Seven Berkeley High School softball teams in a row have proven to be the best in their respective regions.
The Stags locked in their latest crown with a 13-3 victory at Stratford High School Monday, April 22, in a Region 6-5A clash. Berkeley improved to 7-0 in league games with the win, while Stratford dropped to 5-2.
Asked if winning region ever gets old or just ho-hum, Stags coach Kelly Dillon said definitely not.
“The only way we build on tradition and get every team excited to come in here and keep it going is by continuing to celebrate,” Dillon said. “We want to win it undefeated and push and push and push. It’s exciting. I’m very proud of the girls. Stratford is a very good team. Last year, they took a game from us over here.”
Berkeley pitcher Reese Watson earned a proverbial game ball, powering Dillon’s bunch from inside the circle and at the dish. Supporting herself, Watson went 5-for-5 and scored four runs from the second spot in the order. She also hurled seven innings of six-hit ball with seven strikeouts.
Stags leadoff hitter Savannah Scott, an outfielder, and third baseman Payton Gamble collected three hits apiece. Scott drove in two runs with an inside-the-park homer, and Gamble plated three runs from the third spot in the lineup. Catcher Riley Guerry added two hits, and Brooklyn Moon contributed two RBIs.
Outfielder Layla Joyner, the leadoff hitter, was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and pitcher Lillian Hansen drove in two runs for Stratford.
Berkeley had dropped two straight before overpowering Stratford with 16 hits. This encounter contrasted with the previous matchup, in which the Stags won 1-0 in Moncks Corner.
“We’ve had to find some consistency,” Dillon said. “We’re having to build on that, and it’s ever-changing. This past week, we had a tough loss against Lexington. I told the girls that was an inconsistent moment. We didn’t show up. We weren’t excited to play. Then, we turned around and played a very competitive game with Gray Collegiate. Tonight, we came here and had 16 hits in a place we lost last year. We need to build on consistent moments to be the team we want to be that brings all aspects of the game.”
Berkeley and Stratford kick off the Class 5A playoffs Wednesday, May 1, and the Stags have home-field advantage.
“Any time you can play at home with your routine in front of your fans, that gives you an advantage,” Dillon said. “I’m excited for the girls to have that.”
On Tuesday, April 23, the Stags improved to 14-7 overall with a 2-0 victory over visiting Oceanside Collegiate. Stags pitcher Mariah Heath fanned eight batters and surrendered one hit.
Scott was 3-for-3 with an RBI triple. Watson knocked in the other run for Berkeley.
