Mustangs’ redemption, Bulldogs’ turnaround, Cougars championship highlight Berks baseball season
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, then capped it with a championship-worthy performance in the Berks League playoffs, beating Brandywine Heights, Fleetwood and Wilson on the way to their record 15th championship and second in three years.
“It feels good to come back out this year and do things the right way,” said Mustangs coach Chris Hole, “and get back on top where we feel we belong.”
A year earlier the top-seeded Mustangs were knocked off in the opening round. This time they played flawlessly in the BCIAA Tournament, committing one error over three games while scoring 27 runs.
“Coming out with a big county championship, it felt great,” said three-time All-Berks pick Tyler Minick, “especially after last year.”
The Mustangs’ return to the top was the big story in Berks baseball in 2023, though there were plenty of other good storylines.
Kutztown came on strong in the second half and won its sixth District 3 championship. Wilson turned it around at midseason and reached a pair of championship games, as well as the PIAA Tournament.
There were big individual seasons by Minick, teammate Bryce Detwiler, Exeter’s Deven Sheerin, Muhlenberg’s Dalton Follweiler and Wilson’s Matt VanOstenbridge.
The Mustangs (18-5) opened the 2022 season with 19 straight wins but in some ways were even more dominant this season. They were much better at run prevention, allowing a league-low 2.3 runs per game. They outscored their opponents by an average of 5.3 runs per game, even better than a year ago when they finished 20-4.
They were able to do that despite finishing the season without two of their key parts, Alexander Velez, the 2022 Berks Pitcher of the Year, and catcher Darien Troche in place. Velez suffered arm soreness early in the season and was shut down after pitching just three game. Troche, a captain and key defensive piece, suffered a late-season arm injury and was limited to DH duties in the postseason.
Minick, Berks’ ERA leader in 2022, saw his innings limited, especially early in the season when he was strictly used out of the bullpen.
The Mustangs’ pitching staff was so deep they didn’t miss a beat. Sophomores Ethan Grim (6-2, 2.28) and Detweiler (7-1, 2.55) emerged as two of the league’s top pitchers. Along with Minick, who produced a 1.96 ERA over 25 innings, they helped Mifflin finish with a 2.01 staff ERA.
In the end it was strong pitching that did the Mustangs in: They drew the short straw and faced Sheerin in the opening round of the District 3 Class 5A Tournament.
The big right-hander was at his best, allowing just one hit over 6 1/3 innings as the 15th-seeded Eagles (12-11) eliminated the second-seeded Mustangs 4-1 in Shillington. The Mount St. Mary’s recruit struck out 11 and silenced the hard-hitting Mustangs like no one else.
“The bracket did us no favor,” said Hole. “That’s the reality. If you get in this tournament, you’re gonna go up against a quality No. 1 pitcher and Dev is definitely that.”
That memorable performance was part of a big season that saw Sheerin go 7-3 with a 2.27 ERA and a Berks-leading 101 strikeouts over 46 1/3 innings. He opened the season with an incredible performance, striking out 14 of the 16 batters he faced in a five-inning no-hitter at Cedar Crest.
“He was ridiculous,” said Exeter coach Justin Freese.
Muhlenberg (16-10) made a big playoff run behind its ace, senior Dalton Follweiler. He literally carried the Muhls through the postseason, winning his four straight starts – each with a complete game – including a state-qualifying 5-2 win over Shippensburg. He finished with a league-best 8-2 record and league-best 1.48 ERA.
Muhls junior infielder Cam Burr earned his second straight All-Berks selection; he and Minick were the only repeat selections.
Wilson (19-9) was on the brink of missing the postseason before a big second-half run. The Bulldogs were 7-6 in late April before putting together an eight-game winning streak that included 1-0 win over Mifflin – their second win over the Mustangs.
Their winning streak was snapped with a 6-3 loss to Mifflin in the Berks championship game but they started another one that carried them to the District 3 Class 6A championship game against Cedar Cliff.
Junior left-hander Matt VanOstenbridge fueled the surge, with a two-hitter against Mifflin and playoff wins against Oley Valley, Penn Manor and second-seeded Cumberland Valley. He finished with six wins, a 2.39 ERA and 91 strikeouts over 70 1/3 innings.
The Bulldogs were the league’s most improved team, gaining eight wins over last season’s 11-11 finish. Kutztown (19-7) and Brandywine Heights (12-8) each improved by four wins.
Fleetwood (13-9) won the Berks II title and improved by three wins over last season. It was the Tigers’ first outright division title since 2007.
Oley Valley (14-9), despite relying on several freshman pitchers, won the Berks III title after tying Hamburg for the division title a year ago.
Muhlenberg, which won the Berks II title the past two seasons, returned to Berks I and finished second to Mifflin.
Kutztown, led by a strong core of seniors, was the last Berks team standing, reaching the PIAA Class 2A semifinals.
The Cougars couldn’t use two of their top pitchers, seniors Bryce Schafer and Dalton Furst, early in the season due to injuries but got a big season out of sophomore Colten Mathias and slugged their way to a second straight Berks IV title.
Furst, who played left field, was an All-Berks pick, batted over .400 in the regular season and led the league in extra-base hits. Shortstop and leadoff man Matt Remick scored a league-leading 38 runs in 26 games. Third baseman Kole Schuler batted over .400. The Cougars averaged 8.5 runs per game, tops in the league.
Schafer returned to the mound in May and helped Kutztown take 10-of-11 during one stretch, including an 11-2 win over Newport in the district title game in which he started and homered.
Mifflin graduated 12 seniors but with the return of Detwiler, Grim, catcher Travis Jenkins and infielder Matt Koehler – all rising juniors – along with a strong freshman class it figures to be at the head of the pack again in 2024.
After going out in the first round of districts the Mustangs will again have a score to settle.
“We were able to make the whole county playoff picture right,” said Hole, “but obviously we had much bigger aspirations.”
