UECU Player of the Week: Joe Crist of Brandywine Heights

By Mike Drago Last updated Apr 25, 2023

Joe Crist hit the first pitch he saw Saturday for a home run.

It was a good omen for the Brandywine Heights shortstop and catalyst.

He followed with homers in his next two trips, giving him four home runs for the week and his first Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week selection.

Crist was walked intentionally his final time to the plate in that 19-9 loss to Schuylkill Haven. Probably a good idea, given that he was 3-for-3 with five RBIs up to that point.

“Joe is our leadoff hitter and our firing pin,” said Bullets coach Ron Schaeffer Jr. “When Joe gets on base we know we always have a chance to score him and get things going.

“That’s good to have, especially with the team we have behind him.”

Indeed, Crist has helped the streaking Bullets move into first place in Division IV of the Berks Conference and move up in the District 3 Class 3A power ratings.

They head into the week ranked No. 3, behind Camp Hill and Lancaster Catholic.

The Bullets took over first place earlier in the week with a 6-5 win over top rival and defending Berks IV champ Kutztown.

They followed that with a 7-0 win over Berks Catholic to improve to 4-1 in the league and 8-2 overall. They have won 6-of-7 heading into Monday’s game key crossover game against defending Berks III champ Hamburg.

Crist hit a solo homer in a 7-0 win over Schuylkill Valley on Wednesday. He now has seven homers for the season. Last season Gov. Mifflin’s Tyler Minick led Berks League batters with six home runs.

Crist is batting .472 with 18 runs scored, 16 RBI, and 10 extra-base hits. He scored 15 runs and had a team-high nine stolen bases as a junior, when he batted .270.

He is committed to play at Cairn University.

This is Crist’s first Player of the Week selection this 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:

Evan Rittle, Conrad Weiser
Chase Cupitt, Exeter
Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
Conner Licklider, Hamburg
Ashton Dunn, Kutztown
Derek Wilson, Muhlenberg
Colby Crills, Schuylkill Valley
Aiden Jackson, Twin Valley
Christo Hunsicker, Wilson
Chase Eisenhower, Wyomissing

Selected as Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week this season:

April 3: Bryce Detwiler, Gov. Mifflin
pril 10: Alex Kelsey, Exeter
April 17: 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