Kelly Dillon gathered Berkeley High School’s softball players around her and revealed an empty notepad after the Stags’ 12-0 win at Wando High School Thursday, March 21, in a Region 6-5A clash.
The Stags’ softball coach couldn’t find one reason to jot down anything she needed to bring up in the postgame talk. Berkeley essentially played a perfect game in Mount Pleasant that night. The win moved the Stags to 2-0 against league foes, and they aim to win their league for the eighth straight season.
Dillon said the Stags turned in their best performance of the spring.
“Wando has been playing good ball and has had our number the last couple of years,” Dillon said. “They’ve been creeping up on us. This team went in and took care of business.”
Berkeley pounded out 14 hits and ended the game in five innings. The Stags plated three runs in the top of the first inning and four more in the top of the second to take control and coast home with a win via the mercy rule.
Junior pitcher Reese Watson, a returning all-state player for the Stags, went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Freshman third baseman Payton Gamble was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI. Senior second baseman Courtlyn Cox and junior catcher Riley Guerry chipped in two hits each, with Cox driving in two runs. Leadoff hitter Savannah Scott and right fielder Sara Curtis each scored two runs and drove in a run.
Inside the circle, Watson fanned 11 batters and allowed just one hit.
“That was the first win (this season) I didn’t have a lot of critiques after the game was over,” Dillon said. The girls were so excited I could come in there and just say, ‘Y’all are awesome.’ If we can play like this consistently, we’re going to be hard to beat, and we’re going to be happy with where we end up and what we accomplish.”
The Stags opened the region slate Monday, March 18, with a 13-1 win over Goose Creek.
A region contest at home versus Stratford March 27 was postponed to April 9 due to unplayable field conditions. Berkeley completes the first rotation through region play the next night at Cane Bay.
“This team is jelling, playing well together,” Dillon said. “A lot of things are possible when your kids are ready to commit and step up to the challenge.”
