Saints squeeze past Hawks — and into first place in Berks III

Berks Catholic didn’t have much need for the squeeze bunt last season. The Saints were rarely close enough to utilize such a play: They lost six times by nine runs or more in finishing a program-worst 5-15.

They continued their big turnaround Friday afternoon, using a squeeze bunt for the go-ahead run in a 6-5 Berks League Division III win at Hamburg.

The Saints (1-0, 4-1) tied it with a run in the seventh and went ahead on Maxx Mace’s successful squeeze in the eighth. They find themselves in first place after knocking off the preseason favorite Hawks (1-1, 4-2).

“It just shows the guys that all the work that they put in is starting to pay off,” said Saints coach Brandon Shurr, “and we’re able to play with a lot of the teams that are considered very good and successful teams. We’re right back in the hunt with them.”

The Saints tied it in the seventh when Kevin Lawlor, who had two hits, scored from first on Parker Nein’s double into the gap in left-center.

Mace, who had struck out three times earlier in the game, came to the plate with runners on the corners and one out in the eighth.

“It set up perfectly for him to step in and really help the team in another way after a couple tough ABs before that,” said Shurr. “We weren’t in too many games like this (last year), but (the squeeze) is something we’ve worked on, and we had it ready for a situation exactly like this.”

The Saints scored twice in the first to take the lead but the Hawks came back with three in the bottom half when BC starter Derek Brynildsen couldn’t find the plate. He walked the first four batters before being removed.

Williams Hess relieved and went 3 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits; he wasn’t charged with a run. Trey Stricker pitched 3 1/3 innings to pick up the win and Nein pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

“After the way it started, for them to be able to stay focused, stay in it (was special),” said Shurr. “We had a bunch of pitchers do a great job battling us back into the game.”

The Saints lost twice to Hamburg last year, 6-0 and 6-3, both times against ace Hunter Shuey. They missed Hamburg’s No. 1 this time; Tristan Baer pitched a complete game Wednesday and was unavailable.

“Hamburg’s a great team; they’re favored in the division,” Shurr said. “We didn’t face their best arm today, but you’re not always going to face the best arm. We did just enough today to get it done.”

Dennys Rodriguez-Rivera had two hits and and RBI for Berks Catholic. Brayden Kamp had two hits and two RBIs for Hamburg; Scottie Dunleavy had two hits, walked twice and scored a run for the Hawks.

Berks Catholic shares first place with Oley Valley (1-0, 2-3), which topped defending champ Wyomissing 6-5 Friday in its league opener.

The Hawks had been ranked No. 2 in the District 3 Class 4A power ratings before play Friday. Berks Catholic is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A.