Offense, speed carrry Muhls to title
Muhlenberg downs Oley Valley 11-3 in the county championship game and have scored 45 runs during its current five-game winning streak
Each one of the 22 baseball teams Brian Kopetsky has coached at Muhlenberg has carved its own identity.
The 2001 Muhls used their pitching and defense to go 21-7, reach the Berks League semifinals, the District 3 Class 2A semis and the PIAA Class 2A semis.
The 2018 Muhls had what Kopetsky calls “a grinder’s mentality” and a knowledge of how to play the game the right way, which led them to a 20-3 record and the school’s first Berks title in 37 years.
The 2022 Muhls are different cats. They have talent, speed and confidence. They used all those elements to become Berks champions Wednesday night with an 11-3 victory over Oley Valley at FirstEnergy Stadium.
“Last year we were strong (when Muhlenberg went 14-11 and reached states),” pitcher Brad Coley said. “This year we’re even stronger. Last year there were gaps. This year there aren’t any. I’ve never played on a team like this before.”
The Muhls (19-2) mostly subdue opponents with their depth on offense and their aggression on the bases.
Their team batting average is .331 with six of them hitting at least .350: Luis Beato (.431), Cam Burr (.422), Sam Martinez (.419), Kenay Rodriguez (.407), Gio Cavanna (.375) and Shane Rosenberry (.351).
They’ve scored 45 runs during their current fivegame winning streak.
“The 2018 team was pretty deep,” Kopetsky said. “They were probably 11 deep. This one goes 12 or 13 deep. The depth of this lineup and the way the guys have swung the bat really does make it work.”
Muhlenberg outscored Kutztown, Exeter and Oley Valley 30-14 in the Berks playoffs, a different player leading the offense each game.
Rodriguez had four hits against the Cougars; Cavanna and Coley had three hits apiece against the Eagles; and Burr and Rosenberry had two hits each against the Lynx.
Cavanna has been Muhlenberg’s hottest hitter in the last two weeks, and he bats ninth.
“With his speed, he can put down a drag bunt,” Kopetsky said. “It’s really cool having a 9 hitter who’s more like a 2 or 3 hitter.”
It’s the Muhls’ combination of hitting and speed that makes them dangerous. They make no excuses for taking an extra base in any situation and pressuring defenses. They’ve stolen 63 bases in 21 games.
“It’s a really, really balanced lineup with speed,” Kopetsky said. “We’re not afraid to go from first to third and second to home. We’re willing to take chances. We’ll get guys thrown out, but we put the thought in the other team’s heads that, ‘Dang, these kids keep running.’”
Muhlenberg has an effective No. 1 pitcher in Coley, a left-hander who’s committed to Alvernia. He’s allowed a meager 12 hits in 39 innings and has struck out 70, but he’s walked 37.
He limited Oley Valley to two runs and three hits in five innings in the title game.
“Brad has legit stuff,” Kopetsky said. “When he’s on, he’s lights out.”
The Muhls also are highly spirited. They play with infectious enthusiasm and are not afraid to celebrate routine plays.
“We have energy throughout the games,” second baseman Jacob Rodriguez said. “We pick each other up. We feed off each other.”
Muhlenberg, the No. 1 seed in the District 3 Class 5A playoffs, will begin pursuing its first district title since 2008 on Monday against 16th-seeded Gettysburg.
“We’re just going to keep fighting with the same motivation we have right now,” Beato said. “Hopefully we can win the district championship, too.”