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Division IV Team Of The Week: Berlin Hiland

BERLIN - With five State Final Four appearances since 2000, expectations are always at a premium for Berlin Hiland.

The 2019 season is no different, with the Hawks off to a 12-1 start and with it the honor of being PBR Ohio’s Division IV Team of the Week.

“Our goal every year is to get to state,” admitted second-year head coach Chris Dages. “We want to bring home another, but winning a championship is always difficult.”

This past week the Hawks won all three games played including a victory over previously unbeaten Indian Valley South and a 9-3 beating of Tuscarawas Valley ace pitcher Ethan Love.

“The way we have been hitting the ball has been a pleasant surprise,” explained Dages. “We came out slow but we’ve worked on our individual approach and situational at-bats. Now we’re hitting .399 as a team and putting the ball in play. That’s a plus.”

Shortstop Andy Miller, the 114th-rated 2019 in the state and a Malone recruit, has hit safely in every game but one and leads the squad with a .625 average. Center fielder Tyler Kline, who plays short when Miller pitches, bats leadoff and is hitting .515 with six stolen bases.

Senior Ryan Hershberger, who had a triple and a home run with five RBIs in the win over Tusky Valley, is another standout at the plate for the Hawks, who also get strong production from juniors Casey Kalman and Kobe Shetler. A first baseman last season, Kalman catches and bats cleanup for Hiland, currently supporting a .447 average. Shetler, an outfielder as well as pitcher, is batting .343.

A trio of pitchers has been a major reason for the early-season success, with Hershberger, Shetler and Miller supplying innings on the hill.

“Our starting pitching has been very strong for us,” Dages said. “There are days our starters struggle but then we bring in guys out of the bullpen and they have a strong performance.”

Hershberger and Shetler are the main starters with Miller the key reliever. Kevin Borntrager is another hurler for the Hawks.

“He’s not overpowering but he throws a change, curve and fastball for strikes,” Dages said of Hershberger. “Shetler has been a surprise in the early going, while Miller has been used mainly as a closer.”

As a staff, the third-rated team in the state in Division III has only permitted five earned runs (out of 16 overall) through 13 games.

“That says a lot about our guys,” Dages pointed out. “We preach every day to the pitchers about working ahead and putting the batter in a difficult situation. We’re getting better at that as the season has gone along.”

The Hawks are currently 8-0 in the Inter-Valley Conference, with the lone loss on the season to Richmond Edison, ranked number eight in Division III. The upcoming week is highlighted with a game against St. Vincent St. Marys at Canal Park, home site of this year’s state tournament.

“It’s been mild as far as Ohio springs go,” pointed out Dages, who has been a coach in the program since the 2008 season. “The key for us is keeping our rhythm going and keeping the guys loose.”