Moncks Corner — Berkeley High School junior pitcher Reese Watson, a commitment to Francis Marion University, recorded 15 strikeouts in the Stags' 1-0 win over visiting Stratford on Tuesday, giving her team a leg up in Region 6-AAAAA with the season winding down.
Berkeley, which improved to 10-5 overall and 3-0 in region play, will play a region game at Cane Bay on Wednesday. Stratford, which fell to 7-6 and 2-2, will next play at Gray Collegiate Academy on Monday.
After playing Cane Bay the Stags will face Hanahan on Thursday and Goose Creek on Friday.
After the big win, Berkeley head coach Kelly Dillon, in her seventh season as the head coach, told High School Sports Report, “Reese had a lot of confidence in her pitches today in the circle, and we played a solid defense behind her. A solid defense allows the pitcher to play a little more relaxed. Reese was really focused tonight and before the game she told me she was having great vibes and that she was ready to go.
“We practice all the time, putting runners on base, so our hitters are at the plate and
understand the importance of clutch hitting. “It is important for our hitters to drive in runs in clutch situations, and (Riley) Guerry delivered for us tonight. We need to learn to get
clutch hits with runners on base.”
Berkeley was led at the plate by junior catcher Guerry, who had two doubles in the
game. In the bottom of the fifth inning , Guerry crushed a one-out double to the fence. Junior shortstop Rileigh Ballentine came up next and ripped a single up the middle to score Guerry from second, and the one run became the final score.
On the season, Watson has now pitched in 52 innings with 95 strikeouts, and she has an earned run average of 1.35.
Other starters for Berkeley included sophomore Saras Curtis, senior centerfielder Savannah Scott, who is headed to College of Charleston, senior Courtlyn Cox who does a good job at second base. junior Lainey Amaker, who is also committed to Francis Marion, Payton Gamble is a talented third basemen with a solid future, and Brianna McMillian serves as the team’s designated hitter most games.
Stratford managed one hit in the game, that coming from second baseman Hannah Miller in the top of the fourth. Lana Joyner reached on an infield error in the sixth but was stranded when the next batter struck out.
The Knights got an excellent pitching performance from senior Lillian Hansen, who has
signed to play at Erskine College. Senior Sidney Williams is committed to play at Columbia
International University, and Miller is committed to Brevard College. Two juniors recently
committed in Gabby Cruz to Coker College and Joyner to Columbia College.
Stratford head coach Madison Ackerman was a star player on the 2017 Stratford
state championship team, and she went on to play four years at Lander University in
Greenwood.
“We knew eventually somebody was going to score because you can’t win a game without scoring at least one run,” said Ackerman. “This was a game for the pitchers for sure.
“While we have a lot of players in different grades on this team, they have all bonded well
together and we have good team chemistry. A lot of our players have been competing in softball since they were seven years old. Before I can even compliment a player for something they did well in the game, our players beat me to the high-fives most of the
time.”
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