper Kennedy and freshman Ryan Marmolejos provided RBI singles and VanOstenbridge added a sacrifice fly. Kennedy, a senior outfielder, made it 10-0 with a bases-clearing triple to right-center in the fourth inning. Kennedy and Christo Hunsicker had two hits apiece. Sophomore Jack Gabel went 1-for-3. The shortstop is batting a team-high .422. Nick Fiorini doubled and was hit twice by pitches. The senior center fielder is hitting .413. Fiorini leads the team with 19RBI and nine extra-base hits. “We’re really, really good top to bottom. We don’t have a weak link in our lineup. Our pitching is really good. We have so many arms,” remarked VanOstenbridge. The (10-4, 6-2) Bulldogs are tied with Gov. Mifflin atop Division 1. VanOstenbridge (3-0, 0.52) has 43 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. He’s only given up seven hits. The All-County pick from a season ago explained why he’s headed to Penn State. “It’s close to home. It’s every kid’s dream in Pennsylvania to play for Penn State…The facilities are amazing. The coaches are amazing. Everything about it was the perfect fit,” he replied. Exeter junior Gavin Miller took the loss on Wednesday afternoon. He entered the contest at (6-0) with a 2.36 ERA. Miller was charged with seven runs, five earned, on six hits. He lasted 2.1 innings. Sophomore Liam Porter allowed four runs on four hits for the (8-6, 3-5) Eagles. Meanwhile, Wilson has a mix of experienced players with some young talent. “This is my favorite team. These guys are awesome,” said VanOstenbridge after a Gatorade cooler filled with water was dumped on him.

Reading-Penn Manor go to OT

Paul Roberts — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 11:07:00 +0000

Some losses sting more than others. As tears rolled down the face of Reading head coach Troy Godinet, you knew how much this one hurt. Penn Manor rallied from a 15-0 deficit to defeat the Red Knights 28-27 in overtime at Shirk Stadium. “You just got to continue to love the kids up,” said Godinet. Reading marched 78 yards on its opening drive which was capped by Alexis Alvarado’s 2-yard run. The (1-4) Comets fumbled on their second play. The Red Knights went 41 yards for a quick two touchdown advantage. A 3-yard TD run by sophomore Cameron Small and a two-point conversion from Alvarado made it 15-0 with 3:22 left in the first quarter. Penn Manor got on the board with a 2-yard run by junior Willard Smith on the opening play of the second period. Xavier Beatty made a leaping reception for 46 yards late in the quarter. Sophomore Jason Plylaharn then hit Beatty for a 23-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead. Beatty, a 6’2 junior, is also on the basketball and track & field teams. “There is no ceiling with that kid. He’s continuing to grow. He’s continuing to take the coaching,” replied Godinet. Plylaharn made his second start after junior quarterback Kayson Fritz was ejected at Red Lion. Momentum shifted with 21 seconds to go before halftime. Smith scooped up a backwards pass and returned it 71 yards for a score. The Comets trailed 21-14 at the break. Their first possession of the second half was stopped at the 1-yard line. Smith came up short on fourth down from the 4-yard line. Early in the final quarter, Penn Manor fumbled on third-and-goal at the 5-yard line. The Comets tied it up with 5:19 remaining on a 30-yard heave from sophomore Collin Robinson to tight end Dhamir Wesley. The 6’5, 290-pound senior is committed to Villanova. The (1-4) Red Knights drove inside the 30-yard line with one minute left, but penalties pushed them back. Reading finished with three turnovers and 13 penalties. “We killed ourselves with penalties and that’s the little things. You gotta have mental toughness, and build and grow from that,” stated Godinet. After a snap went over the head of Reading’s punter, Penn Manor took over at the Red Knights’ 27-yard line with 33 seconds to play. A 30-yard field goal attempt by Zach Jeffers hit the crossbar which led to overtime. Backup quarterback Kyle Furnier scored on a sneak to put the Comets in front 28-21. Alvarado took a toss and raced around the right end for a 7-yard touchdown. The 5’8, 165-pound junior had 203 yards on 31 carries. Reading went for the two-point conversion, but Plylaharn was stuffed at the 2-yard line. “We trust our short yardage game. We had success all game. We want to be aggressive,” said Godinet. The Red Knights outgained the Comets 299-to-198. Smith ran for 102 yards on 28 touches. Plylaharn was 7-13 for 109 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Reading’s undefeated team from 1977 was recognized at halftime as part of Hall of Fame night.

Matt VanOstenbridge-PSU

Paul Roberts — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 21:37:00 +0000

Matt VanOstenbridge won’t be leaving the state to play college baseball after all. The rising senior at Wilson originally committed to Kent State in mid-May. On Tuesday, however, the southpaw announced that he’ll be going to Penn State.

VanOstenbridge pitched better than his (6-5) record this spring. He had a 2.39 ERA, while allowing just 51 hits in a team-high 70.1 innings. The lefty piled up 91 strikeouts. He walked 19. VanOstenbridge made a dozen starts for the Bulldogs and was 2-for-2 in save opportunities. As a sophomore, he was an all-division pick. The coaches in the BCIAA voted him to the all-county team this year.

Wilson was the runner-up in the Berks County playoffs. The Bulldogs also finished second in the District 3-6A tournament. VanOstenbridge tossed a complete game 4-hitter in a 10-0 victory at second-seeded Cumberland Valley in the quarterfinals. Wilson fell to Central Bucks West 3-0 in the first round of the state playoffs. The Bulldogs finished the season at (19-9).