BERKS LEAGUE TEAM-BY-TEAM BASEBALL PREVIEW
Berks I GOV. MIFFLIN
Coach: Chris Hole, 10th season, 135-87.
PIAA classification: 6A.
Last season: 10-2 Berks I, 21-7; Berks champ, District 3 finalist, PIAA qualifier.
Top returners: All-Berks SS-P Tyler Minick, OF-P Mason Woolwine, C-P Darien Troche, 3B-P Xander Velez.
Others to watch: 1B Hunter Unger, OF-P Owen Lehman, OF-P Michael Marmolejos, OF-P Matt Novotny, 1B Jonathan Radwanski, 2B-P Matt Ventura. Outlook: Division favorite has pitching, defense, offense to successfully defend league title.
WILSON
Coach: Sal Raccuglia, 11th season, 131-89-1. PIAA classification: 6A.
Last season: 12-0 Berks I, 22-3; Berks finalist, District 3 champ, PIAA qualifier.
Top returners: All-Berks IF-P Rueben Livingston, P-2B Cole Leaman.
Others to watch: OF Rafael Fernandez, 3B Tommy Hunsicker, OF Ryan Sekulski, 1B Lucas Gensemer, OF Nick Crocona, SS Trevor Bilodeau, 2B Charlie Frantz, P-1B Matt VanOstenbridge, P Jake Kope, P-DH Christian Valent.
Outlook: Will challenge despite heavy graduation losses.
EXETER
Coach: Justin Freese, 27th season, 270-256. PIAA classification: 5A.
Last season: 6-6 Berks I, 11-9; District 3 qualifier. Top returners: All-division P-IF Deven Sheerin, P-IF Luke Weller, IF Brady Hannahoe, P-OF Owen Wisner, OF Colin Payne, OF-P Alex Kelsey. Others to watch: P Mike Greenawalt, IF Nick Sydor, OF-P Ian Dobraniecki, IF Evan Franek, C Rohan Talagadadeevi, C Chase Cupitt, P Ian Wilson, UT Carter Cordora.
Outlook: Can contend if offense has improved since last year.
DANIEL BOONE
Coach: Jason McCord, 11th season, 97-100. PIAA classification: 5A.
Last season: 4-8 Berks I, 7-9.
Top returners: 2B Mason Walter, SS Nate DeBusi, OF Alex Vassallo.
Others to watch: P Ethan Rissmiller, P-1B Riley Brady, P Jamie Pence, C Connor McGough, P-3B Eli Rhoads.
Outlook: Has pitching experience that can slow opponents.
READING HIGH
Coach: Tom Frees, second season.
PIAA classification: 6A.
Last season: 0-11 Berks I, 0-15.
Top returners: 1B-DH Kenneth Diaz, 1B Fernando Rodriguez, C-3B Jose Monegro, OF Harold Tavaraz. Others to watch: C-3B Erick Polanco, 2B Brandon Polanco, SS-P Abel Gonzalez, 3B-P Saul Mezquita, OF Christopher Monegro.
Outlook: Picking up first win since 2019 could kickstart the Red Knights..
Berks II MUHLENBERG
Coach: Brian Kopetsky, 23rd season, 305-194. PIAA classification: 5A.
Last season: 6-4 Berks II, 14-11; Berks semifinalist, District 3 semifinalist, PIAA qualifier.
Top returners: All-division OF Luis Beato, alldivision P-SS Sean Levan, 1B Sam Martinez, 2B Jacob Rodriguez, P Brad Coley, 3B-P Cam Burr, OF-C Gio Cavanna.
Others to watch: P Drew Fidler, C-UT Julian Hatt, C Shane Roseberry.
Outlook: Division favorite and contender for Berks title.
FLEETWOOD
Coach: Rolland Green, 21st season, 203-199. PIAA classification: 4A.
Last season: 2-9 Berks II, 6-12.
Top returners: All-division OF Aiden Soumas, alldivision OF Mark Piskorski, SS-P Aiden Gorman, IF-P Jake Karnish, C-1B Will Ryan, 3B-P Zachary Dilbeck, IF Braden Williams, 1B-P Adam Knoll, OF-P Jayson Brey.
Others to watch: C Daulton Young, C Tyler Szilli, OF Nate Seidel.
Outlook: Challenger for division title and Berks playoff berth.
TWIN VALLEY
Coach: Corey Schnoke, first season.
PIAA classification: 5A.
Last season: 6-5 Berks II, 11-10; Berks qualifier. Top returners: P-1B Kannon Zdimal, 3B-C Jaydon Goebel, OF Aiden Jackson, OF-P Ben Spiri, SS-P Owen Rhoads.
Others to watch: 2B Roman Cieless, SS-P Kooper Zdimal.
Outlook: Won’t contend without improvement in offense.
CONRAD WEISER
Coach: Dylan Boll, first season.
PIAA classification: 4A.
Last season: 5-6 Berks II, 8-12.
Top returners: All-division 3B Riley Civiello, P-OF Trey Dianna, P-OF Stephen Croft.
Others to watch: P-SS Evan Rittle, 1B Brady Snyder.
