Saints – Berks Sports Report

Trey Stricker-Berks Catholic

Paul Roberts — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:05:18 +0000

Last spring, Berks Catholic qualified for the BCIAA baseball playoffs for the first time since 2018. The Saints lost 7-2 to Wilson in the first round. They then came up short at James Buchanan 10-8 in the District 3 quarterfinals. Despite a (16-5, 11-1) record, the season ended abruptly. Berks Catholic is looking to go a lot further this year. “I think the squad we have this year can make a really deep run. I believe in every single one of them that’s out there,” said Trey Stricker. The senior pitcher and second baseman is doing his part on the mound and at the plate. Stricker (1-0, 0.27) has 43 strikeouts in 26.1 innings. He’s allowed just 14 hits. The West Chester commit is throwing in the high-80s. The cutter is his favorite pitch. Stricker is working on a changeup to go along with his slider and curveball. He’s also carrying a .432 batting average through eleven games. The (8-3) Saints are hitting .340 as a team. The reigning Division 3 champs have won six of their last seven contests. They got past Oley Valley 3-2 on Monday. Mikey Fidler scored the go-ahead run from second base when the catcher’s pickoff throw went into center field in the 7th. Fidler had two hits and tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. “He has been a huge player for us. He’s a phenomenal kid, a great teammate, always there for everyone. He came up huge,” replied Stricker. Fidler leads Berks Catholic with 21 runs and seven stolen bases. The senior is hitting .424 with a .525 on-base percentage. Owen Schalk provided a pair of hits and two RBI against the Lynx. The junior outfielder has a lofty .459 batting average with a team-high 25 RBI and six extra-base hits. “Good bat to ball skills, he’s hard to get out,” noted Stricker. Shepherd commit Dennys Rodriguez is hitting .407 with four doubles and a 1.106 OPS. Rodriguez and Stricker were All-Division picks a season ago. Aidan Curley has done a nice job on the mound. The junior is (2-1) with a 0.64 ERA. Curley has struck out thirteen over eleven frames. The Saints dropped down from Class 4A to 3A this year. They’re currently third in the District 3 power rankings, just ahead of Kutztown and Wyomissing. Stricker is looking forward to competing in the PSAC. West Chester won Division II national titles in 2012 and 2017. The Rams have made twenty appearances in the NCAA Tournament. “Winning culture, they want to win. They want to do the best that they can and I think that means a lot to a player like me,” said Stricker.

Kingston McKoy-Berks Catholic

Paul Roberts — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 04:10:19 +0000

Eastern York had to feel like it was getting hit by a tidal wave. One 3-pointer after another after another rained down on the Golden Knights in the first quarter of the District 3-4A Championship. Berks Catholic splashed its first six shots from beyond the arc. The top-seeded Saints raced out to a 22-6 advantage and cruised to a 67-44 victory. “We came out hungry. We wanted to play this game really bad,” emphasized Kingston McKoy. The 6’2 junior broke his tibia last January and missed the postseason. He had to watch as Eastern York defeated Berks Catholic 51-44 in the District 3 semifinals at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. McKoy exploded for 29 points against the second-seeded Golden Knights on Thursday. “I think it shows what would’ve happened last year,” replied the All-State guard. McKoy jammed 14 points into the opening quarter. The (21-5) Saints were up 28-10 after eight minutes. Zach Suski came out on fire as well. He hit three triples in the first quarter. “He knows his role. He knows we need him on the offensive side. He shoots it with confidence. I love him,” said McKoy. Eleven of Suski’s 19 points came in the first period. Berks Catholic made its first nine shots from the field and didn’t commit a turnover until the 6:31 mark of the second quarter. The Saints put on a clinic in Hershey. Eastern York trailed 41-26 at halftime. The (21-5) Golden Knights, who claimed their fourth District 3 crown a season ago, pulled within eleven points in the third quarter. McKoy scored eleven consecutive points for Berks Catholic as the Saints built their cushion back to 52-35. Eastern York, which was averaging 58 points per game, was down 56-37 after the third period. Carter Wamsley, a 6’7 Gannon commit, finished with 21 points. “He’s a great player. He’s a smart player. He’s a big body. He gets to the foul line a lot,” noted McKoy. Wamsley was 9-for-11 from the stripe. Noah Cunningham, one of ten seniors on the roster, chipped in with a dozen points. He sank four of the Golden Knights’ five treys. Berks Catholic connected nine times from long range and went 4-for-4 at the foul line. McKoy and Suski each nailed three 3-pointers. The Saints only turned the ball over three times. Bryce Gumby provided ten points off the bench. Berks Catholic earned its sixth District 3 championship in 14 years. The Saints are a remarkable (34-9) all-time in the District 3 tournament. McKoy won a District 3 title as a freshman when Berks Catholic blew out Fleetwood 73-44 at the Giant Center. “It’s amazing, I love playing here. I’ve been dreaming about it ever since,” he said.

