Being a three-sport athlete is challenging, but Oak Lawn’s Kaitlyn Berkery keeps a pretty good handle on things, even if it does include having to count up all that hardware.
The upshot of her hard work this school year has been conference titles in both volleyball and basketball, plus a golden opportunity this spring to do the same as a junior pitcher in softball.
How does she enhance the Spartans’ chances to pull off the trifecta?
Just ask junior shortstop Teagan Krzystof.
“She puts a lot on her shoulders,” Krzystof said of Berkery. “She always stays calm.”
That’s in total contrast to the weather this spring, which has been lousy. But when Oak Lawn has been able to take the field, the right-handed Berkery has been rock solid for the Spartans (2-3).
Berkery recorded the pitching win March 19 in a 7-2 victory over Mother McAuley. Eight days later, she picked up a save in a 7-4 win over Marian Catholic. She’s also batting .294 with a triple.
Junior third baseman Danielle Dempsey, another three-sport athlete, credited Berkery’s IQ in the pitcher’s circle as a big reason for Oak Lawn’s success.
“She’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever met, even in basketball,” Dempsey said. “In softball, she always knows what to do and when to do it.”
Oak Lawn’s Kaitlyn Berkery throws a pitch during an indoor practice at Oak Lawn on Thursday, April 4, 2024. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
Shawn Neubauer, in his second year leading the softball program, knew a bit about Berkery coming into the job last spring. He coached her in JV basketball when she was a freshman.
“That’s one of the reasons why I actually took the job when this opened up,” Neubauer said. “I was the freshman baseball coach when this opened up. I knew she was there, Teagan, and some of the other girls I coached in basketball were on the team already. It was a perfect fit.”
So, what’s it going to take to pull off that third South Suburban Red title?
You might be a little surprised at Berkery’s answer because it has very little to do with her.
Oak Lawn’s Kaitlyn Berkery (10) gets ready to swing in an at-bat against Reavis during a South Suburban Red game in Oak Lawn on Monday, May 15, 2023. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
“It’s going to take a whole team effort, obviously, and we have to stay locked in this year and really focused,” she said. “Not looking at every single team in our conference, but as a game comes up, focusing on them.”
Spoken like a leader, one who’s been around the block plenty of times, and not just in softball. She’s an outside hitter in volleyball and a guard/forward in basketball.
Berkery said playing varsity softball as a freshman helped her develop leadership skills across the board. It was also pretty memorable considering she homered in her first varsity game.
“It really helped looking back on my freshman year and thinking of myself and how I would get in my head,” she said. “I try to stay out of my own head and keep my teammates out of their own heads because that can affect the team and the game.”
Oak Lawn’s Kaitlyn Berkery, who has juggled three sports in high school, gets ready for practice at Oak Lawn on Thursday, April 4, 2024. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
What might be difficult to understand is why she participates in three sports instead of focusing on the one she would like to play in college. In the end, it could be softball, but maybe not.
“I’ve been pretty much been playing three sports my whole life,” she said. “I think the friendships and the connections I’ve built here with my coaches and teammates, I don’t think I’d ever quit.
“I just have way too much fun playing the other two.”
If someone wants to be a three-sport athlete, Berkery offered up words of wisdom.
“Don’t stress over one bad practice or one bad play in a game,” she said. “You only have so much time.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
