It’s not too far a stretch to call Pennsylvania’s 2016 Big 26 squad the Berks 26.
Well, it wasn’t quite that, but Berks County baseball players were well-represented at the annual Big 26 Classic, conducted on July 17 at FNB Field in Harrisburg, the home of the Eastern League’s Class AA Senators. Fully 10 of Pa.’s 26 players were from Berks League high school programs, nearly 40-percent of the squad.
Pennsylvania beat Maryland 7-2 to win the best-of-3 series 2-1. The Keystoners won both weekend games after dropping Friday night’s opener to clinch the trophy. Berks players were front and center throughout the series.
In Sunday’s victorious finale, the first three batters at the top of Oley Valley manager Rick Harrison’s lineup card were locals: Pete Vaccaro of Oley Valley, followed by Daniel Boone’s Joey Moyer and Brendan Rivoli. Twin Valley’s Colby Hiddemen, farther down in Sunday’s lineup, was named Big 26 tournament MVP.
“This is something I’ve always dreamed of,” Hiddemen said. “I came out to play. Yeah, I was surprised (to win MVP). I’d been hitting the ball slow all summer but started to pick it up in the last week.
“This experience has been unbelievable. You’re treated like a major league ballplayer. I’d want to come out here and live the rest of my life like this. Showing up to park, taking BP, ground balls. It’s awesome.”
Other Berks players were Ajay Sczepkowski and Noah Weber of Governor Mifflin, Brandon Heere of Muhlenberg, Wyomissing’s Brandon Westwood and Twin Valley’s Zach Rice and Colin Hartey.
“I’m honored,” Sczepkowski said. “It’s been amazing to win it and to come out here and play with these guys, who are all amazing ballplayers, and that you’re one of them.”
After Sunday’s finale, the Berks contingent gathered for a photo on the field.
“Well, we’re possibly the best county in the state,” Hiddemen said. “People overlook us and don’t realize how much power we have.”
* * *Vaccaro, who clocked a pair of base hits from the lead-off spot in Sunday’s clincher, celebrated with his Big 26 mates but also found himself in a tough spot. While he was busy helping lead Pennsylvania to the series title over Maryland, his Post 217 teammates from Oley-Topton – the Schuylkill-Berks Legion champs – were competing in the Legion Region 2 tournament in Quakertown.
The Patriots lost 12-0 that day, but rebounded Monday evening to beat Muhlenberg – the same squad they beat to win the league crown a week ago – 15-4 to stay alive in Region 2 before falling in the championship round to Quakertown. Vaccaro was declared ineligible for the balance of that tournament for missing a Legion game while tending to his Big 26 duties. He found out while in Harrisburg for weekend for the Big 26.
“Obviously, I would love to be there for them,” Vaccaro said of his Post 217 teammates. “I had to be there on Saturday morning (in Quakertown) to sign the sheet. My Legion season is done.
“Lucky for me, I had a really good coach (Fred van Gulik) and coaching staff and teammates that made the decision easy on me. They told me this is something (Big 26) I have to do, something you can’t miss, and we support you all the way. I’ve had wonderful support. It’s made my conscious clear, because obviously I wanted to be there in the worst way. It just couldn’t happen. But they made it easy for me.”
It was Vaccaro’s second selection to the Big 26 after going through tryouts in Manheim and then Shippensburg in May. He was on the losing end in last year’s Classic.
“Anytime you get the chance to do something like this, it’s humbling,” he said.
