Going into Wednesday night, Crosscutter bats have hit, slapped and knocked to three straight games of 10 runs or more scored, a mark that had occurred just once in the first 14 games of the campaign.

And while a few different headliners like the local power hitting Maddix Dalena, a Montoursville graduate, or stock surging middle infielder Kyle Schupmann have drawn deserved plaudits for their production, another fellow middle infielder has also quietly plugged his way into a stellar summer.

A day-to-day starter since his inclusion on the roster, shortstop Brodey Acres has turned his summer in the MLB Draft League from a solid solid-and-play infielder to an irreplaceable member of a Crosscutter team vying to take the first-half crown.

A native of Sylvania, Ohio, the 5-foot, 10-inch infielder came to Williamsport following a stellar four-year career with Walsh University, a program that competes at the Division II level. With the Cavaliers, Acres would start all 194 appearances putting together a career .348 average while setting career program records in at-bats (758,) hits (264,) runs scored (178,) runs batted in (170,) doubles (62,) and stolen bases (48.) The stats would be backed up with accolades, as the shortstop captured all GMAC honors in his freshman, sophomore, and senior year while benign named GMAC Player of the Year in 2026.

Brody Acres of the Crosscutters runs to first on a single against State College at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

As the face of the program, the Cavaliers would clinch back to back GMAC South Division titles in 2025 and 2026, setting the stage for four GMAC Tournament appearances including an upset win over Ashland in 2023.

With the exception of a miniature three-game stint after his freshman year, the Ohio native has managed to translate that production into his Summer League seasons. Before Williamsport, Acres spent the previous two years with the Kalamazoo Growlers of the much acclaimed Northwoods League. Finishing with a 2024 League title and an above .500 record in 2025, Acres compiled 118 appearances with the Growlers netting a .295 batting average with 89 walks, 85 runs batted in, 12 doubles, 42 stolen bases, and five home runs.

And after a somewhat slow start with Williamsport in an MLB Draft League, the cornerstone infielder has adjusted against some of the toughest talent faced. Over the last five games, Acres has gone a team best eight for 18 at the plate with six runs batted in, a triple, a first home run of the summer, and seven total runs scored for a 1.222 OPS that paces the team.

With the uptick in production, the middle infielder has put together a first half season that has seen Acres bat .302 with 12 runs batted in, 12 runs scored, and four extra base hits with 9 bases stolen.

Batting in the top half of the lineup in each of the last three games, Acres snagged six hits in the span that saw the Crosscutters found double figures in runs, further emphasizing the rising stock of Williamsport’s shortstop.

Brody Acres of the Crosscutters is safe at second base as Trent Turner of State College tries to make the play during the second inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Acres, along with Williamsport, find themselves in a title race with just a week and a half left of the first-half standings. Standing two games behind the Trenton Thunder for first place, the Crosscutters host the State College Spikes before staying home for a three game slate against the Aberdeen Ironbirds. From there, Williamsport will look for redemption against the West Virginia Black Bears before a four game split series against State College concludes the first half in early July.