Loss to Lynx could cost Bullets Berks IV title

Sophomore Colten Mathias allowed just three hits as Kutztown completed its league schedule with a five-inning, 10-0 win over visiting Tulpehocken Friday.

That win, coupled with Brandywine Heights’ 3-2 loss to Oley Valley in the Bullets’ league finale, could give the Cougars (8-3, 13-5) a second straight Berks Baseball League Division IV title.

Kutztown and Brandywine (8-3, 11-5) are tied for first place. They split their two league meetings which means the tiebreaker for the division title and the automatic berth in the BCIAA Tournament will come down to power rating.

Regardless of which team wins the Berks IV title both the Cougars and Bullets will qualify for the league playoffs because each beat Hamburg, the second-place finisher in Berks III.

The four division champs, a second-place team from Berks I-II and Berks III-IV, and two wild cards make the eight-team BCIAA Tournament.

As of late Friday night Kutztown (.634) held a significant lead over Brandywine Heights (.593) in the unofficial power ratings posted on the District 3 website.

Both teams have games remaining before the BCIAA cutoff date, and those will be factored into the power ratings before the league’s eight playoff spots are finalized.

Kutztown plays at Schuylkill Haven (13-2) Saturday and at Conrad Weiser (5-13) Monday. Brandywine plays at Jim Thorpe (4-13) Saturday. The Bullets had a game scheduled against High Point Baptist (11-5) for Monday, but that game has been cancelled.

All games played through Monday will count in determining the BCIAA field.

Dalton Furst doubled three times and drove in three runs to lead Kutztown’s 14-hit assault on the Trojans (3-8 Berks IV, 7-11). Kole Schuler doubled twice and drove in three runs. The Cougars had eight extra-base hits.

Kutztown led just 3-0 before walking it off with a seven-run fifth.

At Oley, the Berks III champion Lynx (10-2, 12-7) got a five-hitter from freshman Tim Fries, who struck out five and walked just one. The Lynx got just four hits, two from Nick Palmiotti. Chase Reifsnyder had a pair of RBIs. Nate Fronheiser went 3-for-3 and scored a run for the Bullets.

Gov. Mifflin and Fleetwood clinched the Berks I and II titles, respectively, earlier in the week.

The BCIAA Tournament begins Thursday with quarterfinals at Owls Field and Gochnauer Field.