BERRY

From page 7

what he's seen. The coach was the one to offer Berry in the first place and he watched him pitch this season, most recently at Starkville Academy for a playoff game.

Seeing his future pitching coach set up behind home plate was something that Berry took as even more motivation. He ended up throwing a complete-game shutout with just one hit, one walk surrendered and eight strikeouts.

“It gives me a little bit of an edge when I see him back there,” Berry said of Foxhall. “I put on a little show for him. He and coach (Jake Gautreau) and coach (Kyle Cheesebrough), they're good guys. I like their staff a lot. I'm in touch with coach Gautreau and coach Fox a lot.”

Former MSU ALL-SEC shortstop Thomas Berkery had a front row seat for that performance as well as the Starkville Academy head coach watched from the dugout.

Berkery spent time hitting some of the best pitching in the world of baseball during his time in the SEC and in the minor leagues, he's also worked with him since he was 9-years-old. He might not throw a fastball in the mid to high 90s, but he's got intangibles that many players don't have.

“His competitiveness puts him where he is,” Berkery said. “I love the kid and have worked with him a lot of years. Every time you face him you know it's going to be a tough at-bat and the same way when he steps into the box.”

There's still one more season to go for Berry before he comes to Starkville but he's counting down the days for that opportunity.

When he received an offer from the Bulldogs a year ago, it was a day he would never forget. Now he has the opportunity to put that dream into motion in another year.

“It's my dream pretty much,” Berry said of his commitment to MSU. “I've always grown up an Mississippi State fan. I'm ready to get there, but I still have this year and next year to get through. I can't wait.”