Oley Valley scores early ‘playoff’ win with walk-off against Kutztown
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Oley Valley got an early taste of playoff baseball Tuesday, the Lynx scoring single runs in the sixth and seventh innings for a 3-2 walk-off win over Kutztown in a non-league game at Rentschler Field.
The Lynx are the defending Berks III champs; the Cougars are the defending Berks IV champs. Each was the preseason favorite to repeat and return to the Berks League playoffs.
Kutztown (0-2) took a 2-0 lead in the third on Corey Gilbert’s two-run single.
The Lynx (1-2) scored single runs in the fourth and sixth before winning it in the seventh.
Paul Petersen, an All-Berks pick as a junior, picked up the win in relief, closing it out with throwing three shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out four. He entered with Oley trailing 2-1.
Chad Kegerise went the first four innings for Oley, allowing five hits and two runs; he struck out five.
The Cougars got a solid outing from Colten Mathias, who allowed just two hits and one run over four inning. He left with a 2-1 lead. The Cougars were hurt by three errors, leading to an unearned run.
Senior Colin Remmel had two of Oley’s four hits. Petersen, Sean Hoffman, and Tim Fries each had RBIs.
Junior Chase Sleboda had two of Kutztown’s six hits; Corey Gilbert drove in two runs.
The Lynx got off to a rough start this season, allowing 24 runs in their first two losses, to Fleetwood and Upper Perkiomen.
Oley finished 14-9 last season, reaching the District 3 Class 3A semifinals. Kutztown enjoyed a big season, going 19-7 with a District 3 Class 2A championship and a pair of wins in the PIAA Tournament.
The Cougars’ first game this season, last week at Fleetwood, was also a 3-2 loss.
The Lynx and Cougars will meet in a Berks III-IV crossover game April 17 at Kutztown; that will count in the league standings. They also played twice last year, with the Lynx winning 14-7 and 8-6.
