2 weeks Ago
Berkeley High School’s softball team is on an impressive winning streak as the season veers into the home stretch, and there hasn’t been much resistance offered up along the way. That changed a little bit Monday, April 21, with a doubleheader against Upstate visitor Clover. Coach Kelley Dillon’s club needed some late-inning theatrics to extend its win streak to 12 games.
Berkeley improved to 18-2 overall with wins of 5-4 and 12-4 against the Blue Eagles. In the opener, the Lady Stags tallied a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings then scored the winner in the bottom of the eighth inning. Dillon appreciated the opportunity to battle to the end.
Senior Lainey Amaker tripled to deep centerfield to start the eighth and slid in with the winner following a passed ball. “It’s the most playoff-like we can get with our kids,” Dillon said. “The deeper we want to make our run, the harder the teams are going to get, the more difficult games are going to be, the more games aren’t going to be blowouts.
We’re going to have to fight for every little thing we get.” The Stags were able to work around four errors that led to two earned run, including one that allowed Clover to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh. Stags shortstop Rileigh Ballentine collected three hits and deposited a solo home run over the fence in the sixth inning to even the score, 3-3.
Amaker was 2-for-3. “I’ve always been a believer you learn more from competitive games or losses than you do a blowout win,” Dillon said. “We’re looking to build our resume against teams who are hot right now: the Fort Dorchesters, the Summervilles, the Clovers.
We have another upstate team coming next week with Byrnes.” In the nightcap, Berkeley only led 6-4 after five innings before breaking it open with four runs in the top of the sixth inning and two in the seventh inning. Stags second baseman Reese Watson went 2-for-4 with three RBIs from the leadoff spot and designated player Mackenzie Herzog collected three hits and scored twice.
Amaker chipped in two hits and scored three times. “One at a time comes into play,” Dillon said. “We’re just focused on one pitch, one good throw, one at-bat, one inning, one game and we can’t get ahead of ourselves.
” Stags pitchers struck out 23 batters in the two games versus Clover, continuing their sparkling performances from inside the circle. During the win streak, Berkeley has posted seven shutouts and allowed just a single run in two other games. “I couldn’t ask any more from our pitchers,” Dillon said.
“They’ve really done a great job. If the bats are going and the pitching is there, we’re a tough team to beat. That’s been our bread and butter, inside the circle.
” Berkeley is at Goose Creek Wednesday, April 23, and hosts Cane Bay Monday, May 28. The Stags finish the regular season Wednesday, May 30 at Stratford..
