Staff Report
There’s a reason the Holy Spirit High softball team has been in the mix for a Cape-Atlantic League National Conference title the last couple of years, and why they’ve been such a tough out in the state playoffs.
The Spartans’ infield is anchored by one of the best shortstops in the league in the form of junior Madison Berry. She’s an outstanding fielder, and as an offensive player, she’s quickly becoming a juggernaut.
Berry hit a cool .500 this season (28-for-56) and she showed some pop, too, as 10 of her hits went for extra bases (8 doubles and 2 HRs). Her speed was on display as she swiped six bases and scored 22 runs, and she also added 22 RBIs. For her career, Berry already has 73 hits, 52 runs scored, 62 RBIs, six home runs, 17 doubles and 18 stolen bases.
And she’s getting it done against some of the best competition on Holy Spirit’s schedule. She went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored against Absegami; went 2-for-2 against Hammonton, added another two hits against Ocean City and went 1-for-2 with an RBI against Egg Harbor Township. There were only three games all season (out of 25) in which she didn’t get a hit, and she’s only been held hitless 15 times in three seasons.
After a good freshman year, Berry has really turned it on the last two seasons, as she’s racked up 59 hits, 37 runs, 50 RBIs and all six of her career dingers. And, interestingly, her walks were cut by more than 50 percent from freshman to junior year, but she hit 150 points higher in her batting average this season — meaning when she sees a pitch in the zone, she’s doing some damage with it more often than not.
Keep an eye on this outstanding infielder next spring!
— Dave O’Sullivan, Staff Writer