Carmelo Harper-Berks Catholic

Paul Roberts — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:18:43 +0000

Berks Catholic was the top seed entering the BCIAA playoffs last week. The Saints fell to Reading 48-41 in the semifinals at Santander Arena. That loss didn’t sit well with Carmelo Harper. “It really had me broken because we lost and my teammates weren’t happy. I feel like I let them down,” he said. The 5’10 freshman guard used that game as motivation. Harper scored a career-high 15 points in a 51-32 victory over eighth-seeded Bishop McDevitt in the District 3-4A quarterfinals. He knocked down three of of Berks Catholic’s eight 3-pointers at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. Harper doesn’t mind coming off the bench. “I get to see how the game is paced. Once I get in the game and I score, it slows down for me,” he explained. Brady Altimar also established a new career-high with a dozen points. The (19-5) Saints went scoreless for nearly five and a-half minutes before Altimar hit a triple from the left wing. The 5’9 junior followed with another trey. Berks Catholic led 8-7 after eight minutes. Altimar was 6-for-6 from the foul line in the fourth quarter. “He always finds his open teammates,” added Harper. Zach Suski drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Saints a 15-12 edge midway through the second quarter. The 6’ senior chipped in with eleven points. He was 4-of-5 from the charity stripe in the final period. Johnny Giesa splashed a triple to open the second half and put Berks Catholic in front 24-16. The 6’1 sophomore started in place of Gavin Welker. Welker, who averaged 8 ppg., isn’t eligible after transferring from Daniel Boone before the season. Bryce Gumby connected from long range with one minute remaining in the third quarter. The football standout gave the top-seeded Saints a 33-24 cushion entering the last period. A three-point play by Suski made it 40-26 with 4:15 to go. The (10-11) Crusaders have lost six of their last eight games. They were without leading scorer Damir Arp. The 6’3 freshman guard was academically ineligible. He averages 17 ppg. Berks Catholic participated in Bishop McDevitt’s Catholic Christmas Showcase where Arp poured in 26 points against Pittsburgh Central Catholic on December 27. Pat Denisco, a 5’10 junior, finished with a team-high twelve points. Max Henderson, a 6’6 senior, had six points. The Crusaders only hit two 3-pointers. They were 6-of-9 from the free throw line, while the Saints ended up 15-of-17. The top five teams in Class 4A qualify for the state tournament. Bishop McDevitt will have to win a pair of consolation games to advance. The Crusaders visit fourth-seeded Wyomissing on Monday. Kingston McKoy had a quiet night on Thursday. The All-State guard was limited to three points and didn’t make a field goal. McKoy leads Berks County in scoring at 21 ppg. The 6’2 junior was part of a terrific defensive effort. Bishop McDevitt didn’t reach ten points in any quarter. Head coach Snip Esterly earned his 834th career win over 36 seasons. He has always stressed hard-nosed, man-to-man defense. “Big time, we get screamed at a lot but it’s worth it,” replied Harper. The Saints host fifth-seeded Susquehanna Township in the semifinals on Monday at 7pm. Berks Catholic has already secured a berth in the PIAA-4A playoffs.