Outlook: Young team hopes to be competitive with new coach.
Berks III OLEY VALLEY
Coach: Jeff Pinder, first season.
PIAA classification: 3A.
Last season: 9-3 Berks III, 21-6; Berks semifinalist, District 3 champ, PIAA finalist.
Top returners: All-division IF-P Chase Reifsnyder, IF Luke Macdonald, P-IF-OF Sean Hoffman, IF-P Paul Petersen, IF-OF Joey Vaccaro, OF Andrew McMullen, 1B-P Ty Yerger.
Others to watch: C Brad Auge.
Outlook: Playoff experience makes Lynx slight division favorites.
HAMBURG
Coach: Nick Evangelista, 12th season, 158-88. PIAA classification: 4A.
Last season: 8-4 Berks III, 13-9; District 3 quarterfinalist.
Top returners: All-division P-OF Tristan Baer, P Austin Miller, 1B Brayden Kamp, P-2B Conner Licklider, P-SS Luke Bensinger, C Nate Gilbert, P-OF Connor Gruber.
Others to watch: OF Haden Long, P-UT Isaac Krick, P Braden Fetherholf, P-OF Scottie Dunleavy, P-3B Ty Shuey.
Outlook: Strong challenger for division title.
SCHUYLKILL VALLEY
Coach: Mark Dietrich, fifth season, 24-49. PIAA classification: 4A.
Last season: 7-5 Berks III, 9-10.
Top returners: All-division OF-C-P Colby Crills, all-division 1B-OF-P Colin Stoudt, C-P Brendan Bernhart, 3B-OF-P Drew Campbell, OF Bryce Hill, 2B-P Zach Rickert, 3B-C Conner Staub, SS-P Eli Houser, OF-SS-P Kelton Faulk.
Others to watch: OF-P Julian Kemmerer. Outlook: Darkhorse has lots of experience.
BERKS CATHOLIC
Coach: Brandon Shurr, third season, 14-23. PIAA classification: 3A.
Last season: 2-10 Berks III, 5-15.
Top returners: All-division C R.J. Emrich, OF-P Chris Avram, OF Isaac Pichardo, P Derek Brynildsen, IF Kevin Lawlor, OF-P Maxx Mace, IF-P Parker Nein. Others to watch: OF-P William Hess, 1B-P Dante Casantini, 1B-C Denny Rodriguez, P Nate Moschak, IF Trey Stricker, OF Matt Sterner.
Outlook: Will be much improved.
WYOMISSING
Coach: Dave Voigt, third season, 22-23-1.
PIAA classification: 4A.
Last season: 10-2 Berks III, 15-10; Berks qualifier, District 3 finalist, PIAA qualifier.
Top returners: SS Tommy Grabowski, 2B Jayvien Wolf, C Nate Koenig, OF Drew Eisenhower, P Matt Kramer, 3B Ryker Jones.
Others to watch: OF Donovan Cruz, SS Dom Colon, 1B Pacen Ziegler.
Outlook: Rebuilding after heavy graduation losses.
Berks IV KUTZTOWN
Coach: Tim Mertz, 22nd season, 316-169.
PIAA classification: 2A.
Last season: 4-7 Berks IV, 9-12; District 3 semifinalist.
Top returners: All-division SS Matt Remick, alldivision P-1B-OF Grant Fitzgerald, all-division C-2B Nick Hugo, OF Dalton Furst, OF Ian Fenerty, P-OF Jacob Rabert, IF-P Dominick Pizzelanti, UT-P Kole Schuler.
Others to watch: OF Braedyn Schuler, OF Ashton Dunn, OF Max Whitson, P-OF Colin Diehl. Outlook: Division favorite and district contender.
BRANDYWINE HEIGHTS
Coach: Ron Schaeffer Jr., first season.
PIAA classification: 3A.
Last season: 8-3 Berks IV, 14-7; Berks qualifier, District 3 semifinalist.
Top players: All-division P-IF Carson Renner, all-division OF-C Jesse Breunig, all-division OF-P Jaeger Smeltz, UT Joe Crist, P-1B Aidan Hall, IF-P Chase Maggs, P Grant Parks, P-OF Tyler Ott. Others to watch: IF-P Nate Fronheiser, C Connor Frisch, P-IF-OF Lukas Bojt.
Outlook: Will challenge for division title.
TULPEHOCKEN
Coach: Zach Shirk, second season.
PIAA classification: 2A.
Last season: 4-7 Berks IV, 6-14.
Top returners: All-division P-IF Hunter Zohn, C Brayden Evans, P-OF Micah Myers.
Others to watch: Nick Becker, Weston Campbell. Outlook: Pitching, defense needs to be much better to contend.
ANTIETAM
Coach: Ron Schaeffer Sr., second season. PIAA classification: 2A.
Last season: 0-11 Berks IV, 0-17.
Top returners: All-division P-1B Dan Woodford, C Aidan Fretz, P-IF Jordan Unger, OF-P Zach Mazurkiewicz.
Others to watch: P-OF Matt Stauffer, IF-P Mike Fidler, IF-P Dominick Perez.
Outlook: Difficult hill to climb for Mounts.