Berks coaches excited to take another swing at Owls Showcase
Justin Freese remembers playing games at Owls Field when he was at Exeter in the 1980’s. No grandstand. No outfield fence. No batting cages. Not much but a field.
“You’d hit a ball to left field, you kept running,” said Freese. “It just went across the street. It’s come a long way.”
Freese is excited to take his Eagles team back to Owls Field at Ted Palka Park for this week’s second annual Berks County High School Showcase.
There will be two games Thursday, two Friday and three Saturday, featuring 14 different Berks League teams.
| SHOWCASE SCHEDULE | |||
| Thursday | |||
| Twin Valley | vs. | Daniel Boone | 4:15 |
| Fleetwood | vs. | Gov. Mifflin | 7:30 |
| Friday | |||
| Berks Catholic | vs. | Tulpehocken | 4:15 |
| Conrad Weiser | vs. | Exeter | 7:30 |
| Saturday | |||
| Brandywine Heights | vs. | Oley Valley | 12:00 |
| Antietam | vs. | Wyomissing | 3:30 |
| Muhlenberg | vs. | Wilson | 7:00 |
Zack Williams, a former Owls player and coach and now a member of the organization’s executive board, thought it would be great to bring Berks teams together for a mid-season showcase event.
He brought in 10 teams last year, with five games played over two days. The event was so popular he expanded the field and added games on Thursday.
“It’s something I wanted to do for the county,” said Williams. “I look at it as a way to get some Berks teams on our field, give them a chance to access our facilities and give them a cool experience.”
Owls Field has continued to add features over the years and now is considered one of the top amateur ballparks in the state. The Owls Nest, added in 2016, and located beyond the center field fence, includes indoor batting cages and pitching mounds.
The field has hosted high school, American Legion and college tournaments over the years.
“It’s a beautiful ballpark,” said Muhlenberg coach Brian Kopetsky, whose team will play Wilson Saturday night in the marquee match-up of the showcase. “You have FirstEnergy (Stadium) and you have this; they’re the crown jewels in the county.
“It’s just a beautiful place to go and see a game, and to play a game. It’s a great opportunity to have a whole bunch of teams playing in one place.”
Williams used his contacts as a former athletic director at Antietam to work with Berks ADs and coaches to set the match-ups. He worked with the existing Berks League schedule so that schools wouldn’t have to juggle schedules.
Daniel Boone, Gov. Mifflin, Tulpehocken, Exeter, Oley Valley, Wyomissing and Wilson gave up home games to play in the event.
Freese, who has coached the Eagles for 27 seasons, was more than happy to do that.
“It’s a good opportunity to play on a great field and to play under the lights,” said Freese, whose home field is not lighted. “It’s just a great opportunity for (our players) all the way around.
“They’ve spent a lot of money and put a lot of time into that field. The Owls have done a great job of getting that field to being one of the best in the county.”
Williams said a lot of teams wanted to play a night game but only six schools could be accommodated.
Coaches like the idea of playing at a venue that is regularly used for the Berks League playoffs. A little familiarity with the field could help come playoff time.
Williams said more than 30 colleges have been invited to send coaches to scout Berks talent.
Wilson, which is considered the host team, will use the event as Senior Night.
Saturday will be Wilson Youth Night; any Wilson youth baseball or softball players wearing their team jersey will be admitted free.
Williams said he hopes to expand the showcase again next year, and would like to include all 18 Berks League teams at some point.
Kopetsky said that for his players the opponent, and not the venue, is the bigger deal this week. The game against Wilson matches the defending Berks I and II champs and two teams expected to make a push for the Berks League championship this season. The Berks II-leading Muhls can come into the game undefeated if they beat Reading High Thursday and Fleetwood Friday.
Wilson won last year’s regular season match-up at Laureldale 11-0 as Luke Holman and Cole Leaman combined on a no-hitter. That loss snapped the Muhls’ 7-0 start.
“We consider ourselves a Berks I team,” Kopetsky said. “To play a meaningful game on a Saturday night, the seventh game of seven games, we’re looking forward to it.”
