Tyler Minick among four Berks players selected for PA Big 26 squad
Gov. Mifflin’s Tyler Minick has been selected to return to Pennsylvania’s Big 26 Baseball Classic and will team three other Berks players for the July series against Maryland.
Also selected are Deven Sheerin and Alex Kelsey of Exeter and Kannon Zdimal of Twin Valley.
The 26-member Pennsylvania team will play Maryland in a three-game series at FNB Field in Harrisburg July 14-17.
Minick, who is committed to the University of Connecticut, was named Berks Player of the Year after a monster season that saw him bat .500, hit a league-leading six home runs and compile a 1.018 slugging percentage.
Sheerin, a rising senior, helped pitch the Eagles into the PIAA Class 5A Tournament. He won five games and struck out 84 over 56 2/3 innings. He had a pair of 12-strikeout performances in the District 3 Tournament. He was an all-division pick in Berks I.
Kelsey, a rising junior, was dynamic for the Eagles in center field and on the base paths. He led the Berks League with 30 runs scored and 21 stolen bases and was among the league leaders with a .495 on-base percentage. He was an all-division pick in Berks I.
Zdimal, a rising senior, was among league leaders with 50 strikeouts over 40 2/3 innings. He went 3-3 for the Berks II runner-up Raiders with a 1.55 ERA that ranks ninth among Berks pitchers. He is listed on the roster as a first baseman. He batted .296 with seven doubles and 14 RBIs.
Zdimal was an all-division pick in Berks II.
Former Oley Valley coach Rick Harrison, now head coach at Spring-Ford, is on the coaching staff.
Minick is among three returning Pennsylvania players, along with Zach Brockner of Owen J. Roberts and Trey Porter of Hatboro-Horsham.
Players participate in a pro-style workout for college coaches. More than 100 players, all rising juniors and seniors, competed for spots on the Pennsylvania team. The roster includes six pitchers, three catchers, six outfielders, eight infielders and three dual-position players.
Pennsylvania leads the series 5-3 after winning last year.
Kevin Manero of North Penn is the head coach. Brian Fili of Strath Haven and Kody Reeser are assistant coaches.
In addition to the competition, the event also features a Buddy Program and Challenger Game that pairs each Big 26 athlete with a child, teen, or young adult with special needs.
