MEDFORD – 36-year Medford softball coach Virgil Berndt couldn’t find the words to describe what clinching the program’s first trip back to the WIAA state tournament for the first time since 2006 meant.
For over the past half-decade, he knew they had been ‘so close’ to getting back to Madison, but to finally break through and do it with this group of seniors was ‘extra special.’
“We had a couple opportunities slip away from us and to battle through what they went through this year and play some of the best teams in the state. It’s well deserved for them.” Berndt said. It’s hard to even describe, I guess. 20 years. Like I said, we’ve had good teams, we’ve had teams definitely good enough to get there, but like I’ve always told people, you got to be pretty good, and you got to catch a break or two once in a while, and you got to make it happen. So, I’m just glad that we keep plugging away.’
Berndt has seen it all in his coaching career spanning over three decades with the Raiders, kicking off the program as its first head coach. He led Medford to their first-ever trip to the state tournament in 2003 and then returned in 2006 with his daughter a part of the team, marking 2026 his third trip to state with the program.
He stays in contact with members of that 2006 group and when the Raiders downed Merrill in the sectional final to advance, it was a Medford family affair.
“They are pretty proud of this group and how hard they’ve had to work to get here,” Berndt said. “My daughters were at the game and it was kind of special to have them there, and some of the other 2006 players at the game.
“Some of the aunts and relatives of these girls were on that team too, so it’s kind of special.”
Assistant coach Justin Harabi played a large role in adding mental flexibility exercises to the Raiders regimen this season, as Berndt felt there were games last year where they would face a deficit and weren’t always able to bounce back.
He said it made a difference for all and this season Medford finished with a 27-1 record overall, their only loss coming in a one-point slip to a Division 1 state tournament Stevens Point team on the back of six games in six days.
In terms of the group’s reliance, there was a complete turnaround.
“We had a few moments this year where we could have thrown in the towel, and you know, ended it as a loss, but they didn’t do that this year. It didn’t matter what the situation was, they just kept coming back.
“We can hit top to bottom in our lineup and it’s incredible when your tops are not hitting but your hitters are coming through and getting the big hits and big RBIs. So, I think that’s the biggest thing this year. They just didn’t let anything bother them, they kept fighting, they kept working back.”
Medford’s ace, senior Rylee Hraby was credited as one of the team’s biggest evolutions in the circle for the group that has played together since freshman year. In the sectional final win over Merrill she yielded nine hits, four earned runs and struck out 14 in the circle, then belted a double a across a team-high of two hits.
“When she was a freshman and she pitched with Martha (Miller), we knew she was gonna be pretty good, but she kept working and kept working, and got better,” Benrdt said.“She’s got some incredible numbers in the circle history, but I think one of the biggest improvements, or where she really worked was the mental part of the game. You know, if she doesn’t get a call, or the defense can’t make a specific play, she doesn’t get rattled, and it doesn’t bother her.
“Her mental game is really top notch.”
Berndt said the ladies haven’t felt the pressure this season, but understands the unpredictability of the state tournament.
When the Red Raiders enter the Diamond in Madison against No. 4 Pewaukee on Friday, June 12 at 4:30 p.m. in the Division 2 state semifinal, they’ll be playing for a chance at their first gold ball in Medford history.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Reporter Alfred Smith III at alfred.smith@usatoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AlfredS_III.
This article originally appeared on Marshfield News-Herald: Medford softball breaks through, returns to WIAA state tournament
Reporting by Alfred Smith III, Marshfield News-Herald / Marshfield News-Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alfred Smith III, Marshfield News-Herald | USA TODAY Network
