UECU Player of the Week: Center fielder Alex Kelsey of Exeter
Alex Kelsey bats leadoff for Exeter but his numbers make him look like a cleanup hitter.
They did last week when he blasted a pair of home runs, including a walk-off shot as the Eagles beat Central York 11-10.
“Alex spent a lot of time in the weight room this summer and developed his strength,” said Eagles coach Justin Freese. “It is evident with the way the ball jumps off his bat this year. He has very quick hands and he has been turning on the ball very well.”
Kelsey went 6-for-9 with seven RBIs and four runs scored over three games last week to earn Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week honors.
The junior center fielder had a grand slam in the Eagles’ 11-1 win over Wilson, then hit a two-run shot out of the park to end their game against Central York.
He’s batting .417 with a robust .750 slugging percentage and a 1.312 OPS, numbers that would make him an ideal middle-of-the-order hitter – except for the fact that he has speed and can get things started as the leadoff batter.
He also drew four walks and stole five bases in three games last week. For the season he has seven steals and a .562 on-base percentage.
He led Berks with 30 runs scored and 21 steals as a sophomore when he helped lead the Eagles to the PIAA Tournament.
He was 11th in the league with a .495 on-base percentage. He was picked for the Berks I all-division team.
Kelsey gained valuable experience last summer playing with the Berks Bulls, and with the Eagles’ basketball team this season. He proved to be an invaluable sixth man and started several postseason games as Exeter won its first District 3 championship and reached the PIAA title game.
All of that has helped make him one of the premier players in the county.
“He has a lot of experience playing in big games between the past two basketball seasons and last year’s baseball (playoff) run,” Freese said. “Those experiences have built his confidence level and he is playing at a high level.”
Kelsey’s also an outstanding center fielder who covers a lot of ground and has a strong arm. He showed that in the first inning against Wilson when he went back to take an extra-base hit away from leadoff batter Rafael Fernandez.
“(That was) the play of the game,” Freese said. “If he doesn’t catch that ball it’s 1-0 Wilson, because he scores an inside-the-park home run on that. That just gave (starting pitcher Deven Sheerin) a little momentum on the mound. I don’t think he was expecting to get hit like that at the start of the game. Alex just made a tremendous play for him.”
This is Kelsey’s first Player of the Week selection. Former teammate Luke Weller was selected twice last season. Players considered for Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also considered for Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week:
- Nate Moschak, Berks Catholic
- Travis Jenkins, Gov. Mifflin
- Bryce Schafer, Kutztown
- Weston Campbell, Tulpehocken
- Kooper Zdimal, Twin Valley
- Drew Eisenhower, Wyomissing
Selected as Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week this season:
- April 3: Bryce Detwiler, Gov. Mifflin
Selected as Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week last season:
- April 4: Kevin Lawlor, Berks Catholic
- April 11: Conner Licklider, Hamburg
- April 18: Luke Weller, Exeter
- April 25: Tyler Minick, Gov. Mifflin
- May 2: Tyler Minick, Gov. Mifflin
- May 9: Luke Weller, Exeter
- May 16: Kenay Rodriguez, Muhlenberg
- May 23: Cam Burr, Muhlenberg
