Schools

(Sixth in a seven-part series.) It’s always been about football for Mason Semmel; always will be. He’s been in love with the game for as long as he can remember; it’s constantly on his mind. “Any time I can get a football…

(Third of a seven-part series) Audrey Hurleman’s coaches use the unkindest words when speaking about her. Her soccer coach at Wyomissing calls her a “beast.” Her basketball coach says she makes people “miserable.” Her…

(First of a seven-part a series) Mia Gassert admits she’s thought about giving up softball or basketball – or both – to concentrate on tennis, her No. 1 sport. The rising junior at Hamburg is one of the top players in the…

(Fifth of a seven-part series on three-sport athletes.) By Michael Quinn -- MikeDragoSports.com correspondent It’s 5 a.m. and Ean Winchester’s alarm clock is blaring. He pounds the snooze button a couple of times…

(Fourth of a seven-part series.) By Michael Quinn -- MikeDragoSports.com correspondent Evan Miller is a leader at Conrad Weiser -- and he’s only 16 years old. Miller organized morning workouts for…

(Second of a seven-part series) By Michael Quinn -- MikeDragoSports.com correspondent Early each morning as he makes his way into the weight room at Berks Catholic for summer workouts Devin Garcia is greeted by “It’s A…

Before he stepped into the batter’s box for the first time as a senior Tyler Minick was already regarded as one of the top baseball players to come through Gov. Mifflin. Then he went out and batted .431, slugged a…

Dalton Follweiler doesn’t have electric stuff – that will come soon enough. All he does is throw strikes, get outs and win games – more than any pitcher in the Berks League this season. “I knew I wasn’t gonna beat anyone…

After dominating the regular season but coming up short in the county playoffs the Gov. Mifflin Mustangs had a score to settle coming into this season. They settled it. The Mustangs produced an even more dominant regular season,…

NEWVILLE -- When it was finally over – when Mount Union right fielder Je’saun Robinson swooped in to snare Nick Hugo’s fly ball – Kutztown shortstop Matt Remick stood along the first base line, stared into a vacant center field, and…

Ajay Sczepkowski went through a lot of hard times on the baseball field: Two college seasons interrupted by injuries, a third by the coronavirus pandemic. Through it all he kept pushing forward because he realized how lucky he was…

The games are supposed to get tougher once you reach the postseason but they haven’t for the Kutztown Cougars. They have averaged better than eight runs per game and are batting .351 since the start of the district playoffs three…

Kutztown will play in its first state semifinal baseball game in 16 years when it meets Mount Union Monday at Big Spring High School at 4 in the PIAA Class 2A Tournament. The District 3 champion Cougars (19-6) advanced with a 9-0…

PINE GROVE – Matt Remick told one of his Kutztown teammates before Thursday’s PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal against South Williamsport that the Cougars were going to put up a pair of first-inning runs. The prediction was far from a…

J.D. Drew and Ajay Sczepkowski. That’s it; that’s the list. They’re the only players in the history of college baseball to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in the same season. Ajay Sczepkowski Sczepkowski, a 2017 Gov.…

Steve Bickley never saw his grandson streak down the football field and catch a touchdown pass, never saw him play elite-level soccer and send a ball into the back of the net. He didn’t live long enough to see him excel in the…

Berks Catholic’s Brady Mider and Twin Valley’s Sarah Ann Miller have been named the Athlete of the Year in boys and girls track and field, respectively, by the Berks Track and Field Coaches organization. Brian Holden of Twin…

Kutztown will bid for consecutive wins in the PIAA Tournament for the first time in 14 years when it meets South Williamsport Thursday at Pine Grove at 6 in a Class 2A quarterfinal. The District 3 champion Cougars (18-6) advanced…

PLYMOUTH MEETING — Matt VanOstenbridge saw the way his Central Bucks West rival, Julio Ermigiotti, buzzed through Wilson’s lineup in the top of the first inning Monday. The Bulldogs left-hander figured it might take a shutout to…

Muhlenberg knocked around Shaler ace Miguel Hugas and had some early opportunities but couldn’t take advantage and fell to the District 7 champion Titans 7-1 Monday in a PIAA Class 5A baseball opener at North Allegheny High School in…