Berry's home run gives Mooney district title

Cardinals have won 12 of the 13 games since starting the season 4-10.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
STRUTHERS -- Cardinal Mooney High senior Jim Berry doesn't bat ninth in the Cardinals' lineup because he's not a good hitter.
Berry's three-run home run in the fourth inning broke open a tight contest against Brookfield and propelled the Cardinals to an 8-2 victory in the Division III district championship game at Cene Park Wednesday.
The win gave Mooney (16-11) its first district title since 1997.
Berry's blast
"We were waiting for a big hit, and Jim Berry's been huge for us in the nine hole all year," said Mooney's first-year coach, Steve Leslie. "He got a good pitch to hit and hit a home run for us that was the momentum turner."
Berry's blast off Brookfield pitcher Andy Browning capped a four-run fourth inning that began when Joe Irwin opened the inning with a triple down the left-field line.
John Grist then singled to score Irwin and Kyle McCarthy walked before Berry hit a fastball over the left-field wall.
"I'm at the nine spot, and I see a lot of fastballs," Berry said. "I got one and jumped on it and watched it the whole time 'till I saw it go over the wall."
Through the first 31/2 innings, Mooney's Irwin and Browning were locked in a pitchers' duel.
Mooney scored in the first inning when leadoff batter Dan Babyak tripled to right and scored on an error.
Brookfield (11-11) countered with a run in the third after back-to-back singles by Robert Butler and Justin Wellendorf put runners on first and third with one out.
Wellendorf was thrown out trying to steal second by Mooney catcher Brennan Meenachan, but Butler scored when the throw home was not in time.
Mooney tacked on two runs in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded single by Grist and another in the sixth without the benefit of a hit.
"Mooney did a good job," said Brookfield coach Calvin Roby. "They did the right things, and we made some mistakes. If you do that in these types of games, they are going to catch up to you."
Mooney on a roll
Mooney has won 12 of its last 13 games after starting the year 4-10.
"These kids have done everything I've asked of them," Leslie said. "They deserve this, and I'm proud of the job they did this year."
Irwin did an outstanding job on the mound for the Cardinals by keeping Brookfield batters off balance with a nice curveball. He yielded five hits and struck out six in going the distance.
Mooney shortstop Jeff Hehr also had an outstanding game in the field with four putouts and four assists. He also had two hits and scored two runs.