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Berry notches 500th
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| Crescenta Valley High softball Coach Dan Berry celebrated his 500th win on Friday. (Tammy Abbott/News-Press) |
Softball: Crescenta Valley High coach picks up milestone win against Muir on Friday afternoon.
By Charles Rich
PASADENA — First the members of the Crescenta Valley High softball team showered their veteran coach with a bucket of cold water before unveiling seven artistic signs commemorating his latest milestone.
The messages on the signs were poignant in reference to Coach Dan Berry, who picked up his 500th career coaching victory at Crescenta Valley on Friday after the visiting Falcons posted a 23-1 Pacific League win against Muir.
Berry had an opportunity to reflect on the achievement shortly after the game concluded on his long journey that began in 1983 at the school. He immediately mentioned longtime assistant Coach Mark Elliott, who has been alongside Berry for the past 25 years at Crescenta Valley and L.A. Pierce College.
“He’s the one person that’s been here the whole time,” said Berry, who coached at L.A. Pierce from 1995-97 before returning to Crescenta Valley in 1998. “He’s been the main cog during the whole thing.
“When I first started here, I was hoping not to get fired in the first year.”
The chances of that happening were none after continuously building a league powerhouse and guiding the Falcons to the CIF Southern Section Division 3-A championship in 1986.
The current bunch of Falcons (24-0, 12-0 in league) clinched a share of the league championship Friday, their 18th under Berry’s tutelage and the 20th in the program’s history. They are also ranked No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section Division III poll with one week left in the regular season.
“With this group, they’ve been put into different places and roles,” said Berry, who improved to 500-101 (.830%). “They have done their job, the pieces have fit together and that comes down to them.
“[In winning 500 games,] we see young ladies go through school and grow up as young people.”
Crescenta Valley wasted little time getting to Muir (0-17, 0-12) in a game that was called after the fifth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule.
It scored seven runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run double by left fielder Caitlyn Cox to make it 2-0 and a two-run single by Alyssa Sovereign to extend the lead to 5-0. Cox finished with a team-best five hits and three runs scored.
The Falcons, who collected 26 hits, scored eight runs in the second to make it 15-0.
Junior third baseman Baillie Kirker hit a two-run home run in the fifth to make it 18-1. It was Kirker’s area-leading 14th home run this season. The Arizona-bound Kirker drove in five runs.
Crescenta Valley senior first baseman Ashleigh Viers-Gordillo, the reigning All-Area Player of the Year, said Berry should admire his latest accomplishment.
“To get to 500, he must be doing something right,” said the Boise State University-bound Viers-Gordillo, who had two hits. “We were aware of the 500 wins because he’s been here so long.
“We knew it had to be coming up.”
Senior Crescenta Valley catcher Lainey DePompa, who has missed part of the season because of an injury, agreed with Viers-Gordillo.
“It’s great for him,” said DePompa, who will attend UC Santa Barbara. “He’s put a lot into the program and our field, so I’m glad to see him get it.”
The Falcons will close out the regular season with league home games against Hoover and Arcadia on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
The messages on the signs were poignant in reference to Coach Dan Berry, who picked up his 500th career coaching victory at Crescenta Valley on Friday after the visiting Falcons posted a 23-1 Pacific League win against Muir.
Berry had an opportunity to reflect on the achievement shortly after the game concluded on his long journey that began in 1983 at the school. He immediately mentioned longtime assistant Coach Mark Elliott, who has been alongside Berry for the past 25 years at Crescenta Valley and L.A. Pierce College.
“He’s the one person that’s been here the whole time,” said Berry, who coached at L.A. Pierce from 1995-97 before returning to Crescenta Valley in 1998. “He’s been the main cog during the whole thing.
“When I first started here, I was hoping not to get fired in the first year.”
The chances of that happening were none after continuously building a league powerhouse and guiding the Falcons to the CIF Southern Section Division 3-A championship in 1986.
The current bunch of Falcons (24-0, 12-0 in league) clinched a share of the league championship Friday, their 18th under Berry’s tutelage and the 20th in the program’s history. They are also ranked No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section Division III poll with one week left in the regular season.
“With this group, they’ve been put into different places and roles,” said Berry, who improved to 500-101 (.830%). “They have done their job, the pieces have fit together and that comes down to them.
“[In winning 500 games,] we see young ladies go through school and grow up as young people.”
Crescenta Valley wasted little time getting to Muir (0-17, 0-12) in a game that was called after the fifth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule.
It scored seven runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run double by left fielder Caitlyn Cox to make it 2-0 and a two-run single by Alyssa Sovereign to extend the lead to 5-0. Cox finished with a team-best five hits and three runs scored.
The Falcons, who collected 26 hits, scored eight runs in the second to make it 15-0.
Junior third baseman Baillie Kirker hit a two-run home run in the fifth to make it 18-1. It was Kirker’s area-leading 14th home run this season. The Arizona-bound Kirker drove in five runs.
Crescenta Valley senior first baseman Ashleigh Viers-Gordillo, the reigning All-Area Player of the Year, said Berry should admire his latest accomplishment.
“To get to 500, he must be doing something right,” said the Boise State University-bound Viers-Gordillo, who had two hits. “We were aware of the 500 wins because he’s been here so long.
“We knew it had to be coming up.”
Senior Crescenta Valley catcher Lainey DePompa, who has missed part of the season because of an injury, agreed with Viers-Gordillo.
“It’s great for him,” said DePompa, who will attend UC Santa Barbara. “He’s put a lot into the program and our field, so I’m glad to see him get it.”
The Falcons will close out the regular season with league home games against Hoover and Arcadia on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
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