Freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Berkery was eager and ready for the challenge when Oak Lawn coach Pat Probst told her she made the varsity.
The next revelation was a bit more intimidating.
“He asked me if I was ready to pitch the first game,” Berkery said. “I was like, ‘Yeaaah.’ I had some nerves.
“Then he just threw me out there and I pitched.”
The right-hander showed the moxie of a senior Tuesday during a 12-7 nonconference victory over Tinley Park.
Ruby Amigon had three hits and two RBIs for host Oak Lawn (2-1). Samantha Labuda added two hits and three RBIs.
Triniti Woolfolk tripled and homered for Tinley Park (1-1). Megan Piotrowski contributed two doubles and three RBIs.
Berkery was brilliant in the circle for Oak Lawn over the final four innings, allowing just two hits.
The fantastic finish came after the Titans roughed her up in the first three innings for seven runs.
“I put a lot of the pressure on myself,” Berkery said. “I just wanted to go out there and get it back. I didn’t want to let my team down.”
Berkery shut the door on the Titans after allowing a game-tying solo home run to Woolfolk with two outs in the bottom of the third.
After that, she allowed just three balls to be hit out of the infield. The Spartans played an errorless game behind her.
“I love ’em,” Berkery said. “I know when a ball is hit, they’re going to make the play.”
The best was made at first base by Amigon, who speared a ferocious line drive by Piotrowski.
“It hurt,” Amigon said, laughing. “I caught it in the palm of my hand, so it really stung, especially since it was cold.”
For the most part, though, it was Berkery who put the chill on the Titans’ bats.
“Her composure is definitely impressive,” Amigon said. “You can tell she’s had a lot of experience on other travel teams.
“You’d never know she was a freshman. Just the way she fit in with the team, she was never shy or anything like that. It’s really great to see.”
Berkery honed her pitching skills with the Chicago Ridge Rebels. She opened the 2020 summer season with a perfect game.
“I struggled my first year with travel pitching,” Berkery said. “But that next summer, I had kind of a breakout season.”
Probst saw the confidence and didn’t hesitate to give her the ball.
“I could tell she had a bulldog mentality,” Probst said. “Emotionally, she’s like a robot out there. She could easily handle the pressure, no matter what.
“She doesn’t get rattled or frazzled. And she’s got the ability. She’s a good pitcher. When she’s in her zone, she’s tough. And she’s only going to get stronger and better.”
Just as good? Labuda, a senior, reached base four times, driving in runs with a double and a single.
“The past three games, she has been hitting the ball hard,” Probst said. “Her defense is improving. She had a couple of scoops out of the dirt that were huge. And that line drive, if she doesn’t make the play, it’s probably a double.
“She had a senior in front of her who was a three-year starter for us at first base. She’s putting in the work. She’s putting in the effort. She’s trying to fine-tune her skills every day of the week. This is her season to shine.”
Woolfolk, a junior, had two power swings for the Titans, hitting one ball off the fence in right field and another over the fence in right-center.
“She always says hitting is her job,” Tinley Park coach Annalisse Scott said. “When she hit the home run, that’s what she said. She’s great. She’s a power hitter who waits for her pitch. We’re excited about her.”
