Baseball: Berks IV team-by-team breakdown
Kutztown
PIAA classification: 2A
Coach: Tim Mertz, 22nd season
Last season: 4-7 Berks IV, 9-12 overall
2021 postseason: District 3 semifinalist
Must replace: All-Division OF Sam Schaeffer.
Top players: All-Division P/1B Grant Fitzgerald, all-division C Nick Hugo, all-division SS/P Matt Remick.
Key players: P/OF Jacob Rabert, P Dominick Pizzelanti, P Colin Diehl, 1B Bryce Shafer, 2B Kole Schuler, 3B/P Dalton Furst, OF Braedyn Schuler, OF Max Whitson, OF Ian Fenerty.
Outlook: With eight starters returning Cougars should enjoy a bounce-back season and challenge for a district title and state playoff berth. Will battle Brandywine Heights to the wire.
Brandywine Heights
PIAA classification: 3A
Coach: Ron Schaeffer Jr., first season
Last season: 8-3 Berks IV champ, 14-7 overall
2021 postseason: Berks quarterfinalist, District 3 semifinalist
Must replace: All-Berks P Chase Renner.
Top players: All-Division P/SS Carson Renner, all-division OF/C Jesse Breuning, all-division OF/P Jaegar Smeltz.
Key players: P/INF Chad Maggs, P Nate Fronheiser, P Connor Dunkleberger, C/P Grant Parks, C Connor Frisch, 1B/P Aidan Hall, INF/P Joe Crist, INF Colin Schaller, OF/P Tyler Ott.
Outlook: Enough experience, pitching depth and offense to repeat as division champ; will battle Kutztown to the wire.
Tulpehocken
PIAA classification: 2A
Coach: Zach Shirk, second season
Last season: 4-7 Berks IV, 6-14 overall
2021 postseason: DNQ
Must replace: All-Division P Lucas Forry.
Top player: All-Division P Hunter Zohn.
Key players: C Brayden Evans, P Michah Myers, Nick Becker, Weston Campbell.
Antietam
PIAA classification: 2A
Coach: Ron Schaeffer Sr., second season
Last season: 0-11 Berks IV, 0-17 overall
2021 postseason: DNQ
Must replace: INF Ayden Davis.
Top player: All-Division P/1B Dan Woodford.
Key players: C Aidan Fritz, INF Jordan Unger, INF/P Mike Fidler, INF/P Dominic Perez, OF Zach Mazurkiewicz, OF/P Matt Stouffer.
Outlook: Mounts looking to snap 20-game losing streak and win for first time since 2019.
