Top players to watch in Berks IV baseball
Top players to watch in Division IV of the Berks Baseball League in 2023:
(listed in alphabetical order)
Jared Baer, Tulpehocken: Struck out 10 over nine innings as a freshman without allowing an earned run. Held opposing batters to .182 batting average. Committed just one error in 45 total chances. Had a single, walk and RBI in season-opening win.
Nick Becker, Tulpehocken: Struck out 13 over 22 innings as a sophomore, with a 3.18 ERA. Drew team-high 14 walks in 19 games. Also strong defensive infielder.
Weston Campbell, Tulpehocken: Struck out 22 over 28 innings as a sophomore, with a 3.50 ERA. Second on team with 11 runs scored. Leadoff man opened season with three hits, two runs scored in win over Pottsgrove.
Joe Crist, Brandywine Heights: Bullets’ leadoff batter scored 15 runs and had a team-high nine stolen bases as a junior, when he batted .270. Will play second and third base. Committed to play at Cairn University.
Nate Fronheiser, Brandywine Heights: Appears to have made big strides on the mound after striking out 10 over five innings in season-opening win over Columbia. Went 2-2 with a 3.85 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 23 2/3 innings as a sophomore. Cleanup hitter batted .340 with .452 on-base percentage and .500 slugging average.
Dalton Furst, Kutztown: Earned wins in three of his four starts as a junior, including a 5-4 win over Newport in districts. Struck out 26 over 24 1/3 innings with a 2.01 ERA. Also recorded a save. Led team with 28 hits in 23 games and a .364 batting average. Slugged .481, second-best on the team. Drove in 18 runs, scored 19.
Aidan Hall, Brandywine Heights: First baseman batted .356 with .508 on-base percentage that ranked eighth in the league as a junior. His .997 OPS was second-best on the team. Scored 14 runs in 19 games. Reached seven times by being hit by the pitch. Had more walks (7) than strikeouts (5).
Nick Hugo, Kutztown: Cougars’ catcher recorded a .436 on-base percentage, fourth-best on the team, walked 15 times in 23 games and homered twice. Batted .283 and had 13 RBIs as a junior. Team captain.
Matt Remick, Kutztown: Drew team-leading 18 walked, posted .459 on-base percentage and was second in Berks with 14 stolen bases. Second on team with 20 runs as a junior. Went 2-2 in 11 appearances. Posted 1.88 ERA with 28 strikeouts over 26 innings. Takes over top of the rotation after graduation of Grant Fitzgerald.
Carson Renner, Brandywine Heights: Opened season with a home run in first game after homering five times last season, second-most in the league, and slugging .685, fourth-best in the league. Batted .315, led team with 18 runs scored in 19 games and drove in 13. Pitched team-leading 32 2/3 innings last season, striking out 38. Possesses 88 mph fastball. Plays with East Coast Sandhogs travel squad.
Other top players to watch:
Lukas Bojt, senior, LF/P, Brandywine Heights
Jason Light, sophomore, 1B, Tulpehocken
Dominick Pizzelanti, senior, 2B/P, Kutztown
Bryce Schaeffer, senior, DH/P, Kutztown
Aiden Schwalm, sophomore, SS/P, Tulpehocken
Jaegar Smeltz, senior, P/CF, Brandywine Heights
