'Like she never left': How Iowa Park softball's Callista Berrett has come back strong after injury

There were times early on during Callista Berrett’s rehab that she wondered if she’d return this season.

The diagnosis had been six weeks for a slight tear in her rotator cuff. It was the Iowa Park sophomore’s first big injury she’d suffered, and it took a little while before improvement was noticed.

“But the longer I went, the more it got stronger and the less it hurt,” Berrett said. “So I knew I’d be fine.”

Berrett has been more than fine since returning for the playoffs, leading the Lady Hawks into the regional finals after they finished fourth in district without her. Iowa Park takes on No. 1 Coahoma at 2 p.m. Saturday in Graham to decide the Region I-3A softball title.

Since returning from her injury, Berrett has won all eight playoff starts with a 0.57 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 49 innings.

“It’s pretty much like she never left,” Iowa Park coach Eric Simmons said. “I think she was a little nervous in that first bi-district start against Breckenridge, but once the nerves wore off and she settled in, it’s been the same old Callista.”

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Kinslee Deel filled in admirably while Berrett missed time, and the Lady Hawks even gained some momentum by beating second-place Holliday right before Berrett’s return.

But it’s a little different feeling when you have your ace back.

Ironically enough, it was an injury that thrust Berrett into the limelight last year as a freshman. When Abby Dowell was lost for the year, it was Berrett who stepped up, compiling a 1.96 ERA and striking out 178 in 100 innings.

Simmons said Berrett is tough to hit because she has good speed and movement on her screwball and curveball to go along with a dependable change-up. Berrett likes throwing her curveball the most.

“I have a backdoor curve so I can work it in-to-out if I’m ahead in the count,” she said. “I can throw it almost in the other batter’s box and still get people to swing.”

After squeezing past Breckenridge in a couple of low-scoring bi-district games, the Lady Hawks dominated Wall, swept Jacksboro and then breezed past River Road. Iowa Park has scored double digits in half of its playoff games.

“It’s been so much fun,” Berrett said of the postseason. “No one thought we’d make it this far. Everyone thought we’d be a first-round exit, so we’ve just exceeded expectations.”

The Lady Hawks will have to exceed expectations again if they’re going to make it to state for the third time in four years. Coahoma is the defending Class 3A champion and enters with a 54-game winning streak.

Berrett’s counterpart in the circle is hard-throwing University of Texas commit Hannah Wells (17-0, 0.83 ERA), who is also a menace at the plate with 14 homers and 57 RBIs.

“We’ve been wanting to play them all season, and it’s a huge opportunity for us,” Berrett said. “I know my team is ready. I think all the stress is on them at this point because we have nothing to lose.”

While the Lady Hawks have a couple of girls with regional finals experience, Simmons also has a lot of first-time varsity kids. But he knows his Lady Hawks will be ready.

“We’re not going to be afraid,” Simmons said. “If we’re ahead at the end of the game, that’s great. We’re going to fight and give it our best try.”

Iowa Park Offensive Leaders

Batting average – Raylee Huse .425, Rylan Raschke .351, Bailey Martinez .344, Halli Kennedy .342. Jacie Barnes .304.

Runs – Raylee Huse 48, Jacie Barnes 40, Fairah Pike 29, Ellie Denney 28, Bailey Martinez 28.

Hits – Raylee Huse 54, Halli Kennedy 40, Jacie Barnes 34, Kinslee Deel 32, Bailey Martinez 31.

RBIs – Halli Kennedy 29, Kinslee Deel 28, Bailey Martinez 27, Jacie Barnes 27, Raylee Huse 25.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Callista Berrett's return helps push Iowa Park softball in UIL playoffs