Macdonald, Oley shut down BC, clinch Berks III playoff spot

Luke Macdonald continued his incredible pitching roll as Oley Valley beat visiting Berks Catholic 8-0 in Berks League Division III play Wednesday to clinch a league playoff spot.

The Lynx (8-3, 10-6), who have won 6-of-7, finish their league schedule Friday at Schuylkill Valley. They hold the tiebreaker advantage over Wyomissing, having beaten the Spartans twice. If those teams finish tied for second in the division, Oley qualifies.

Berks III champ Hamburg (9-3, 13-4) closed its league schedule Wednesday with a 7-3 win over Schuylkill Valley (5-6, 6-11).

Macdonald, a senior, allowed just three hits over seven innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out five.

He has made three key starts down the stretch and hasn’t allowed a run, in an 8-0 win over Brandywine Heights April 23, a 6-0 win over Berks IV champ Kutztown on Friday and Wednesday against the Saints (6-5, 11-8).

For the season, Macdonald has allowed one earned run over 28 1/3 innings, with just 11 hits allowed.

Paul Peterson had three hits and scored twice for the Lynx, who scored twice in the first and six times in the second to build a big lead.

Macdonald had two hits, scored a run and drove in a run and Sean Hoffman went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. The Lynx had 11 hits and committed just one error. RJ Emrich had two of Berks Catholic’s three hits.

The win will help Oley Valley extend its lead over Berks Catholic in the District 3 Class 3A power ratings; the Lynx entered play Wednesday ranked No. 3 but just percentage points ahead of the No. 4 Saints.

The Lynx won district titles in 2021 and 2019 and have played in four straight championship games. Their nine championships are second-most in District 3 baseball history, behind only Chambersburg, which has 11.

Oley has qualified for the Berks League playoffs seven times in the last eight tournaments.