Baseball: Berks I team-by-team breakdown
2024 Berks baseball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Gov. Mifflin Mustangs
PIAA classification: 5A
Coach: Chris Hole, 12th season, 173-96.
Last season: 10-2 Berks I champ, 18-5 overall.
2023 postseason: Berks Conference champ, District 3 qualifier.
Holes to fill: Two-time Berks Player of the Year Tyler Minick, all-division P Alexander Velez, C Darien Troche, P Matt Novotny, CF Owen Lehman, 1B Jonathan Radwanski.
Top players: All-Berks 3B Bryce Detwiler, all-division P Ethan Grim, all-division C Travis Jenkins.
Key players: 3B/P Matt Koehler, 1B/OF Dante Casantini, CF Bryce Wunderlich, 2B/SS Joey Berg, 2B/SS/P Nathan Radwanski, P R.J. Weaver, OF/C Branson Adams, OF Reese Hohl, SS/2B Billy Angstadt, 2B/SS/P Dylan Barrett, 1B Cohen Eshbach.
Outlook: Mustangs again the team to beat in Berks and a contender for a district crown. Front-line pitching, with Ethan Grim and Bryce Detwiler, is as strong as any in the league. Behind them there are no proven arms yet but the program has consistently produced freshmen and sophomores ready to step into the varsity spotlight and this season should be no different. Even with Tyler Minick now off at UConn lineup should remain formidable with Detwiler, Travis Jenkins, Matt Koehler and newcomer Dante Casantini, who played at Berks Catholic last season.
(PhilMarPhoto)
Wilson Bulldogs
PIAA classification: 6A
Coach: Bill Underwood, second season, 19-9.
Last season: 8-4 Berks I, 19-9 overall.
2022 postseason: Berks finalist, District 3 finalist, PIAA qualifier.
Holes to fill: All-Division OF Ryan Sekulski, C Jordan Shutter, LF/P Nick Crocona, CF Rafael Fernandez, SS/P Trevor Bilodeau.
Top players: All-Berks P Matt VanOstenbridge, all-division P Tommy Hunsicker, all-division 1B/P Christo Hunsicker, all-division OF Nick Fiorini.
Key players: SS/P Jack Goebel, P/3B/1B Ben Kulp, OF Cooper Kennedy, 2B Alex Ernesto, 2B C.J. Fernandez, P Austin Snyder, C John Bodner, C Tyler Herbein.
Outlook: Bulldogs are well-armed to make another run at the Berks title, with the league’s premier lefty in Matt VanOstenbridge and plenty to back him up. Should be a plus defensive team in the infield, with the return of the Hunsicker brothers, Tommy and Christo, at the corners and the addition of sophomore Jack Goebel at short. Plenty of proven hitters at top of the lineup.
Muhlenberg Muhls
PIAA classification: 5A
Coach: Brian Kopetsky, 25th season, 340-208.
Last season: 9-3 Berks I, 16-10.
2023 postseason: Berks semifinalist, District 3 fifth place, PIAA qualifier.
Holes to fill: All-Berks P Dalton Follweiler, all-division OF Gio Cavanna, 3B Derek Wilson, P Drew Fidler.
Top players: All-Berks 3B Cam Burr, all-division C Shane Rosenberry.
Key players: P/CF Aaden Lopez, SS/P Eli Keller, 1B/P Josh Smeltzer, 1B/P Luke Kolodziejski, INF Kevin Rodriguez, CF Gavin Moody, P/1B Cole Moody, P Ethan Weiler, OF Anthony Cipolla, P/3B Lincoln High, 3B/P/C Cooper Burr, OF Joseph Clinese.
Outlook: Even with graduation of Berks Pitcher of the Year Dalton Follweiler the Muhls have enough arms to challenge the top teams in the division. All-Berks infielder Cam Burr was limited to 15 innings due to arm issues but is throwing well again and can match up with the league’s top starters. Junior Aiden Lopez has added a couple pitches and made a big leap forward. They’ll be throwing to arguably the league’s best backstop, Shane Rosenberry, and will have a strong defense behind them.
(PhilMarPhoto)
Exeter Eagles
PIAA classification: 5A
Coach: Justin Freese, 29th season, 300-275.
Last season: 5-7 Berks I, 12-11 overall,
2023 postseason: District 3 quarterfinalist.
Holes to fill: All-Berks P Deven Sheerin, all-division C Chase Cupitt.
Top players: All-Berks CF Alex Kelsey, all-division P Gavin Miller.
Key players: 1B Joel Ummarino, 2B Luke Giering, OF Carter Redding, P/3B Chase Blew, OF/DH Jake Hafer, SS/3B/P Jake Franek, 3B/P Brenton Feathers, SS Aiden Rhoades, C/DH/1B Brandon Weller.
Outlook: No team in the division took a bigger graduation hit than the Eagles. They’ve still got a premier leadoff batter and center fielder in Alex Kelsey and a No. 1 starter in Gavin Miller but the pitching staff behind him is young and unproven. Four starting position players return, including promising 1B Joel Ummarino, who will bring pop to the middle of the lineup. With just three seniors on the roster it’ll be tough to hang with the top teams in this division.
Reading High Red Knights
PIAA classification: 6A
Coach: Tom Frees, fourth season, 5-48 (188-141 in 18 seasons at Holy Name and Berks Catholic).
Last season: 1-11 Berks I, 3-17 overall.
2023 postseason: Did not qualify.
Holes to fill: 1B Fernando Rodriguez.
Top player: P/OF Joelian Zapata.
Key players: 2B Christopher Disla, OF Patrick Gregorio, SS Janser Paredes, P/3B Juan Figueroa, P/INF David Garcia, 2B Christopher Disla, SS Janser Paredes, C Frank Adames, P Edward Felipe, OF/P Samir Batista, P/2B Nestor Rosario, P Javier Rosario, OF Eidan Almonte, P Justin DeLaCruz.
Outlook: Red Knights are rebuilding; they will rely on several sophomore in key spots.