Gavin Welker-Berks Catholic

Paul Roberts — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 14:52:52 +0000

Every basketball player wants their coach to give them the green light to shoot. In Gavin Welker’s case, he didn’t have a choice. “Snip was yelling at me. He wanted me to shoot the ball earlier in the game and he took me out for it. When I went back in, I knew I had to shoot and they were falling,” said Welker. With Berks Catholic trailing Reading 22-9 in the second quarter, Welker made four 3-pointers in a row. The 6’2 junior banked in his last triple high off the glass. “I’ll take it. It went in,” he replied with a smile. The Saints held off the Red Knights 62-59 on Monday night at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. Welker connected five times from beyond the arc and finished with a season-high 19 points. This is his first year playing for longtime coach Snip Esterly after transferring from Daniel Boone. “He’s hard on me, but I like it. He pushes me every day. He’s giving me more confidence on the court, making me better,” explained Welker. Esterly has piled up 829 victories, 8 BCIAA championships, and 14 District 3 titles over 36 seasons. He also led Central Catholic to a state championship in 2007. Berks Catholic fell behind Reading 16-6 in the first quarter. The Red Knights didn’t allow a point for four minutes and fifteen seconds. Welker scored all twelve of the Saints’ points in the second period. They were down 26-21 at halftime and All-State guard Kingston McKoy was scoreless. McKoy came alive in the third quarter with a dozen of his sixteen points. The 6’2 junior had two of Berks Catholic’s ten treys. Zach Suski banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key before the buzzer. “Clutch, it was awesome,” said Welker. Suski, who had 14 points, was fouled on the shot. He missed the free throw, but still gave the Saints a 44-35 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. A three-point play by Jackson Kozik made it 51-41 with 4:48 left. Kozik, a 6’ junior forward, made a pair of foul shots with 1:34 remaining to give Berks Catholic a 57-50 cushion. “He’s getting better and better. He’s contributing more every game. It’s huge for him to step up like that,” noted Welker. Kozik, who averages 3 ppg., provided ten points including a layup with 34 seconds to go. That bucket came after sophomore Jostin DeCastro’s layup pulled Reading within 57-54. Welker split a pair of free throws with 24 seconds to play for a 60-54 lead. On the ensuing possession, Weshly Rosario missed a triple from the top of the key. Kahlil Samuel splashed a 3-pointer as time expired, but the Red Knights’ four-game winning streak came to an end. Samuel had a team-high 17 points. DeCastro added twelve points and Rosario chipped in with eleven. Reading was 8-of-9 from the foul line, but made just two 3-pointers before the buzzer-beater by Samuel. The (14-3, 8-2) Saints extended their winning streak to six. They went 10-of-14 from the charity stripe. The Red Knights fell to (8-11, 4-5) and are in danger of missing the Berks County playoffs for the first time since 1997. They have three games remaining. Reading travels to Division 2 champion Exeter on Wednesday before hosting Wilson and Gov. Mifflin. Berks Catholic has a-half game edge over the Bulldogs atop a rugged Division 1. “Every game is competitive. We don’t really have a break. We gotta come out every game with intensity,” emphasized Welker.

Zach Suski-Berks Catholic

Paul Roberts — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 05:44:50 +0000

