Tim Mertz-Kutztown

I asked Kutztown head coach Tim Mertz what his expectations were before the season. Mertz paused, and then paused some more. Finally, with a grin on his face, he collected his thoughts and said he has high hopes. In his humble fashion, Mertz referred to his team as “solid.” It was very apparent that the longtime skipper didn’t want to go overboard. However, Mertz is well aware that 2022 could be much more than a solid year for the Cougars. He knows a quality ball club when he sees one. Mertz is the winningest coach in school history with a record of (319-171). He has more victories than any active coach in the Berks League. Mertz guided Kutztown to District 3 championships in 2006, 2007, and 2019. The Cougars finished as the state runner-up in 2007. They fell to Bald Eagle Area 6-1. Mertz is in his 22nd season as manager. The Kutztown graduate told me that he wouldn’t coach anywhere else. He added that being around the players keeps him feeling young. The Cougars knocked off Brandywine Heights 4-2 on Monday night. Grant Fitzgerald allowed two runs on six hits over six frames. The senior lefty struck out eight and helped himself with an RBI single in a 3-run fifth inning. The Alvernia commit earned his second win in just four days. Mertz thought Fitzgerald kept the Bullets off-balance with his changeup and curveball. He gave credit to the hitters for showing discipline and laying off the high fastball of promising junior Carson Renner. Fitzgerald and Renner were all-division selections a season ago. Both teams have a lot of experience. Pinch-hitter Bryce Schafer tied the game at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Mertz emphasized that Schafer has been working hard after shoulder surgery. He’s cleared to swing, but can’t play defense. Ian Fenerty delivered a go-ahead RBI double before Fitzgerald drove in the final run. Matt Remick had two strikeouts in a perfect seventh inning. All-division catcher Nick Hugo chipped in with two singles. Each squad had six hits. Renner gave up four runs, three earned, in 4.2 innings with three strikeouts. The (1-3, 0-1) Bullets captured the Division 4 title last year under Chris Cole. He stepped down after 18 seasons, 230 wins, two District 3 championships, and the 2009 state crown. Ron “BooBoo” Schaeffer Jr., a 2003 Central Catholic grad and former Penn State-York head coach, has taken over for Cole. Jesse Breunig and Jaeger Smeltz had RBI singles for Brandywine Heights on Monday. Mertz was very happy with the outcome at Timothy Breidegam Field. He replied, “It’s early, but this is huge.” We talked about the race in Division 4, as well as the competition in the Berks League. Mertz doesn’t think there’s one juggernaut in the county this year. The (3-2, 2-0) Cougars are ready to prove that last season’s (9-12, 4-7) campaign was an aberration.