Berks baseball quarterfinals: Team-by-team breakdowns for Thursday’s games
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Quarterfinal matchups
At Owls Field
No. 1 Gov. Mifflin vs. No. 8 Kutztown, 4
No. 4 Muhlenberg vs. No. 5 Fleetwood, to follow
At Gochnauer Field
No. 2 Twin Valley vs. No. 7 Oley Valley, 4
No. 3 Wilson vs. No. 6 Berks Catholic, to follow
No. 1 Gov. Mifflin Mustangs
Record: 9-3 Berks I runner-up, 15-3 overall.
How they got here: Have been dominant since Opening Day, scoring nearly nine runs per game and recording six mercy-rule victories. Lost a pair of one-run games in league play, to Muhlenberg and Wilson. Saw eight-game winning streak snapped with 10-3 loss to Wilson in division showdown Friday at Rulon Griffith Field. Top of the lineup is downright lethal, with Bryce Detwiler (.526), Ethan Grim (.451) and Travis Jenkins (.382). Grim and Detwiler comprise the league’s top pitching tandem.
Top player: University of Connecticut recruit Bryce Detwiler has been a monster at the plate with a league-leading six home runs, 27 RBIs in 18 games and a 1.105 slugging percentage. He’s just as good on the mound: 5-1, 1.97 with 41 Ks over 32 innings.
Head to head: Have not played the Cougars.
Last time around: As top seed, beat Brandywine Height, Fleetwood and Wilson to win second league title in three years and record 15th overall.
No. 8 Kutztown Cougars
Record: 8-3 Berks IV champ, 11-9 overall.
How they got here: After graduating four all-division picks from their District 3 Class 2A championship team its been more of a struggle for the Cougars this season. They opened 0-3, have lost six one-run games and needed a late push to pull away for their third straight division title. Haven’t gotten past quarterfinals since 2013. Have lost all five meetings this season against playoff qualifiers.
Top player: Junior Colin Diehl leads team in batting (.379), on-base percentage (.461), RBIs (15) and runs scored (17). He’s been the most effective pitcher, with a 1.37 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 20 1/3 innings.
Last time around: Lost 5-2 to Fleetwood in opening round last season.
No. 4 Muhlenberg Muhls
Record: 8-4 Berks I, 13-6 overall, wildcard entry.
How they got here: The Muhls are all about run-prevention: They have allowed fewer runs than any team in the league, have committed just 26 errors in 19 games and have allowed only 10 unearned runs. They showed their mettle by pulling out 4-3 wins against Gov. Mifflin and Wilson, both on the road, on consecutive days early in the season. Only one player bats above .340 and they have hit just one home run but they manage to do more with less, scratching across runs with solid execution and baserunning (74 stolen bases).
Top player: Two-time All-Berks pick Cam Burr has blossomed on the mound this season, going 4-1 with an 0.91 ERA and 51 strikeouts over 30 2/3 innings. He has walked just seven in seven appearances. He’s batting a team-leading .375 with a team-high .549 on-base percentage and team-best .541 slugging percentage. He’s also stolen 20 bases in 19 games.
Head to head: Lost to Fleetwood 10-3 last week.
Last time around: Beat Daniel Boone 6-3 in first round last year before falling to Wilson 6-5 in semis. . . Won 13th league title in 2022, beating Oley Valley.
No. 5 Fleetwood
Record: 6-5 Berks II, 12-7 overall, wild card entry.
How they got here: Despite heavy graduation losses and a challenging schedule the Tigers were able to make it back to the playoffs. They played the top teams tough, beating Berks Catholic 14-1, Muhlenberg 10-3 and Oley Valley 9-4; they lost to Gov. Mifflin 11-10 and Wilson 1-0. Allowing only 3.89 runs per game; allowed more than five runs in a game just four times. Enter on a four-game winning streak.
Top player: Right-hander Liam Hilburt is 5-1 with a 1.71 ERA.
Last time around: Beat Kutztown 5-2 last year in quarterfinals before falling to eventual champ Gov. Mifflin 9-7 in semis.
