Oley Valley’s Chase Kegerise is UECU Pitcher of the Week

By Mike Drago Last updated May 8, 2023

With the division title on the line it would’ve been nice for Oley Valley to have a veteran pitcher, rather than a freshman, on the mound last week when it went to Berks Catholic.

Lynx left-hander Chase Kegerise isn’t your typical freshman; big situations don’t tend to affect the 15-year-old.

“A lot of people (might feel) pressure in that situation,” said teammate Paul Petersen. “He did a great job; did more than we can ask for.”

Kegerise threw a four-hitter as the Lynx beat the Saints 5-2 to essentially clinch the Berks Baseball League Division III title. He walked just one batter over seven innings, struck out five and was in control the whole way in earning Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week honors.

“We’ve seen (Chase) pitch all year,” Petersen said. “He kept his composure really great today.”

Of the four hits Kegerise allowed just two left the infield. He didn’t give up a hard-hit ball all afternoon and kept the ball on the ground: 15 of the 21 outs came on ground balls.

“That’s him,” said Lynx coach Jeff Pinder. “When he’s on, like he was today, (throwing) all three pitches for strikes, he keeps the ball down in the zone and he’s going to get a lot of ground balls.”

Kegerise keeps the ball down in the zone and induces a string of grounders which Petersen, his shortstop, loves.

“He has arm-side run on his fastball,” said Petersen, who also pitches. “He keeps the ball down and does what he can to create weak contact.”

Two days after beating Berks Catholic the Lynx clinched their first division title since 2018 by beating Brandywine Heights 3-2.

The Lynx weren’t preseason favorites because they didn’t return many experienced pitchers from the team that reach the league championship game a year ago. Pinder knew he would have to rely on freshmen, and that group has come through. Kegerise shares the team lead with four wins. He and fellow freshmen Gryffin Cappellano and Tim Fries have combined for seven of the Lynx’s 12 victories.

Kegerise is 4-0 with a team-leading 2.47 ERA. He has struck out 28 over 34 innings, allowing 29 hits. Opposing batters are hitting a team-low .215 against him.

“You can’t say enough about the kid,” Pinder said after the win over BC. “A freshman, thrown in a big game like that? The kid’s a competitor. He just goes out and works and works and works.”

Kegerise is the sixth Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week this season, and the first from Oley Valley. Lynx ace Luke Macdonald was selected twice last season. Players considered for UECU Union Pitcher of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by MikeDragoSports.com.

Also nominated for Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week:

Carson Renner, Brandywine Heights
Devin Sheerin, Exeter
Liam Hilburt, Fleetwood
Ethan Grim, Gov. Mifflin
Tyler Shuey, Hamburg
Colten Mathias, Kutztown
Dalton Follweiler, Muhlenberg
Matt VanOstenbridge, Wilson

Selected as Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week earlier this season:

April 3: Deven Sheerin, Exeter
April 10: Matt VanOstenbridge, Wilson
April 17: Ethan Grim, Gov. Mifflin
April 24: Carson Renner, Brandywine Heights
May 1: Matt VanOstenbridge, Wilson
May 8: Chase Kegerise, Oley Valley

Selected as Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week last season:

April 4: Tristan Baer, Hamburg
April 11: Alexander Velez, Gov. Mifflin
April 18: Cole Leaman, Wilson
April 25: Tristan Baer, Hamburg
May 2: Matt Kramer, Wyomissing
May 9: Luke Macdonald, Oley Valley
May 16: Luke Macdonald, Oley Valley
May 23: Rueben Livingston, Wilson