What to know about the teams in the Berks Softball League in 2024

Mar. 11—Berks I

Wilson

Coach: Gregg Kramer, 11th season, 88-96.

PIAA classification: 6A.

Last season: 10-2 Berks I, 14-7; Berks quarterfinalist, District 3 Class 6A qualifier.

Top player: all-division junior SS Tatum Werley, senior P-1B Meghan Farrell, junior 1B-P Madison Farrell, sophomore C Ava Futrick.

Outlook: With a wealth of talent, the Bulldogs are poised to compete for county and district titles.

Exeter

Coach: Malorie Sassaman, first season.

PIAA classification: 5A.

Last season: 8-4 Berks I, 13-9; Berks quarterfinalist, District 3 Class 5A qualifier.

Top players: all-division senior Katelyn Stanley, all-division senior Taylor Hill, junior Mackenzie O'Brien, senior Sasha Bolinski, senior Alexis Turner, junior Cheyenne Boyles.

Outlook: With a strong group of returners, the Eagles are poised to contend for the division title.

Gov. Mifflin

Coach: Dave Connor, seventh season, 66-43.

PIAA classification: 6A.

Last season: 11-1 Berks I, 18-7; Berks semifinalist, District 3 Class 6A fourth place, PIAA Class 6A qualifier.

Top player: All-Berks senior Serenity Snyder.

Outlook: The Mustangs look to have another successful season.

Muhlenberg

Coach: Jacklyn Rusnock, fourth season, 8-37.

PIAA classification: 5A.

Last season: 2-10 Berks I, 6-10.

Top players: all-division senior Erin Smith, all-division junior Ava Missimer, all-division sophomore Kaylee Jablonski.

Outlook: The Muhls look to build off of last season and continue to improve.

Reading High

Coach: Robert Grimm, ninth season, 30-110.

PIAA classification: 6A.

Last season: 2-10 Berks I, 4-14.

Top player: senior Tatiana Garcia.

Outlook: The Red Knights look to build off of last season and continue to improve.

Berks II

Fleetwood

Coach: Eric Garman, fifth season, 41-22 (also coached seven seasons at Owen J. Roberts).

PIAA classification: 4A.

Last season: 8-3 Berks II, 12-9; Berks quarterfinalist, District 3 Class 4A qualifier.

Top players: All-Berks junior C Morgan Koehler, all-division senior OF Haylie Mauger, senior OF Kylie Krauss, junior IF Emily Miller, junior P-IF Isabelle Santangelo.

Outlook: With a mix of veterans and younger players, the Tigers look to put together another winning season.

Conrad Weiser

Coach: John Gilmer, second season (also coached 13 seasons at Tulpehocken).

PIAA classification: 4A.

Last season: 5-6 Berks II, 10-8; Berks quarterfinalist.

Top players: all-division junior SS Alex Trevena, all-division junior OF Breanna Oliviero, senior P Abigail Frantz, sophomore 3B Madison Derfler, senior C McKayla Reichard.

Outlook: The Scouts will try to return to the county playoffs and make a deep run in the district playoffs.

Twin Valley

Co-Coaches: Kim Walsh and Brad Godshall, fourth season, 46-20 (Walsh has an 92-28 overall record, including two previous seasons as co-coach)

PIAA classification: 5A.

Last season: 6-5 Berks II, 8-8.

Top players: all-division senior Hailie Barton, all-division sophomore Isabella Thomas, all-division junior Erin Cromwell, all-division senior Karli Arbegast.

Outlook: The Raiders look to build off of last season.

Daniel Boone

Coach: Chris Weller, third season, 5-32.

PIAA classification: 5A.

Last season: 0-11 Berks II, 1-17.

Top player: senior Aubrie Detwiler.

Outlook: The Blazers will try to win their first game in league play since 2022.

Berks III

Hamburg

Coach: Zena Lutz, seventh season, 93-48.

PIAA classification: 4A.

Last season: 10-1 Berks III, 18-5; Berks semifinalist, District 3 Class 4A quarterfinalist.

