Wilson is unbeaten in its three league contests. The Bulldogs have a very demanding non-league schedule. They lost to last year’s PIAA-6A runner-up North Penn and Owen J. Roberts by one run. West Chester commit Ben Kulp (3-1, 2.41) has 35 strikeouts and just five walks over 20.1 innings. The 6’2, 215-pound senior is also hitting .500 with a team-high 12 RBI.

Exeter is riding a three-game winning streak since falling to Wilson 14-5. Matt Woram is off to an unbelievable start. The junior has four home runs in only 15 at-bats! Woram is batting .400 and leads the Eagles with ten walks.

The rest of Division 1 is jammed up like Route 422 East near the Lancaster Avenue exit. Muhlenberg has a 4-2 victory over Gov. Mifflin on its resume, however, the Muhls lost to an improved Reading squad 7-4. Muhlenberg has a big week ahead with Exeter and Wilson making the trip to Laureldale on Wednesday and Friday respectively. Meanwhile, the Mustangs are trying to get back on track after losing to Wilson and Exeter by a combined score of 19-1 last week.

Division 2 leader Fleetwood has won three in a row. The Tigers squeezed past Daniel Boone 1-0 and Schuylkill Valley 12-11. Fleetwood has a tough test at home versus Exeter tomorrow.

Twin Valley is trying to overcome injuries to Nate DiRocco and Grant Moser. That’s not an easy task for the Raiders. Daniel Boone’s (2-6) record is deceiving. The Blazers have dropped three games by one run. On Saturday, they came up short to Boyertown 15-13 in twelve innings. Daniel Boone needs to improve its .213 team batting average.

Wyomissing sits atop Division 3. The Spartans have prevailed in all three of their league games. Ryan Graham, Teddy White, and Austin Lecher are each hitting .500 or higher. Hamburg, Berks Catholic, and Schuylkill Valley are lurking behind the Spartans. We will learn more about this division on Wednesday with a pair of rivalry matchups. Wyomissing visits Berks Catholic and Hamburg battles Schuylkill Valley on “Hawk Hill.”

Oley Valley is the hottest team in Berks County right now with five consecutive victories. The Lynx are (3-0) in league action and in first place in Division 4. Tim Fries (3-0, 0.76) has 29 strikeouts and just four walks over 18.1 innings. The senior is also batting .520 with a team-high 11 RBI and seven extra-base hits. Oley Valley defeated Kutztown 4-1 last Wednesday. The Cougars are stuck in a three-game losing skid.

It’s always tricky to compare teams this early in the campaign, especially considering the differences in strength of schedule. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow! Without further ado, here are the “Roberts Rankings” for the Berks Baseball League.

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (4-3)

2.Exeter (5-2)

3.Oley Valley (6-2)

4.Muhlenberg (2-3)

5.Gov. Mifflin (4-4)

6.Fleetwood (4-2)

7.Wyomissing (3-2)

8.Hamburg (5-3)

Berks Catholic won its first county title since 2018. The Saints went on to capture their seventh District 3 crown and second in a row at Class 4A. Snip Esterly will enter next season with 865 career victories.

Reading was the runner-up in the BCIAA tournament after falling to Berks Catholic 62-57 in overtime at Santander Arena. Jostin DeCastro, Cameron “Bron Bron” Jones, Javon Merriweather, Jamier Jacob, and Raybin Rubio will all be back for Rick Perez.

Exeter knocked off Wilson 43-41 in the Berks County quarterfinals thanks to Aidan Dauble’s bucket with one second left. The Eagles qualified for the PIAA field for the fifth consecutive year.

The Bulldogs advanced to the state playoffs for the fifth time in the past eight seasons. Wilson has a talented group of sophomores to keep an eye on. Matt Coldren holds the school record with 449 wins.

A promising season in Laureldale ended in a flash. The Muhls dropped a nailbiter to rival Reading 60-57 in the BCIAA semifinals. Muhlenberg was eliminated in the first round of the District 3-6A bracket by #13 seed Cedar Crest. The Falcons stunned the Muhls 66-60 in overtime. The good news is that Eli Hemmings, LJ Armstrong, and Nelson “Coco” Malave will return.

Schuylkill Valley defeated Wyomissing 63-52 to reach the District 3 semifinals for just the second time. The Panthers made their third appearance in the PIAA tournament.

Antietam finished on top of the Division 4 standings. The Mounts blew out Wyomissing 61-40 in a key crossover matchup on January 8th. Antietam’s season ended with a 87-71 loss to Lancaster Catholic in the District 3-3A third place game.

The Spartans overcame some midseason turmoil to qualify for the state playoffs for the first time since 2011. Second-year head coach Konlan Krick deserves credit for keeping his troops together after two starters quit. Wyomissing took fifth place in the District 3-4A field.

Gov. Mifflin receives an honorable mention. The (10-12) Mustangs didn’t have a single bad loss on their resume. Life in Division 1 of the BCIAA is no picnic.

Without further ado, here is the final edition of the “Roberts Rankings” for the Berks Conference. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Berks Catholic (25-3)

2.Reading (18-8)

3.Exeter (18-11)

4.Wilson (17-11)

5.Muhlenberg (16-8)

6. Schuylkill Valley (16-11)

7.Antietam (16-9)

8.Wyomissing (16-11)

I’ll be in West Lawn on Friday night to see Wilson battle Manheim Township for the Section 1 title. The Bulldogs and Blue Streaks are both (8-1, 5-0). Wilson took down Manheim Township 34-16 a season ago. The Bulldogs are going for their 31st section crown. Nobody has won more in the L-L League.

