The Byron-Bergen Bees made history on Saturday by capturing the title in the first-ever Byron-Bergen Spring Softball Classic, held on their home field. In a high-scoring championship game, the Bees defeated the Perry Yellow Jackets by a final score of 20–13 to become the tournament’s inaugural champions.
The victory capped off a dominant day for Byron-Bergen, who opened the tournament with a statement win—27–7 over Red Jacket—in the semifinal round. Perry reached the final with a more defensive 4–1 win over Barker, setting up an exciting championship matchup.
In the third-place game, Barker rebounded from its semifinal loss to defeat Red Jacket, 18–1.
The Bees came out swinging in the championship game, exploding for 10 runs in the first inning and never looking back. Byron-Bergen’s offense was relentless throughout the day, combining patience at the plate, aggressive baserunning, and clutch hitting to pile on runs early and often.
Several players shined offensively for Byron-Bergen during the tournament:
Natalie Prinzi was electric at the plate, going 7-for-8 across both games. Her performance included two doubles, a triple, five RBIs, two walks, and six stolen bases.
Janessa Amesbury showcased her speed and plate discipline, finishing 4-for-6 with four RBIs, four walks, and nine stolen bases.
Lily Stalica, who also pitched both games, contributed a strong day at the plate as well, going 3-for-6 with six RBIs, four walks, and two stolen bases.
Lauren Gartz continued the offensive barrage, batting 4-for-8 with a double, eight RBIs, three walks, and five steals.
Ella Lewis added to the Bees’ run production, collecting three hits in six at-bats, including a double and four RBIs.
On the mound, Lily Stalica took the ball for both games and was credited with both wins. She pitched through heavy offensive matchups, striking out four batters, walking six, and giving up 12 earned runs across two games. Her ability to hold opponents in check and bounce back from occasional defensive errors helped preserve Byron-Bergen’s momentum throughout the tournament.
For her all-around performance, Stalica was named the Tournament MVP.
Following the final out, head coach Steve Ball was full of praise for his team’s effort and perseverance:
“I can’t say how proud I am of these girls,” Ball said. “We had a tough game earlier this week against Oakfield, and it would’ve been easy to let that shake our confidence. But they came to practice, worked hard, and the results showed today. This was a full team effort—from offense, to defense, to support on the bench. To come out on top in the first year of our tournament, on our home field, in front of our fans—it’s just really special,” Ball added. “This is something these girls will always remember.”
Coach Ball also complimented the Perry Yellow Jackets for their sportsmanship and effort:
“That Perry team is well-coached and talented. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, even with the big lead. They fought hard and made us earn it.”
Despite weather challenges earlier in the week, the tournament went off smoothly thanks to significant behind-the-scenes efforts. Ball credited the school’s maintenance staff and athletic department for preparing the fields and keeping the schedule on track.
“Big shoutout to the maintenance crew. The weather definitely didn’t make things easy this week, but they worked hard to get the fields ready. I have to thank Robbie Nichols and the Batavia Muckdogs for letting us take their field old tarp, without that tarp this tournament wouldn't have happened today. Also, a thank-you to the coaches and players from Perry, Barker, and Red Jacket for traveling and participating. It means a lot to make this kind of event possible."
