Berkeley High School’s softball team checked off another season goal Wednesday, May 14, in Moncks Corner, moving on in the Class 5A Div. II playoffs.
Berkeley first baseman Mackenzie Berdan laced a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning and Stags pitching limited visiting North Myrtle Beach to just two hits during the Stags’ 2-0 victory in the District 3 championship game. The Region 7-5A champion Stags finished 4-0 in the district tournament without allowing a run.
Coach Kelley Dillon’s club also blanked White Knoll, Chapin and Lucy Beckham. The Stags improved to 26-3.
“We played some tough teams who were playing well at the end of the season,” Dillon said. “I saw a lot of fight from other teams and that helps us build our mental toughness. You’ve got to give it to a tough North Myrtle Beach team. I told my team this is what playoff softball is all about. They’re going to be close. You’re not going to blow out everybody.”
Third baseman Payton Gamble led off the sixth inning by drawing a walk and was lifted for speedy pinch runner Natalie Floyd. Floyd took second on a wild pitch and moved to third base on shortstop Rileigh Ballentine’s bunt single. Following a strikeout for the first out, Berdan made solid contact on the first pitch she saw and sent it to the fence in left centerfield. Floyd and Ballentine scored easily.
Senior Reese Watson, who earned the win with three innings of relief, struck out the side in the top of the seventh to send Berkeley to the Lower State championship series. Watson and starter Mackenzie Herzog combined for 13 strikeouts. Neither allowed a runner past second base.
“When you have pitchers who can hold it down and a defense behind them to take away some hits, you can play more freely,” Dillon said. “We don’t have to press as hard.”
The Stags host District 4 winner St. James or West Florence Monday, May 19, in the first of a 3-game series. Berkeley would also host the third game Friday, May 23, if necessary.
“You don’t get to this point in the season if you’re not a quality team,” Dillon said of Berkeley’s future opponent. “All of us have had to fight. It doesn’t matter who we play. We’re going to have to be ready for a fight.”
The state championship series against the Upper State winner is May 26, 28 and 30.