Wilson tops Muhlenberg, Boone stops Fleetwood as Berks baseball races tighten
The Wilson Bulldogs’ hitting slump is officially over.
Five days after scoring a season-high 11 runs in a win over Exeter, the Bulldogs collected nine hits and rallied to beat Muhlenberg 9-7 Monday in a key Berks League Division I game at Wilson West.
The win keeps alive hopes for the Bulldogs (5-4 Berks I, 9-6) to finish second and earn an automatic berth for the upcoming BCIAA Tournament.
It also helped Gov. Mifflin (8-1 Berks, 12-3) move one step closer to a second straight division title. The Mustangs, who beat Twin Valley 12-0, will clinch the division title with one league win or one league loss by the Muhls (6-3 Berks I, 8-5).
Mifflin holds the tiebreaker advantage by virtue of two head-to-head wins over Muhlenberg.
Leadoff batter Tommy Hunsicker had two hits, two walks and two RBIs to lead the Bulldogs. Rafael Fernandez had two hits and two RBIs, Mason Sensenig had two hits and scored twice and Charlie Frantz had two hits.
Sensenig had a two-run double to highlight Wilson’s four-run fifth, when it took the lead for good at 9-6. Muhlenberg had gone ahead 5-4 with five runs in the fourth; it regained the lead at 6-5 with a run in the fifth.
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Wilson led 4-0 after scoring twice in the first and twice in the second.
Matt VanOstenbridge pitched the final two innings for Wilson to pick up the save; he allowed two hits and a seventh-inning run and struck out three.
Sean Patton and Derek Wilson each had three hits for the Muhls, who have a busy week ahead. They play Exeter Tuesday, Berks II-leading Fleetwood Wednesday, Reading High Friday and Cedar Cliff Saturday.
Wilson and Muhlenberg each figure to make the eight-team Berks League playoff field whether they finish second or third in Berks I, based District 3 on power ratings. The Muhls and Bulldogs entered play Monday ranked second and third, respectively, in the league in power ratings, trailing only Mifflin. Two league wild card spots go to teams that don’t earn automatic first- or second-place berths based on power ratings.
Meanwhile, Daniel Boone prevented Fleetwood from clinching the Berks II title Monday, the Blazers scoring seven times in the second inning in a 10-5 win at Birdsboro. The Blazers (4-5 Berks II, 10-6) beat the Tigers (5-4 Berks II, 11-6) 5-0 in their first meeting April 5 at Fleetwood.
Ethan Rissmiller had two hits, drove in three runs and picked up the win for Boone, pitching six innings. Mason Walter had two hits and scored twice for the Blazers.
Because of the loss the Tigers will need to finish at least one game ahead of the Blazers to earn the division title. If the two finish tied at 6-5 or 5-6 Boone wins the title by virtue of its two head-to-head wins.
Fleetwood plays at Muhlenberg Wednesday and completes league play against Conrad Weiser Thursday. Daniel Boone plays at Wilson Tuesday and closes league play against Twin Valley Friday.
Oley Valley (8-2, 10-7) can clinch the Berks III title with a win Wednesday at Berks Catholic (5-4, 12-5). The Lynx beat Hamburg 7-6 Monday. The Saints’ game at Schuylkill Valley Monday was suspended in the third inning; they’ll resume play Tuesday with Berks Catholic leading 1-0.
The Saints still have a chance to win the division title but will need to win out and see the Lynx lose to Brandywine Heights.
In Berks IV, Brandywine Heights (7-2, 10-4) holds a one-game lead over Kutztown (6-3, 11-5), each with two league games remaining. The Bullets play at Tulpehocken Wednesday and at Oley Valley Friday. The Cougars play at Schuylkill Valley Tuesday and close league play against Tulpehocken Friday.