Fleetwood Baseball Finds Success

Fleetwood Area High School, historically known as one of the area’s strongest soccer powerhouses, has rarely gained much publicity for its sometimes mediocre baseball program. Recent years have been no exception; the Tigers managed only five wins last season, after totaling just three league wins in the previous two years combined.

This year, however, the Tigers refused to follow the script – instead, they wrote one that not even the harshest of critics could detest.

Despite showing some early-season nerves in an opening day loss to Hamburg, the team tore through the early portion of the schedule, winning seven of their next eight games. Along the way, the Tigers provided no shortage of drama, often waiting until the last moment to rope in a win that seemed all but impossible. This, more than anything, showcased the trait that set this year’s squad apart from the many that preceded it.

“We never feel like we are out of the game. In past years, we would give up runs and immediately get down on ourselves. This year’s game against Exeter, when we were trailing by five runs in the last inning and came back to win, made us all believers and showed us never to quit on a game,” junior Ryan Stewart said of the team’s late-game heroics.

Another characteristic that set this year’s team apart was its blend of experience and youth. Despite having a senior-dominated lineup, the Tigers relied just as much on younger players to carry the group to success. Excellent pitching by the likes of junior Micah Storms and sophomore Clay Weidemoyer, combined with stellar positional play from juniors Brandon Koharcheck, junior Austin Stern, and many others, served as the perfect framework for a storybook season. Added to the mix was the experience and clutch play of the seniors, whose ranks included Cincinnati-bound Devin Wenzel, Derek Petersen, and Ryan “The Jet” Cortazzo.

“Having poor seasons in the previous three years opened the door for this year’s juniors and seniors to get a lot of playing time. The older players have anchored us in times of adversity, but the energy and talent brought by some of the younger players has greatly contributed to our success. We have a nice mix, and everyone enjoys playing together,” Wenzel said.

When things were looking bleak, as they did when the Tigers dropped two straight games midway through the season, the Tigers relied on their experience and team unity to pull things together and continue their push toward the playoffs.

Six wins in their last seven regular season games landed Fleetwood in second place in Berks II, behind only a heavily-favored Twin Valley squad. If the Tigers were put down by coming up just short of a division title, however, they did not show it.

A thorough routing of Hamburg and a nail-biting victory over Wilson placed the underrated Tigers right where they wanted to be: in the county championship game, matched up against the defending Berks champions from Governor Mifflin.

Though one would expect some anxiety from a team that has never been on such a stage before, Fleetwood showed no such weakness. In front of a crowd of over 1,000 at First Energy Stadium, the Tigers stormed out to an early 10-0 lead and never looked back. By the time Koharcheck’s final pitch sealed a 12-6 win and the gloves took flight, there were no more questions to be asked of Fleetwood baseball.

“It was truly a dream come true. Words really can’t describe the feeling that I had after winning that game,” Petersen, a four-year starter for Fleetwood baseball, said.

They defied all odds. They earned the title of best in the county, bringing the hardware home for the first time since 1970. Needless to say, this is something pretty special for not just Fleetwood baseball but for Fleetwood as a whole.

Local sports enthusiasts can only hope this season signifies a new beginning for Fleetwood baseball and maybe even another championship in the future. This time, however, they just hope it will not take 42 years.