Top players: All-Berks senior OF Kylah Reading, all-division senior P Hailey Strunk, senior 2B Hailie Edwards, all-division junior 1B Erica Gerner, all-division junior OF Amelia Gassert, senior OF Emily Zimmerman, junior C Shayna Morales, junior 3B Jenna Shuman.

Outlook: With a wealth of experience, the Hawks are poised to return to the postseason.

Berks Catholic

Coach: John Gleason, first season.

PIAA classification: 4A.

Last season: 8-3 Berks III, 17-5; Berks champion, District 3 Class 4A fourth place.

Top players: All-Berks senior Danielle Hayward, All-Berks junior Giana Mirenda, all-division senior Marli Emrich.

Outlook: With several key returners, the Saints look to return to the postseason.

Brandywine Heights

Coach: Don Roach, 25th season, 414-114.

PIAA classification: 2A.

Last season: 6-5 Berks III, 10-12; District 3 Class 2A runner-up.

Top players: All-Berks junior IF Allyssa Bortz, all-division senior P-IF Elyse Stufflet, all-division senior OF Ashley Nace, junior OF Christina Schuster, sophomore P-IF Jenna Crist, sophomore IF Kamryn Henry.

Outlook: With a strong nucleus, the Bullets are poised to return to the postseason.

Schuylkill Valley

Coach: Rich Sensenig, fourth season, 20-32.

PIAA classification: 4A.

Last season: 3-8 Berks III, 7-12.

Top players: all-division SS Kylie Gunter, C Brooke Andrews.

Outlook: With a mix of experienced and young talent, the Panthers look to qualify for the postseason.

Berks IV

Kutztown

Coach: Kevin Conrad, 13th season, 185-82.

PIAA classification: 3A.

Last season: 12-0 Berks IV, 19-6; Berks runner-up, District 3 Class 3A semifinalist.

Top players: All-Berks junior P Brianna Bauscher, senior IF Kirsten Drey, all-division senior IF Sammy Furst, all-division senior C Ashley Noecker, all-division junior IF Kourtney Dietrich, senior OF Joanie Wood, junior OF Sadie Berger, junior IF Susanna Brown, junior IF Miranda Morstatt.

Outlook: With a strong core of returners, the Cougars are poised to contend for the county title and qualify for the district and state playoffs.

Wyomissing

Coach: Jim Campbell, eighth season, 37-93 (125-204 overall, including 10 seasons at Schuylkill Valley).

PIAA classification: Class 3A.

Last season: 7-5 Berks IV, 11-9.

Top players: All-Berks junior 1B Kyla Lytle, all-division senior OF Maggie Steber, all-division junior SS Pearl Caldwell, all-division junior C Lily Caldwell.

Outlook: The Spartans will try to build off of last season's success.

Tulpehocken

Coach: Ashley Rank, fourth season, 11-45.

PIAA classification: Class 3A.

Last season: 3-9 Berks IV, 5-15.

Top players: All-Berks senior 2B-SS Taylor Lawrence, all-division senior SS Chloe Heckman, senior CF Devon Stothart, junior 1B Juliet Snyder, freshman P Molly Goldberg.

Outlook: The Trojans look to be competitive within the division.

Oley Valley

Coach: Leo Lichman, ninth season, 60-77 (132-142 overall, including one season at Reading High and eight seasons at Fleetwood).

PIAA classification: Class 3A.

Last season: 3-9 Berks IV, 6-14.

Top players: all-division senior Dana Messner, senior Erin Day, sophomore Cheyenne Walsh, sophomore Ava Walters, sophomore Brianna Garcia.

Outlook: After losing six seniors to graduation, the Lynx look to be competitive.

Antietam

Coach: Jose Garcia, third season, 0-36.

PIAA classification: Class 2A.

Last season: 0-12 Berks IV, 0-20.

Top players: senior Genesis Coste Nunez, senior Yalexis Galan, senior Giselle Medina, senior Gabriela Phillip.

Outlook: Fielding a team for just the fourth season since 2019, the Mounts will try to win their first game since 2014.