Baseball: Berks I team-by-team breakdown
Wilson
PIAA classification: 6A
Coach: Sal Raccuglia, 11th season
Last season: 12-0 Berks I champ, 22-3 overall
2021 postseason: Berks runner-up, District 3 champ, PIAA qualifier
Must replace: All-Berks P/DH Luke Holman, All-Berks CF Danny Estrada, all-division C Kyle Cincinnati, all-division P/RF Ryan Kelly, all-division P/2B Andrew Trayer, 3B Randy Carlo, P Ryan Spatz.
Top players: All-Berks 1B Rueben Livingston, P Cole Leaman.
Key players: P Owen Geng, P Jake Kope, P Christian Valent, P Matt VanOstenbridge, C Ryan Berkis, CF Rafael Fernandez, RF Ryan Sekulski.
Outlook: Despite heavy graduation losses, Bulldogs return one of the league’s best hitters, Kent State recruit Rueben Livingston, and one of its top pitchers, Lehigh recruit Cole Leaman, and plenty of pitching depth. Still the favorite.
Governor Mifflin
PIAA classification: 6A
Coach: Chris Hole, 10th season
Last season: 10-2 Berks I, 21-7 overall
2021 postseason: Berks League champ, District 3 runner-up, PIAA qualifier
Must replace: All-Berks P Connor Maryniak, all-division P/OF Matt Gehris, all-division OF Aaron Renninger.
Top player: All-Berks SS Tyler Minick.
Key players: P/OF Matt Novotny, C/DH Darien Troche, 1B Jonathan Radwanski, 2B Matt Ventura, 3B/P Xander Velez, CF Mason Woolwine.
Outlook: Mustangs must replace 13 seniors, including Berks Player of the Year Connor Maryniak, who carried them to a county title and was credited with 13 of their 21 wins. Tyler Minick is healthy enough to get back on the mound and will be catalyst on offense.
Exeter
PIAA classification: 5A
Coach: Justin Freese, 27th season
Last season: 6-6 Berks I, 11-9 overall
2021 postseason: Berks League quarterfinals, District 3 qualifier
Must replace: All-division P/OF Ben Magovern, all-division C Asa Wilson, SS Gavin McCusker, OF Ben Trexler.
Top players: All-Division 3B/P Deven Sheerin, SS/P Luke Weller, OF/P Ian Wisner.
Key players: P/1B Mike Greenawalt, 2B Brady Hannahoe, OF/P Alex Kelsey, OF Colin Payne, OF Ian Dobraniecki.
Outlook: Eagles return strong 1-2 pitching punch in senior Luke Weller and junior Deven Sheerin, and starters at six positions. Need to build more pitching depth and replace some big bats from last season.
Daniel Boone
PIAA classification: 5A
Coach: Jason McCord, 11th season
Last season: 4-8 Berks I, 7-9 overall
2021 postseason: DNQ
Must replace: All-Division 3B Mikey Gregos, all-division OF Zach Scherzer, LF Dalton Cumbalski, 1B Colton Yenser.
Top player: 2B Mason Walter.
Key players: P Ethan Rissmiller, P Jamie Pence, C Connor McGough, 1B/P Riley Brady, SS Nate DeBusi, 3B/P Eli Rhoads, OF Alex Vassallo.
Outlook: Blazers are very inexperienced after graduating most of their starting lineup and sending four seniors on to play college ball. Just three starters return.
Reading High
PIAA classification: 6A
Coach: Tom Frees, second season
Last season: 0-11 Berks I, 0-15 overall
2021 postseason: DNQ
Must replace: All-Division 3B Manny Morales.
Top players: P Luis Beltre, 1B Fernando Rodriguez, 1B/DH Kenneth Diaz, 3B Jose Monegro, Harold Tavaras, OF/P Joel Zapata.
Key players: C Erick Polanco, 2B Brandon Peralta, SS Abel Montero-Gonzalez, 3B Saul Avery-Mezquita.
Outlook: Red Knights are rebuilding; looking for first win since 2019.