Zach Suski was disappointed with how he played last week. The 6’ senior at Berks Catholic has bounced back in a big way. Suski scored 20 points in a 73-52 win at Reading on Tuesday. He topped that performance by pouring in a career-high 34 points against Muhlenberg on Friday night. The Saints held off the Muhls 65-61 at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. “I don’t really know what to say. I’m just happy how I played,” replied Suski. He knocked down two of Berks Catholic’s six 3-pointers and went 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Suski, who’s the quarterback of the Saints’ football team, came into the night averaging 10 points per game. He had 18 in the first half versus Muhlenberg. Berks Catholic raced out to a 14-4 advantage. Brady Altimar drilled a 40-foot shot at the buzzer to make it 19-7 after the opening quarter. Suski provided seven points in the first eight minutes. The (6-1) Saints expanded their cushion to 28-11 in the second period. They didn’t commit a single turnover over the first ten minutes and were in front 32-22 at halftime. The Muhls didn’t go down quietly. Senior guards Jayden Kantner and Shermar Killen combined for 15 points in the third quarter. Killen picked up two fouls in the first six minutes and then got his third foul with 1:09 remaining in the second quarter. The All-County pick was limited to two points in the first half, but finished with 14. Kantner ended up with a team-high 26 points. He attacked the basket repeatedly and was 10-of-11 from the foul line. Muhlenberg, which has played just one home game this season, trailed 49-42 after the third quarter. Kingston McKoy started the final period with a trey. The highly-touted 6’2 junior guard provided Berks Catholic with 16 points. Altimar chipped in with eight points. A fast break layup by Killen pulled the (6-3) Muhls within 56-53 with 3:45 left. Suski responded with a three-point play after getting a pass from McKoy in transition. McKoy was a third team All-State selection in Class 4A a season ago. “Everyone focuses on him, sometimes double-team him. I’m just right there for the layup,” explained Suski. Kantner sank a pair of free throws with two minutes to play, but Suski converted another layup for a 61-57 edge. An inside basket by junior forward Michael Miller made it 63-61 in the final minute. On the ensuing possession, McKoy broke Muhlenberg’s press and fired a diagonal pass from half-court to Suski for a layup. That shot came with 30 seconds left and ended the scoring. The Saints were 10-of-12 from the charity stripe, while the Muhls went 12-of-14. “It’s tough. Every game is gonna be a good game. Every game you gotta play like a playoff game,” said Suski about moving up from Division 2 to Division 1 of the Berks Conference. He added, “The atmosphere is way better than last year. The season has been fun so far.” Scoring 54 total points in back-to-back games is also fun.

Kingston McKoy-Berks Catholic

Paul Roberts — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 05:51:30 +0000

Kingston McKoy has scored 62 points in the first three games of the season, but it was his assist that helped Berks Catholic hold off Wilson on Monday night. McKoy was trapped in the corner with 30 seconds left when he threw a pass over the top of the Bulldogs’ defense. Zach Suski grabbed the ball just past half-court and went in for a twisting layup. Suski made the shot and drew a foul. His three-point play gave the Saints a 53-49 edge. They went on to beat Wilson 54-49 in West Lawn. “That closed the game for us in my opinion. I got buried down too deep in the corner. That one was on me. I should’ve stayed up a little higher…Thankfully, he converted. That was a great layup on his part,” said McKoy. After Suski’s bucket, Jon Etim missed a 3-pointer. Freshman Carmelo Harper then sank 1-of-2 from the foul line with 21 seconds remaining. Harper provided eleven points off the bench. “He’s gonna be great. I love his game. He’s got the pullup, the 3 down, and he can finish. He’s crafty. He can get a bucket whenever he wants,” emphasized McKoy. Gavin Welker, a transfer from Daniel Boone, got Berks Catholic off to an incredible start. The 6’2 junior forward scored all eight of his points in the first five and a-half minutes. “Gavin is a great addition. He does everything on the court. His rebounding is great and he can shoot the ball,” noted McKoy. The (3-0) Saints raced out to a 14-0 advantage. Correll Akings’ putback before the buzzer accounted for the Bulldogs only points in the opening period. Harper started the second quarter with a trey and Berks Catholic went on to build a 19-2 cushion. The Bulldogs trailed 29-16 at halftime. Wilson looked like a different team in the third quarter. The Bulldogs went on a 22-to-6 run. Correll Akings hit three straight triples to put Wilson in front for the first time at 38-35 with two and a-half minutes to go in the third period. The Saints bounced back and led 42-40 entering the fourth quarter. A layup by Luke Levan pulled the Bulldogs within 50-49. The 6’5 senior ended up with eight points. Suski’s breakaway bucket made it a two possession game. He had eight points. McKoy and Akings finished with 18 points apiece. McKoy was responsible for four of Berks Catholic’s seven 3-pointers. All five of Wilson’s long range field goals came in the third quarter. Madyx Gruber, an All-County selection, had 14 points. Wilson went just 8-of-15 from the free throw line, while the Saints were 5-of-9. The (2-1) Bulldogs were limited to nine points over the last eight minutes. Wilson senior guard Tommy McFadden and Berks Catholic junior guard Brady Altimar were back in action. McFadden had been out with an illness and Altimar was dealing with an ankle injury. McKoy, a third team All-State pick last season, loves facing tough competition. “Playing those games is what I live for. Those games are really fun. Moving up to Division 1, we’re gonna have a lot of those games. That’s what really makes a good basketball team,” replied McKoy.

