Mifflin, Wilson locked and loaded for another Berks championship showdown
2024 Berks baseball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
It’s no surprise to see top-seeded Gov. Mifflin and third-seeded Wilson meeting for the Berks League baseball championship for the third time in four years.
The Mustangs and Bulldogs were considered the teams to beat heading into spring training and have shown why throughout a season that has seen them go a combined 30-7 against outside competition.
To see them reach the championship game locked and loaded, each with their ace ready to take the mound when they meet Monday at 6:05 at FirstEnergy Stadium, shows how well they have controlled play throughout the course of the three-round tournament.
| Berks championships | Total | Most recent | |
| Gov. Mifflin | 15 | 2023 | |
| Muhlenberg | 13 | 2022 | |
| Wilson | 11 | 2019 | |
| Boyertown | 9 | 2001 | |
| Fleetwood | 6 | 2012 | |
| Reading High | 4 | 2014 |
Both the Berks 1 champion Bulldogs (15-6) and the Berks 1 runner-up Mustangs (17-3) have been able to navigate their way through the opening rounds while limiting the use of their No. 1 pitchers: Matt VanOstenbridge for Wilson, Ethan Grim for Gov. Mifflin.
VanOstenbridge, a senior and Penn State recruit, came out of the bullpen for brief appearances in each of the first two games: He pitched the final inning of a 7-2 win over Berks Catholic in the quarterfinals on Thursday, then got the final five outs and earned a save in a 6-3 win over Twin Valley in Saturday’s semifinals.
Overall, he’s 3-1 with a league-low 0.79 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 35 1/3 innings.
Grim, a junior who has collected several Division I offers, picked up the win with 3 2/3 shutout innings of relief in a 9-1 win over Kutztown on Thursday and got the final two outs for the save in a 5-3 win over Fleetwood Saturday.
Over nine appearances he’s 5-1 with a save and a 1.50 ERA over 42 innings. He has whiffed 62 batters over 42 innings.
The Mustangs haven’t faced VanOstenbridge this season: He was injured and couldn’t go in their April 15 meeting at Green Valley; junior Christo Hunsicker got the start in each of the two games against the Mustangs.
The Bulldogs won both. They got a walk-off single from Nick Fiorini in the ninth inning for a 6-5 win in the first meeting, then clubbed the Mustangs 10-3 in a May 3 meeting at Rulon Griffith Field that decided the division championship.
Grim started the first game against Wilson and absorbed his roughest outing of the season, allowing 10 hits and five runs (four earned) over five innings. He has allowed 17 hits over 37 innings in his other eight outings combined.
The Mustangs saw VanOstenbridge twice last season. He struck out nine over 5 1/3 innings in a 6-3 regular season win. He took loss in last year’s 6-3 Berks championship game, allowing five hits and six runs (one earned); he struck out seven over five innings.
For the second straight season Wilson won each of the two regular season meetings against Mifflin.
The teams have met five previous times in Berks championship games, most over the lasts two decades. Wilson won the first of those meetings, 3-1, in 1999. Mifflin has won the last two, winning 5-4 in 2021.
The Mustangs have a 3-2 edge in championship games. Overall, they have won four of the last eight Berks championships, with Wilson and Muhlenberg each winning twice in that span.
The Bulldogs beat Hamburg for the 2019 title and Twin Valley in 2017.
| Berks champs | ||||
| 2023 | Gov. Mifflin* | 2013 | Oley Valley | |
| 2022 | Muhlenberg | 2012 | Fleetwood | |
| 2021 | Gov. Mifflin | 2011 | Gov. Mifflin* | |
| 2020 | (season suspended( | 2010 | Conrad Weiser | |
| 2019 | Wilson* | 2009 | Gov. Mifflin | |
| 2018 | Muhlenberg* | 2008 | Gov. Mifflin* | |
| 2017 | Wilson | 2007 | Wilson* | |
| 2016 | Gov. Mifflin | 2006 | Wilson | |
| 2015 | Gov. Mifflin | 2005 | Wilson | |
| 2014 | Reading High | 2004 | Gov. Mifflin |
