Berkley Softball Drops Doubleheader to Groves

BERKLEY – The Berkley varsity softball team just couldn’t keep Groves off the bases on Thursday.

The Bears scored 15 runs in a doubleheader, but that wasn’t enough for even one win against their Oakland Activities Association rival. Berkley was outscored 32-15 and swept in a doubleheader, losing the first game 15-8 and losing 17-7 in five innings during the second game.

“We scored enough runs to win both of the games instead the scores look like a football game,” Berkley head coach Ken DePerro said.

Groves pitcher Keely Nowland picked up wins in both games and leftfielder Michelle Freedman was nearly perfect in the doubleheader, going eight for nine with seven RBIs. As a team, Groves hitters combined for 31 hits and 11 walks against Berkley.

“Boy, it was one through nine today,” Groves coach Ryan Minarik said. “Our three through six (hitters) are all batting over .400, it’s just that bottom group that really came alive.”

And the lineup came alive early in both games. It was a seven-run second inning in the first game and a 10-run first inning in the second game that had Berkley fighting to stay alive. In both of the Falcons big innings, fielding errors extended their time on the field.

“Our pitching isn’t as bad as the scores indicate,” DePerro said. “We have to give our pitchers more support defensively and when we’ve done that, we play very well. If we give the other team five or six outs, they score runs.”

Berkley committed numerous throwing errors, fielding gaffes and drops in both games. DePerro said a lack of game experience is a disadvantage that the Bears will have to battle throughout the season. 

“At one point today we had four freshman, two sophomore and only one senior on the field,” he said. “Our players need to play more.”

In the first game, the Falcons had a 9-1 lead going into the bottom of the fourth and Berkley stormed back with a five-run fourth inning. Starting pitcher Jessica Steele helped out her own cause by hitting a base-clearing triple to make the game 9-6.

Steele couldn’t figure out the Falcons lineup, though, and allowed two runs in the fifth, a run in the sixth and three more in the seventh.

Berkley had another shot at coming back in the bottom of the sixth, but the rally was cut short by a questionable call by the home plate umpire. Berkley had the bases loaded with freshman Mackenzie Lamb at bat. She hit a ground ball to Groves third baseman Mamie Talty. Talty went home with the ball to try and get the force out.

Catcher Zoe Schmerin dropped the ball but the umpire called the runner out. DePerro ran towards the mound arguing that Schmerin never had possession of the baseball.

“I understand the exchange rule, you only have to have possession to get a force out,” he said. “But that’s not what happened. That’s what he called and there’s nothing you can do to change it.”

In the second game, Berkley put up five runs in the top of the first. Its only lead of the day didn’t last long though.

During the second game, Bears starting pitcher Allison Soboleski only recorded two outs for Berkley in the bottom of the first and had to face 15 batters. The Falcons drew six walks in the inning along with six hits.

“I think that demoralized them a little, when you give up a 10-run inning that’s tough,” Mirarik said.

Berkley has a busy week next with five games. They have two more doubleheaders on the schedule, one against Stoney Creek at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and then against Avondale at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday.