Top players to watch in Berks III baseball
Players to watch in Division III of the Berks Baseball League in 2022:
Tristan Baer, Hamburg: Senior moves into No. 1 spot in rotation after striking out 43 over 35 innings last season, with a 2.40 ERA. Earned all-division honors after batting team-leading .397 with 24 RBIs and nine extra-base hits. Will play at Penn State-Harrisburg next season.
Luke Bensinger, Hamburg: Shortstop batted .316 as a sophomore, with 12 runs scored, 11 RBIs and eight doubles. Division honorable mention selection.
Brendan Bernhart, Schuylkill Valley: Will see time behind the plate, at first base and on the mound for the Panthers. Shared team lead with 12 runs scored as a junior; had team-high seven stolen bases. Posted team-best 3.00 ERA over 14 innings last year. Division honorable mention selection.
Colby Crills, Schuylkill Valley: Earned all-division honors as a freshman when he batted .375 with an .869 OPS and led team with 12 runs scored and 10 RBIs. Will catch, play outfield and pitch for the Panthers.
RJ Emerich, Berks Catholic: Solid receiver earned all-division honors as a junior after batting team-best .400, with a .448 on-base percentage. Had seven doubles. Will be steadying influence for young Saints pitching staff. Set to play at Alvernia University next season.
Nate Gilbert, Hamburg: Solid backstop also had a strong sophomore season at the plate, compiling a .503 on-base percentage while batting .286; drove in 15 runs.
Tommy Grabowski, Wyomissing: Senior will see time in the outfield, at shortstop and on the mound for the Spartans. Batted .267 last season for division champs, with 11 runs and 10 RBIs. Division honorable mention selection.
Ryker Jones, Wyomissing: Takes over full-time at third base after part-time duty last season as a freshman, when he scored 12 runs and had eight RBIs in just 51 at-bats. Strong arm, good speed. Will hit cleanup for Spartans.
Nate Koenig, Wyomissing: Senior moves from third base to catcher where he’ll be a key in handling young pitching staff. Strong arm behind the plate; explosive bat. Had .600 slugging percentage and .400 batting average last season. Will play at Wilmington University next season.
Kevin Lawlor, Berks Catholic: Junior second baseman is Saints’ best defensive player and ready to take it to the next level with the bat.
Conner Licklider, Hamburg: Had a big sophomore season at the plate and on the mound. Batted .361 with 16 RBIs, nine extra-base hits and a team-leading 23 runs scored. Compiled a 1.70 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 12 1/3 innings. Division honorable mention selection.
Luke McDonald, Oley Valley: Posted a 2.60 ERA over 32 1/3 innings as a junior. Led team with 21 walks and 11 steals and had a .409 on-base average. Scored 16 runs.
Paul Petersen, Oley Valley: Came up with several clutch hits for district champs during the postseason as a freshman, when he batted .294 with 17 runs scored and 14 RBIs. Threw 18 innings, with 14 strikeouts and a 2.33 ERA. Division honorable mention selection.
Chase Reifsnyder, Oley Valley: Third baseman earned all-division honors after banner junior season at the plate that saw him lead the district champs with a .378 batting average, 26 runs scored, 31 hits, eight doubles and six triples. Slugged .621, had 1.096 OPS.
Colin Stoudt, Schuylkill Valley: All-Division pick as a sophomore batted .298 and shared team lead with 12 runs scored. Saw limited time on mound last season.
Joey Vaccaro, Oley Valley: Senior outfielder was third on the team last season with 20 RBIs. Also scored 14 runs and had eight stolen bases.