What to know about the teams in the Berks Softball League in 2023

Mar. 20—Berks I

Exeter

Coach: John Casner, fifth season, 55-25.

PIAA classification: 5A.

Last season: 11-1 Berks I, 22-3; Berks champion, District 3 Class 5A champion, PIAA Class 5A quarterfinalist.

Top players: All-Berks P Morgan Herb, all-division P-1B Cheyenne Boyles, P Jaredis Flores, OF Taylor Hill.

Outlook: The Eagles look to successfully defend their county and district titles, as well as qualify for the state playoffs again.

Gov. Mifflin

Coach: Dave Connor, sixth season, 48-36.

PIAA classification: 6A.

Last season: 8-4 Berks I, 12-9; District 3 Class 6A qualifier.

Top players: All-Berks P-IF Sophia Schmehl, all-division OF-P Carly Angstadt, all-division SS Kayla Williams, C Rachel Leaman, 1B Abby Urbina, 3B Mckayla Eisenhower.

Outlook: The Mustangs expect to compete for the division title and qualify for the county playoffs.

Wilson

Coach: Gregg Kramer, 10th season, 74-89.

PIAA classification: 6A.

Last season: 7-5 Berks I, 9-10; District 3 Class 6A qualifier.

Top players: All-division P-1B Meghan Farrell, all-division CF-SS Tatum Werley.

Outlook: The Bulldogs will try to qualify for the postseason again.

Reading High

Coach: Robert Grim, eighth season, 26-96.

PIAA classification: 6A.

Last season: 1-11 Berks I, 4-15.

Top players: Not reported.

Outlook: The Red Knights will try to rebuild.

Muhlenberg

Coach: Jacklyn Rusnock, third season, 2-27.

PIAA classification: 5A.

Last season: 0-11 Berks II, 2-13.

Top players: OF Karlie LaFaver, OF Erin Smith, SS Leia Wolf.

Outlook: After moving from Berks II to Berks I, the young Muhls will try to win their first league game since 2019.

Berks II

Fleetwood

Coach: Eric Garman, fourth year, 29-13 (also coached seven seasons at Owen J. Roberts).

PIAA classification: 4A.

Last season: 10-2 Berks III, 16-7; District 3 Class 4A third place, PIAA Class 4A qualifier.

Top players: All-division SS Kylie Krauss, all-division C Morgan Koehler, all-division 2B Emily Miller, P Kaitlyn Pytleski, 3B Ashley Robuck, CF Haylie Mauger.

Outlook: After moving from Berks III to Berks II, the Tigers return a wealth of talent and expect to compete for the division title, as well as qualify for the county, district and state playoffs.

Twin Valley

Co-Coaches: Brad Godshall and Kim Walsh, third season, 38-12 (Walsh has an 84-20 overall record, including two previous seasons as co-coach).

PIAA classification: 5A.

Last season: 9-2 Berks II, 17-9; District 3 Class 5A runner-up, PIAA Class 5A playoffs qualifier.

Top players: All-division Erin Cromwell.

Outlook: Despite losing a wealth of talent to graduation, the Raiders look to return to the postseason.

Conrad Weiser

Coach: Darrell Wenrich, eighth season, 52-64.

PIAA classification: 4A.

Last season: 4-7 Berks II, 12-9; District 3 Class 4A quarterfinalist.

Top players: All-division McKayla Reichard, all-division Emily Karetas, all-division Alex Trevena.

Outlook: The Scouts look to qualify for the playoffs again.

Daniel Boone

Coach: Chris Weller, second season.

PIAA classification: 5A.

Last season: 3-9 Berks I, 4-15.

Top players: C Regan Stout, SS Jayda Kugler, P-1B Taylor Cassner.

Outlook: With just two seniors, the Blazers look to continue to rebuild in 2023.

Berks III

Hamburg

Coach: Zena Lutz, sixth season, 75-43.

PIAA classification: 4A.

Last season: 9-2 Berks II, 20-5; District 3 Class 4A champion, PIAA Class 4A quarterfinalist.

Top players: All-Berks P-IF Hailey Strunk, all-division OF Kylah Reading, all-division IF Katie Behler, IF Anabel Kennedy.

Outlook: After moving from Berks II to Berks III, the experienced Hawks will look to contend for the county title, successfully defend their district championship and qualify for the state playoffs again.

Berks Catholic

Coach: Michael Smith, sixth season, 43-42.

PIAA classification: 4A.

Last season: 10-2 Berks III, 14-5; District 3 Class 4A quarterfinalist.

Top players: All-division SS Rebecca Adams, all-division P-CF Danielle Hayward, all-division C-3B Isabella Belville, all-division OF-P Giana Mirenda, OF Celeste Mirenda, 2B-P Marli Emrich, OF Regan Prechtl.

Outlook: The Saints expect to contend for the division title and look to make deeper runs in the county and district playoffs.

Brandywine Heights

Coach: Don Roach, 23rd season, 404-102.

PIAA classification: 2A.

Last season: 9-2 Berks IV, 17-6; Berks runner-up, District 3 Class 2A semifinalist.

Top players: All-division IF Aubrey Reinert, all-division IF-C Allysa Bortz, OF Rylee Benner.

Outlook: After moving up from Berks III to Berks IV, the young Bullets look to be competitive within the county.

Schuylkill Valley

Coach: Rich Sensenig, third season, 13-20.

PIAA classification: 4A.

Last season: 2-10 Berks III, 4-13.

Top players: SS Kylie Gunter, CF Jordan Shekalus, P Brinlee Disney.

Outlook: After losing five seniors to graduation, the Panthers look to rebuild in 2023.

Berks IV

Kutztown

Coach: Kevin Conrad, 12th season, 166-76.

PIAA classification: 3A.

Last season: 9-2 Berks IV, 20-6; District 3 Class 3A champion, PIAA Class 3A quarterfinalist.

Top players: All-division OF Meaghan Dietrich, OF Regina Andre Zavala, OF Marisa Berger, P-IF MaKayla Drey.

Outlook: The Cougars look to compete for county and district titles and qualify for the state playoffs again.

Oley Valley

Coach: Leo Lichman, eighth season, 54-63 (126-128 overall, including one season at Reading High and eight seasons at Fleetwood).

PIAA classification: 3A.

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

Top players: All-division Dana Messner, Mackenzie Blankenbiller, Cenora Grim, Leah Haas, Tetje Williamson, Joelle Glick.

Outlook: Moving from Berks III to Berks IV, the Lynx look to be competitive within the division.

Wyomissing

Coach: Jim Campbell, seventh season, 26-84 (114-195 overall, including 10 seasons at Schuylkill Valley).

PIAA classification: 3A.

Last season: 4-8 Berks III, 6-13.

Top player: All-division Lily Caldwell.

Outlook: After moving from Berks III to Berks IV, the Spartans look to be more competitive in 2023.

Tulpehocken

Coach: Ashley Rank, fourth season, 6-30.

PIAA classification: 3A.

Last season: 4-7 Berks IV, 5-14.

Top players: All-division P Chloe Heckman, all-division SS Taylor Lawrence, OF Devon Stothart, 2B Tuesday Hopwood.

Outlook: A junior-heavy team, the Trojans look to improve in 2023.

Antietam

Coach: Jose Garcia, second season.

PIAA classification: 2A.

Last season: 0-11 Berks IV, 0-16.

Top players: P Yalexis Galan, C Kaitlyn Zeiber.

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