B.C. rolls over PJP II

Paul Roberts — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 16:50:31 +0000

Zach Suski helped the Berks Catholic football team get back to the District 3 playoffs this fall. On Saturday afternoon, the Saints’ quarterback showed that he’s an important piece to the puzzle on the court as well. Suski tied his career-high with 18 points as Berks Catholic blew out Pope John Paul II 56-37 in the CoBL Winter Classic at Exeter. The 6’ senior jammed 16 points into the second half as the (2-0) Saints pulled away from the (3-1) Golden Panthers. Suski had nine points in the fourth quarter. Kingston McKoy set the tone with 13 points in the first half. The 6’2 junior finished with a game-high 19. Freshman guard Carmelo Harper added nine points and Jackson Kozik chipped in with seven points. Berks Catholic committed just one turnover after the opening quarter. The Saints turned it over six times in the first eight minutes, but still led 11-5. PJP II trailed 24-13 at halftime and 41-28 after the third period. Senior Jake Robinson scored a team-high twelve points. He hit two of the Golden Panthers’ four 3-pointers. Zahaid Edwards-Boone provided eight points. Junior point guard Ayden Wise was limited to three points. He poured in 18 on Friday in a 52-40 victory over Sankofa Freedom Academy from Philadelphia. PJP II won the District 1-4A championship a season ago. Berks Catholic gets right back to work on Monday night. The Saints visit defending BCIAA champion Wilson.

B.C. beats Cumberland Valley in Opener

Paul Roberts — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 05:47:42 +0000

Berks Catholic kicked off its 2024-25 season with a bang. The Saints defeated Cumberland Valley 60-57 in the CoBL Winter Classic at Exeter. The Eagles are the defending District 3 champion in Class 6A. They returned four starters from that (25-4) squad. “We have a lot of things to improve on, but to beat a seasoned team like them, I’m very happy for our ball club,” said longtime head coach Snip Esterly. All-State guard Kingston McKoy struggled in the first half. The 6’2 junior managed just two points as the Saints trailed 26-19. McKoy, however, erupted in the second half. He jammed 15 points into the third quarter and finished with a game-high 25. “That was the Kingston that we see every day,” replied Esterly. Cumberland Valley didn’t have an answer for McKoy who scored at all three levels. Berks Catholic opened the second half on a 14-0 run and a dozen of those points came from McKoy. The Saints outscored the Eagles 24-10 in the third period. Zach Suski, the quarterback of Berks Catholic’s football team, drilled a 3-pointer from in front of his bench midway through the fourth quarter. That shot made it 52-44, but Cumberland Valley didn’t go away quietly. McKoy missed a pair of free throws with 27 seconds left. A layup by physical 6’3 senior Nolan Buzalka trimmed the Eagles’ deficit to 58-56 with 18 seconds remaining. After a Saints’ turnover in the backcourt, Sam Parsons was fouled on a putback attempt. The 6’3 junior went 1-for-2 from the foul line. Bryce Gumby, who didn’t play basketball a season ago, converted two clutch free throws with eight seconds to go. Gumby provided twelve points off the bench. The 5’11 senior gave Berks Catholic a 60-57 cushion. JJ Lebo, a 6’3 senior guard, didn’t hit the rim on a 3-pointer from the right wing at the buzzer. Creston Austin led Cumberland Valley with 15 points. Sophomore Jared Dolimpio chipped in with 13 points and Buzalka added ten. The Eagles were 9-of-14 from the foul line, while the Saints went 8-of-14. McKoy hit two of Berks Catholic’s four treys. Cumberland Valley only connected twice from long range. Freshman guard Carmelo Harper gave the Saints a boost with ten points. Esterly earned his 816th victory over 36 years as a head coach. “It was a nice win over a very nice team,” he said.

