Berry softball wins Metro South Tournament

The Berry Middle School girls softball team won its first-ever Metro South Tournament title, defeating Bragg Middle School, 6-5, in extra innings in the championship game of the tournament at Spain Park High School on April 9. 

The No. 4 seed Jaguars defeated No. 5 seed Bumpus Middle School, top-seeded Hewitt-Trussville Middle School, and Bragg, the No. 2 seed and defending Metro South champions, on the way to the championship. In the championship game, Berry jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but Bragg cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the sixth, and tied the game in the seventh, forcing extras. In the top of the eighth, Bragg scored a run to take a 5-4 lead. Berry tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a wild pitch and Mackenzie Thompson hit a walk-off double with runners on second and third to win the game. 

Seventh-grader Annabelle Widra pitched every inning for the Jaguars during the tournament, giving up just 14 hits, three earned runs, and one walk while striking out 30 hitters in 21 innings. She finished with a 4-0 record for the tournament.  Eighth-grader Lindsay Parker led Berry offensively, hitting for a .728 average (8-for-11) with a double, five runs scored, and four runs batted in. Parker and Widra were also named to the All-Metro South Conference team.  

Berry finished 23-5 on the season, including an 8-3 record in conference play.

The other members of the Berry softball team are Alexis Anderson, Jillian Crick, Taylor Harrington, Caroline Keith, Kaitlyn Lopes, Martha Grace Maddox, Imani Rogers, Kate Thompson, and Leanna Todd. The Jaguars are coached by Chris Carey and Allyson Ritenour.

- Submitted by Lee Parker