After two postponements because of weather, the Berks County baseball championship was finally played Wednesday night at Owls Field in West Lawn.
Gov. Mifflin won its third BCIAA baseball title in five years with an 11-1 victory over Berks Catholic in six innings.
“Winning any county title is special, but being at this venue, and winning it with this group of young men is just extra special,” Mustangs coach Chris Hole said. “This group of seniors, there are 12 of them. Many of them have been playing since they were freshmen, and this was a really nice way to go out on top in the county, but we have bigger goals now in front of us as well.”
“It feels good just coming out here and getting the job done like that,” Mustangs Bryce Detwiler said. “We know that we’re capable of doing it, it’s just amazing to see how good of a defense we played, and I’m just happy with how our hitters were at the plate today.”
Detwiler, a University of Connecticut commit, took the mound for the Mustangs, while West Chester University commit Trey Stricker got the start for the Saints.
The two faced off right away, as they were each slotted in as leadoff hitters.
Detwiler came out throwing heat in the first inning, striking out Stricker before retiring the side.
The Mustangs (22-1) continued their dominant 2025 campaign, getting their bats going early in the bottom of the first inning.
With one out, Branson Adams drew a four-pitch walk before Travis Jenkins ripped a hard grounder past second baseman Brock Shrawder for a single, putting runners on the corners.
Ethan Grim then hit a ball up the middle, driving in both runners to give the Mustangs an early 2-0 lead.
Stricker racked up 30 pitches in the first inning alone, but the Saints (15-7) answered in the top of the second.
Owen Schalk and Aidan Curley opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and Victor Mejia followed with a deep sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Schalk. Detwiler then shut things down, striking out the next two batters to end the potential big inning.
Over the next two innings, the pitchers dominated, allowing just one baserunner combined.
“We talked before the game, as we do most games. The key is pitching and defense,” Hole said. “We haven’t been as productive with our offense as we would have liked for the last couple of games, but pitching and defense are what win championships, and that’s what we preach. That’s what the boys were able to do tonight. Play a real tight, clean game.”
It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth that the Mustangs added to their lead.
Matt Koehler was walked before Billy Angstadt hit a single past first base.
Stricker, who finished with seven strikeouts, sat down the next two batters, but the Mustangs still managed a two-out rally.
Nine-hole hitter Aden Reiter drove the ball to right field, scoring Mifflin’s third run of the game.
“After my first at-bat, I really wanted to hunt the fastball because once I got down, he was going to throw me junk,” Reiter said. “The second at-bat, I hunted the fastball and put a swing on it.”
Reiter’s single prompted an intentional walk to Detwiler, loading the bases.
Stricker’s day on the mound ended after 86 pitches in 3.2 innings, and Cole Harter was called in to take over.
The next three batters were walked consecutively, bringing in three more runs before a flyout ended the inning.
“That at-bat was absolutely huge. That inning was slipping away from us, and if we didn’t get anything there, we’re still sitting in a real tight game,” Hole said of Reiter’s RBI single. “Aden has made the most of his opportunities. He’s out there at shortstop when Bryce is on the mound and doesn’t get a lot of consistent at-bats. But man, did he come up big in that spot tonight. I’m real proud of him, as I am the whole team.”
In the fifth and sixth innings, the Saints were retired in order, with Detwiler controlling the game.
“I just took it the same. I know that they were coming hungry because they had two huge wins against Wilson and Wyomissing,” Detwiler said of his pitching approach. “It was just awesome to see Berks Catholic, like a good story in the county championship against us. I know a couple of kids on their team, so it was just awesome to compete against them.”
In the bottom of the inning, the Mustangs kept the offense rolling.
Brock Shrawder was tasked with pitching duties in the inning but met the same fate as his teammates, unable to contain the Mustangs’ offensive firepower.
Detwiler and Adams both reached base safely, and then Travis Jenkins lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Detwiler.
With a 7-1 lead, Gov. Mifflin had the mercy rule in sight.
Ethan Grim then hit a single to left field before the next three batters were walked to extend the lead to 9-1.
Pinch-hitter Joe Murray stepped into the batter’s box and launched a rocket over the right fielder’s head for a two-run double, as the Mustangs’ dugout emptied in celebration mode.
“It feels great. We have a great team chemistry, and it’s fun to play out there with them,” Reiter said of the win.
Detwiler finished the game, allowing only three hits and striking out seven batters.
With a chance at their first-ever county title, the Saints struggled defensively, committing four errors, while four pitchers combined to issue 10 walks.
Gov. Mifflin plays next in the District 3 Class 6A tournament, in which the Mustangs are the top seed.
Berks Catholic will play in District Class 3A playoffs.
