Berman, to the 9th Power, Has a Field Day

NEWBURY PARK — Amy Berman of Newbury Park High was all over the field Wednesday night in the Ventura County senior all-star softball game. Even in the opposition’s dugout.

In nine innings Berman, the golden glove of the Marmonte League who made only one error in 103 chances at shortstop, played all nine positions and reached base four times to lead the White to an 8-2 victory over the Blue in front of about 200 at Borchard Park.

White team Coach Mike Morgan of Newbury Park took advantage of free substitutions and carried it to the extreme. In the middle of one inning, Berman and Kristi Fox of Newbury Park switched infield positions.

After several substitutions only three innings into the game, Morgan confessed his madness: “Hey, we’re trying to keep everyone happy and still win the game.”

Although she played the first two innings at shortstop, Berman played at least one out at each of the other eight positions, including pitcher in the final inning. Believe it or not, she even sat on the bench for one inning.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Berman, who had two hits and has signed with NCAA Division I Nicholls State in Louisiana.

Midway through the game, Berman sneaked into the opposition’s dugout to borrow a bat from Sarah DeWoody of Camarillo. DeWoody, who was catching at the time, pleaded good-naturedly with the umpire to stop Berman.

The White team had its way with three Blue team pitchers, collecting 12 hits off Melanie Richardson of Camarillo, Kaylene Boldroff of Oak Park and Kelly DeArman of Westlake.

Most impressive at the plate were Karen Breshears of Cornerstone Christian and Robyn Reida of Buena, who will be teammates at the University of Toledo. Each went three for five.

The Blue team managed only five hits off Fox, Kaelynn Jones of Royal, Jennifer Baltruzak of La Reina and Berman.

The White team scored three runs in the fourth on one hit, three walks and two errors to claim a 4-0 lead. In the seventh, the White added four runs on four hits, including a two-run single by Emily Webster of Newbury Park.