Twin Valley takes on Daniel Boone in Elverson on Friday. The Raiders can wrap up the Section 4 championship with a victory. The Blazers are coming off their first win of the year.

Wyomissing switched spots with Exeter in my rankings this week. The Spartans travel to Lampeter-Strasburg on Friday. The (7-2) Pioneers were without quarterback Asher Jones in last week’s 42-7 loss at Twin Valley. L-S had no answer for Drew Engle who ran for 185 yards and 6 TD on 25 carries.

Exeter meets Elizabethtown at Don Thomas Stadium on Friday. The Eagles try to put a halt to their two-game slide. The (5-4) Bears knocked off Gov. Mifflin 34-16 last week.

Muhlenberg and Conestoga Valley go at it on Friday in Laureldale. The (9-0) Buckskins will clinch the Section 2 title with a win. If the Muhls come out on top, there could be a three-way tie for first place with Exeter.

Berks Catholic hosts Annville-Cleona on Friday for the Section 5 crown. The (8-1) Dutchmen are riding a six-game winning streak. Their lone loss came at the hands of Littlestown in Week 3.

Boyertown is home this week against Phoenixville. The Phantoms are (3-6) this season.

Gov. Mifflin sits at #12 in the District 3-6A power ratings. The top 10 teams qualify for the playoffs. The Mustangs face Ephrata on Friday in Shillington. The (5-4) Mounts had lost three games in a row before blowing out Lebanon 57-12 last week.

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (8-1)

2.Twin Valley (9-0)

3.Wyomissing (8-1)

4.Exeter (7-2)

5.Muhlenberg (8-1)

6.Berks Catholic (7-2)

7.Boyertown (5-4)

8.Gov. Mifflin (3-6)

Wilson takes on winless McCaskey on Friday. That game will be held at Lancaster Catholic at 7pm. Mason Young threw 3TD passes and ran for another in a 42-7 rout of Penn Manor. Young is completing 67% of his attempts for 1,536 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Twin Valley battles Lampeter-Strasburg in Elverson this week. First place is on the line in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The (7-1, 5-0) Pioneers have won six in a row. Their lone loss was at Warwick in Week 2.

Exeter travels to Conestoga Valley on Friday night. The winner will claim sole possession of first place in Section 2. The (8-0, 4-0) Buckskins are led by Sawyer Esbenshade. He’s thrown for 1,722 yards with 24 TD and just 3 INT.

Wyomissing entertains Octorara on Saturday at 1:30pm at Bob Wolfrum Field. The Braves have split their eight contests.

Muhlenberg squares off with Academy Park on Friday in Laureldale. The (4-4) Knights have faced some tough opponents including Chester and West Chester East.

Berks Catholic heads north to “Hawk Hill.” Hamburg is (2-6) after coming up short 31-13 in the Frost Bowl at Schuylkill Valley. The Saints are tied atop Section 5 with Annville-Cleona.

Boyertown looks to bounce back from a 28-0 loss at Spring-Ford. The Bears are on the road this week against Norristown. The Eagles sit at (2-6).

Gov. Mifflin is at Elizabethtown on Friday. The (4-4) Bears have dropped three of their last four games.

Without further ado, here is the new poll. Wilson and Twin Valley moved up two spots this week. Exeter and Wyomissing slid two positions.

“The Great 8”

1.Wilson (7-1)

2.Twin Valley (8-0)

3.Exeter (7-1)

4.Wyomissing (7-1)

5.Muhlenberg (7-1)

6.Berks Catholic (6-2)

7.Boyertown (4-4)

8.Gov. Mifflin (3-5)

Boyertown has made a lot of progress in Jami Sands’ second season as head coach. The Bears picked up a big win over Perkiomen Valley before falling to Owen J. Roberts 28-13 on Friday. That was the 900th football game in Boyertown’s history. The Bears travel to Spring-Ford this Saturday at 2pm.

Conrad Weiser dropped out of my rankings. The (4-3) Scouts have lost three in a row with another tough test on the horizon. Conrad Weiser visits the (6-1) Warwick Warriors on Friday.

Exeter is on the road again this week. The Eagles soar into Hempfield. Exeter has outscored its opponents 307-50. The (3-4) Black Knights were defeated by Wilson 38-28 last Friday.

Wyomissing, Twin Valley, and Lampeter-Strasburg are tied atop Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The Raiders have put up 399 points while allowing just 60. They battle the Spartans at 1:30pm on Saturday. Both teams are ranked in the top 5 in the state by PennLive in Class 4A.

Wilson is still trying to iron out some things. The Bulldogs trailed 14-7 at halftime to Hempfield last week. Wilson meets Penn Manor on Friday at John Gurski Stadium. The Comets are (2-5).

Muhlenberg looks to bounce back on Friday when Ephrata comes to Laureldale. The (4-3) Mounts have lost three of their last four games.

Berks Catholic hosts Columbia this Thursday at 7pm. The Saints have won five of their last six. The Crimson Tide sunk to (3-4) following a 17-14 defeat at the hands of Schuylkill Valley.

Gov. Mifflin finished a brutal stretch that included Exeter, Muhlenberg, Wilson, and Conestoga Valley. The Mustangs take on Lebanon this week in Shillington. The Cedars’ losing streak stands at 49 consecutive games.

Without further ado, here are the new “Roberts Rankings.” Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Exeter (7-0)

2.Wyomissing (7-0)

3.Wilson (6-1)

4.Twin Valley (7-0)

5.Muhlenberg (6-1)

6.Berks Catholic (5-2)

7.Boyertown (4-3)

8.Gov. Mifflin (2-5)