Berkeley softball headed for eighth straight region title
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Moncks Corner – Though there is still work to be done, the Berkeley High softball team is ins great position to win an eighth consecutive region championship this spring.
Entering spring break, the Stags are 15-2 overall and 7-0 against region 7-AAAAA competition. They did not allow a run to a region opponent during that impressive stretch.
Berkeley owns a win over Cane Bay, the second-place team in the region, and will hate a rematch after the break.
Coach Kelley Dillon has had very good teams in the past, several that contended for Lower State championships. With the new reclassification of AAAAA schools, Berkeley is slotted for the Division II bracket and will be one of the favorites. But the coach says her team must maintain the proper focus if they hope to do great things.
“If we don’t come ready to play and bring our best ball, and the other team does, we’re not walking out of that game with a win just because Berkeley is across our chest,” Dillon said. “I want us to focus on what we can control and that’s our energy, our effort, and our attitude.”
Pitching is the strength of this year’s team. A threesome led by senior all-stater Reese Watson has yielded very little in the way of runs this spring. Watson serves as the leader for underclassmen Mackenzie Herzog, Macy Bany and Mariah Heath, who also excel inside the circle.
Sarah Curtis and Rileigh Ballentine anchor the team defensively at second base and shortstop, respectively. Curtis hits leadoff in the batting order while Ballentine often its fourth.
The catching position also is strong with returner Brooklyn Moon behind the dish. Heath works a third while Watson and Herzog share the time at first base. Watson also has played second base as well. Others who see time on the infield include Makenzie Berdan, Payton Gamble and catcher Racheal Tumbleston.
Lainey Amaker starts in centerfield with Riley Guerry in right field and Baney in left. Other outfielders include Brooklyn Hill, Camden Valicek and Natalie Floyd.
The baseball Stags are not likely to win a region title this season as coach Landy Cox works through somewhat of a rebuild. Entering spring break, the Stags are 9-7 overall and 5-4 in region 7-AAAAA play. Stratford leads the region at 9-0 and Berkeley will finish the region slate with three games against Stratford and three games against Cane Bay.
Junior Hudson Clark, a third-year starter, is leading the team in hitting with a .380 batting average and 10 runs batted in. Seniors Brady Proctor and Devon Hogue are hitting .324. Proctor has eight RBI while Hogue has 11 RBIs and has been hit by a pitch 11 times.
Infielder Bryce Olheiser is hitting .292 with nine RBIs and third baseman Easton Little is hitting .282 with eight RBIs. Senior outfielder Ryan Richardson sits at .275 with 10 RBIs after 16 games.
Anchoring the pitching staff are juniors Keller Wofford and Gavin Gaskins, who have combined for seven wins. Both also have earned run averages under 2.0 for the season. Richardson also has seen time on the mound, as have Gavin Barb, Hunter Morris and Thomas Montgomery.
