The recipe for success for the Brookfield High Girls Softball (5-0, 1-0) team is simple. Let their senior ace pitcher Kayla Berardi go out and throw a great game, play solid defense behind her and get timely hitting to score enough runs to win.
Against South-West Conference opponent Masuk (1-4) they did just that, beating the Lady Panthers 3-2 on Thursday night. Berardi led the way once again, pitching a complete game, giving up two un-earned runs and striking out eight. She did show one flaw, walking her first batter of the year.
"Kayla bears down when she has one or two runners on," Brookfield coach Frank Bonacci said of the team's dominant player. "She's a tiger, a bulldog. You've got to give it to her. She's a hard worker. You can't take that away from her."
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The Lady Bobcats gave their pitcher a 2-0 lead in the first when two of their freshman players Ashley Lamparelli and Felicia Lennon each got hits. They were then driven in by sophomore Wendi Westmark.
Brookfield was able to overcome the two unearned runs it surrendered when sophomore Jessie Angelo got on, stole a base and scored on a Masuk error.
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"We have a few hiccups but it hasn't come back to haunt us," the coach said. "When the team makes an error I just tell them to 'forget it, you can't get it back.'"
It was important for the team to get on the scoreboard early and stake Berardi to a lead she could protect. They were playing without their top run producer, another freshman, Danielle Demarco.
"We're playing as a team," Bonacci added. "It's something I have preached to them since day one. We're making plays."
Bonacci will hand the ball to his ace again on Monday when the Lady Bobcats face another SWC foe, Bunnell, at home. Berardi will be given the chance to lead the team to victory in every game that matters as the season goes on.
