Brian Smith: Berks Catholic beats Bermudian Springs in District 3 Class 3A baseball quarterfinal
May 24—As he raced home with the game-ending run, Berks Catholic sophomore Parker Nein realized he didn't have to decide whether he could pitch another inning.
Nein threw six-innings of two-hit ball Monday at Forino Sports Complex to lead Berks Catholic to a 10-0 win over Bermudian Springs in a District 3 Class 3A baseball quarterfinal.
Nein got hit in the right shoulder off a deflection of an errant pickoff attempt at first base in the bottom of the sixth inning. He said there was some pain and had ice put on his shoulder after the game.
"I didn't know if I'd be able to go out the next inning," Nein said.
Turned out, he didn't have to. Matt Sterner dropped a two-out single into right field and Nein scored from second base to help the fourth-seeded Saints (13-8) down the fifth-seeded Eagles (9-11) on the 10-run rule.
The victory advances Berks Catholic to the semifinals Thursday at 4:30 p.m. to play at top-seeded Lancaster Catholic.
Nein kept Bermudian Springs off balance for the entire game. He pitched 4.2 no-hit innings before Ben Ogle beat out a two-out infield single in the fifth.
Nein, who struck out five and walked two, also allowed a single in the sixth.
"Parker was outstanding," said Berks Catholic coach Brandon Shurr. "He's done it all year for us. He's done a great job."
The offense, with a lot of help from Bermudian Springs, also came through for the Saints. Berks Catholic got out a 1-0 lead in the first inning without a hit, then broke it open with an eight-run third inning that included a little bit of everything.
"My hitters really got us out there," Nein said. "I didn't have to do much except throw strikes and let them hit it."
Berks Catholic picked up just three hits in the eight-run third that was aided by a bases-loaded walk, a balk that brought home a run and a wild pitch that allowed another run to score.
Chris Avram started the big inning with a walk, later added an RBI single and scored twice. R.J. Emerich also unloaded an RBI double after losing pitcher Nathan Keller was removed.
Berks Catholic finished with just six hits.
"It's what we've been preaching all year, put the ball in play and make them make the plays," Shurr said. "Put the pressure on them to make the mistake."
