Exeter’s Luke Weller is UECU Player of the Week
Exeter’s been flying a little under the Berks baseball radar this season, but it’s been tough to miss what Luke Weller’s done.
The senior shortstop and pitcher has been one of the league’s top two-way players and last week, in the Eagles’ biggest game of the season, against unbeaten Gov. Mifflin, he came up huge again.
Weller reached base five times and drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in the Eagles’ 16-10 victory, earning Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week honors. It’s the second time he’s been picked this season.
Weller singled twice, walked and scored three times. He tied the game 10-10 in the seventh with a sacrifice fly that scored Brady Hannahoe, then delivered the go-ahead single in the six-run ninth to cap it.
“Luke’s been a tremendous leader for us,” said Eagles coach Justine Freese. “He’s just seeing the ball extremely well. He’s hitting pretty much any pitch that’s thrown.”
For the week, Weller went 7-for-10 with two doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored.
He also pitched six innings, with six strikeouts, in a 3-0 win over Daniel Boone.
For the season, he’s batting .500 in 56 at-bats, and leads the team with 26 RBIs, seven doubles, three triples, a .785 slugging percentage and a 1.138 OPS. He has scored 17 runs.
He has pitched a team-leading 31 1/3 innings, with 38 strikeouts and a 2.23 ERA.
“Brady and Luke have carries us offensively most of the year,” Freese said, “but you’ve got to give a lot of credit to some of the other guys, because they’re getting on base for Brady and Luke to do their thing.”
The win over Mifflin helped the Eagles secure a Berks playoff spot and boosted their status for the upcoming District 3 Class 5A Tournament. They moved up several spots in the power ratings, and are now in position to host an opening-round game. Exeter is unofficially ranked No. 6; the top eight teams earn home games.
Weller is the second player selected as Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week twice this season; Gov. Mifflin’s Tyler Minnick was selected in each of the past two weeks. Weller was first selected April 18.
Players considered for Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also nominated for Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week:
- Riley Brady, Daniel Boone
- Zach Dillbeck, Fleetwood
- Mason Woolwine, Gov. Mifflin
- Ian Fenerty, Kutztown
- Gio Cavanna, Muhlenberg
- Joey Vaccaro, Oley Valley
- Rueben Livingston, Wilson
- Ryker Jones, Wyomissing
Previously selected as Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week:
- April 4: Kevin Lawlor, Berks Catholic
- April 11: Conner Licklider, Hamburg
- April 18: Luke Weller, Exeter
- April 25: Tyler Minick, Gov. Mifflin
- May 2: Tyler Minick, Gov. Mifflin