Bryce Gumby-Berks Catholic

Paul Roberts — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 19:15:35 +0000

Berks Catholic’s streak of eleven consecutive winning seasons ended in 2022. The Saints finished (5-6) that year and had the same record last fall. They were hoping to get back on track this season, but things weren’t looking good in late September. First, there was a gut-wrenching 30-28 loss at Lancaster Catholic. The following week was just as frustrating. Berks Catholic returned home and fell to Schuylkill Valley 20-14 on a 68-yard touchdown pass with 47 seconds remaining. The Saints were sitting at (2-4) and on the verge of missing the District 3 playoffs for the third straight year. “We kept our energy high through those losses and that really helped us,” said senior Bryce Gumby. Berks Catholic has turned things around under first-year head coach and longtime assistant Dave Stahler. The Saints have won five in a row to reach the District 3-3A semifinals. “We can’t focus on the bad things. When we focus on the good, good things come,” replied Gumby. He’s averaging a staggering 10.6 yards per carry. The 6’, 175-pound RB/CB has rushed for 834 yards and a team-high 13 TD. Gumby also has three touchdown catches and a pair of interceptions. Nate Rose, a 190-pound junior fullback, leads Berks Catholic with 913 yards and eleven scores. Zach Suski has been extremely efficient at quarterback. The first-year starter is completing 72% of his passes with 18 TD and just 3 INT. Suski has thrown for 1,543 yards. The 6’, 170-pound senior has distributed the ball evenly. Jackson Kozik, Gavin Welker, Scott Duffy, and Gumby each have between 14 and 20 receptions. Kozik has a team-high 20 catches. The 210-pound junior TE/DE has also made 64 tackles. Duffy leads the (7-4) Saints with four interceptions. The 6’1 senior WR/S has six touchdowns on just 14 receptions. Welker gives Suski a tall target. The 6’3 junior has pulled down 5 TD passes. Berks Catholic blew out fourth-seeded Biglerville 48-7 last week. The fifth-seeded Saints travel to top-seeded Bermudian Springs on Friday. The Eagles have won nine straight since losing their opener to New Oxford 28-13. Berks Catholic is (20-5) all-time in the District 3 playoffs. Gumby is happy to be back in the tournament. “It feels great. As a senior, that’s what you strive for,” he said.

Return of the King(ston)

Paul Roberts — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 20:40:00 +0000

The Berks Catholic boys basketball team received some good news over the weekend. Kingston McKoy was cleared to return to action at the “Bash at the Beach” tournament. McKoy played limited minutes for the Saints. The standout guard suffered a fractured tibia against Reading on January 23rd. Berks Catholic won the game, but lost McKoy for the rest of the season. He averaged 15 points in 14 games as a sophomore. The defensive guru was a third team All-State selection in Class 4A.

The “Bash at the Beach” event was moved indoors this year due to the extreme heat. The Saints defeated Whitehall, the host school, in the semifinals on Sunday evening. McKoy didn’t play in that matchup. He saw just two minutes of action in the championship game versus Parkland. Berks Catholic came up short in the final 40-33 on Sunday night.