(PhilMarPhoto)
No. 2 Twin Valley
Record: 10-1 Berks II champ, 14-4 overall.
How they got here: Raiders won 10 straight after a slow start, taking down Berks I powers Wilson and Muhlenberg in the process. They didn’t drop a league game until falling in a 4-2 crossover to Gov. Mifflin last week. Roman Cieless (.514 on-base percentage) has been a catalyst at top of lineup and Paul Colombo (.608 slugging) has been a run-producer. All-Division pick Owen Rhoads heads a deep pitching staff with punchout potential. Enter postseason having won 12-of-13.
Top player: Senior 1B Paul Colombo has had a big bounce-back year. He’s batting .391 and leads team in RBIs, slugging and OPS (1.157).
Head to head: Raiders and Lynx have not met.
Last time around: Went out in the first round in 2022 and did not make playoffs last season.
No. 7 Oley Valley
Record: 9-3 Berks III runner-up, 11-7 overall.
How they got here: Lynx don’t give up many runs. They’re one of the league’s soundest defensive teams and have a deep pitching staff, with Paul Petersen and Tim Fries each owning sub-2.00 ERA and Chase Kegerise and Gryffin Cappellano not far behind. Had a chance for second straight division title but lost showdown with Berks Catholic 5-3 last week in Oley. Have 3-2 record vs. Berks playoff field, with a pair of wins over Kutztown and a 7-1 win at Berks Catholic.
Top player: Paul Petersen was an All-Berks pick as a junior and has been one of the league’s most dominant two-way players this season. His .534 batting average is the highest of any player in the tournament and he has 21 RBIs in 18 games. He’ll likely draw the Game 1 start after going 4-2 with 1.70 ERA and 23 hits allowed over 33 innings this season.
Last time around: Lost to Wilson 5-0 last year in quarterfinals. . . Last won a Berks championship in 2013.
No. 3 Wilson
Record: 9-3 Berks I champ, 13-6 overall.
How they got here: Swept Gov. Mifflin, their 5-3 win last week at Shillington clinching their first division title in three years. Lineup is long and pitching staff is deep, anchored by the league’s top pitcher, Matt VanOstenbridge. Nick Fiorini, Tommy Hunsicker and Christo Hunsicker were each all-division picks last season and have even better this season. Fiorini is a RBI machine, driving in 25 runs in 19 games and leading the team with a .419 batting average. Tommy Hunsicker is an idea leadoff man with a .500 on-base percentage and 24 runs scored. Christo Hunsicker leads team with three HRs and is coming off two strong pitching outings.
Top player: Left-hander Matt VanOstenbridge has been dominant on the mound with a league-best 0.86 ERA over 32 2/3 innings. The Penn State recruit has 50 strikeouts and picked up a ton of playoff experience last season.
Head to head: Bulldogs and Saints did not meet.
Last time around: Beat Oley Valley and Muhlenberg before falling to Gov. Mifflin 6-3 in championship. . . Last championship came in 2019.
No. 6 Berks Catholic Saints
Record: 11-1 Berks III champ, 16-3 overall.
How they got here: Deepest lineup in the league has averaged better than nine runs per game and put up 10 or more nine times. Seven regulars carry batting averages of .325 or better; six have on-base percentages of .450 or better; four have an OPS above .900. Solid one-two pitching combo of Parker Nein and Trey Stricker has combined to go 11-1 with 80 punchouts in 64 innings. Have won more games than any team in the league and gone 3-2 against Berks playoff field.
Top player: Parker Nein entered the season as one of the league’s top returning pitchers but he’s stepped up his game at the plate in a big way. The senior second baseman leads team with .439 batting average, 20 RBIs and a .508 slugging percentage. On the mound he’s 6-1 with a 2.16 ERA and 45 Ks over 35 2/3 innings.
Last time around: Saints are back in the Berks playoffs for the first time since 2018. They have advanced past the quarterfinals just twice (2014 and 2016).
