Northeastern's Kody Reeser picks up player of game award at Big 26 Classic

Kody Reeser left Harrisburg on Saturday night a little sore but better for it. He picked up more interest from colleges for baseball and left the Big 26 Classic with a player-of-the-game honor for Team Pennsylvania.

"The only thing I can say negative about it is we didn't win," said Reeser, who will be a senior this fall at Northeastern. "It was an honor to be a part of it."

Team Maryland swept Pennsylvania in the best-of-three series, winning 10-7 in 11 innings on Friday and 9-1 on Saturday. Reeser pitched a total of three innings in the two games and struck out seven batters. He even had Dallastown's Bryant Holtzapple, the other York County representative, as a catcher for one inning Friday.

Holtzapple, who will be a junior this fall, caught for Reeser as he struck out two of the three batters he faced Friday.

"There was something about York County representing," Reeser said. "It was kind of cool to see York County kids at that stage."

At the plate, Holtzapple had a hit Saturday, while Reeser felt like a bull's-eye on Friday. The Northeastern senior reached base twice but neither came from hits. He was walked and hit by a pitch.

"After pitching, you expect your right shoulder to hurt or elbow to hurt," Reeser said. "Actually my left shoulder hurt because that's where I got plunked."

He said adrenaline took over for his two innings on the mound Saturday, which earned him Team Pennsylvania's player-of-the-game nod. He struck out five of the seven batters he faced in Game 2.

Along with it, Reeser said more college coaches have contacted him in recent days — up to his post-game dinner on Saturday night. That means college visits are ahead for Reeser, who wants to pursue a degree in finance.

He will keep busy. Also a football player at Northeastern, Reeser leaves Friday for a team camp in West Chester.

Contact Matt Goul at 771-2045.