By Austin Bishop
The Star-Herald
HATTIESBURG —
Scott Berry knew what was on the line when his University of Southern Mississippi baseball team headed to the Conference USA Tournament in Houston nearly two weeks ago.
If the Golden Eagles wanted to make an NCAA Regional for the eighth consecutive year, then they needed to win the tournament.
USM did just that, taking a 7-4 win over Rice in the tourney championship to earn a spot in the field of 64 for a shot at making the College World Series.
On Monday morning the 35-22 Golden Eagles learned they would be headed to Auburn University along with first-round foe Clemson and Jacksonville State. The double-elimination event begins on Friday with USM facing Clemson at 2 p.m., followed by Auburn and Jacksonville State at 6 p.m.
The winner of that regional will then take on the winner of the Atlanta Regional (Georgia Tech, Mercer, Alabama and Elon) in a Super Regional the following weekend.
Berry, the first-year USM head coach who was busy getting his team ready to make the trip to Auburn, took time out on Tuesday morning to talk with Star-Herald sports editor Austin Bishop.
Last season the Golden Eagles advanced to the College World Series for the first time in school history, as legendary baseball coach Corky Palmer concluded his career. This year, Berry begins to write his own pages into the history of USM baseball.
Q: WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS THE TURNING POINT IN THIS SEASON FOR THE GOLDEN EAGLES?
BERRY: I think it was when we came back from the Ole Miss game. At that time we were 18-17 and bordering on having a .500 record. We had one of several heart-to-heart talks. I was at the point where I didn't know what else to do as a coach. Everything we had done in the past was successful and I'm not going to change. Whatever happened, and I don't know what it was, we came out after the Ole Miss game and had a tough practice and got after it. After that, we just started playing better.
Q: HOW DOES LAST YEAR'S RUN TO THE CWS RANK AMONG YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS?
BERRY: It ranks at No. 1 in all honesty, because of the adversity we got through to get there. People don't remember we lost our last five conference series. After we lost (shortstop Brian) Dozier to the injury, it took the wind out of us. When we got in the conference tournament, we approached it as a new season, much like we did this year.
Q; WHAT DOES YOUR BASEBALL TEAM HAVE TO DO IN THIS REGIONAL TO ADVANCE?
BERRY: I think it is going to start on the mound. More importantly, it's starting pitching. That is where we started winning games last year. . I believe our hitting will be there.
Q; HOW DOES LAST YEAR'S RUN HELP YOUR TEAM ACHIEVE THAT
BERRY: The guys who were on last year's team know what has to be done. That stage was set for Rice, much like last year. I thought the experience we had in that run and the pressure games we had to play in, helped us get through it this year.
Q: WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE FOR YOU PERSONALLY FROM LAST YEAR AS AN ASSISTANT TO THIS YEAR AS A HEAD COACH?
BERRY: More than anything, it is giving the responsibility to my assistants to coach, much like what was given to me by coach Palmer. My weakness is I'm a guy who believes if you want it done right, you have to do it yourself. I've learned to give others responsibilities and then trust them to get it done.
Q: WHEN YOU FIRST MOVED FROM MISSOURI TO MISSISSIPPI IN 1990 TO BE AN ASSISTANT AT MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLGE, DID YOU EVER IMAGINE YOU WOULD STILL BE HERE?
BERRY: The longer I stayed in Mississippi, the more I wanted to make this place home. I enjoy the people of Mississippi. There is not a better value system to be found. It's a great place to live, coach and raise a family.
Q: HOW DO YOU VIEW YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FORMER USM COACH CORKY PALMER.
BERRY: We are more like brothers than anything else. He is a guy who brought me in (as an assistant at MCC) and trusted me without even knowing me. We have built quite a relationship over 19 years, 15 of which we have coached together. It's a relationship I cherish.
