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The Villages
Thursday, March 28, 2024

SAL’S SENIOR SOFTBALL SPOTLIGHT

The Villages-News.Com is proud to present its first “Senior Softball Spotlight” feature.  This Division Four outfielder and first baseman holds the division record for most hits and triples.  He ranks third in batting average and sacrifice flies; fifth in extra base hits; seventh in doubles and walks; and thirteenth in games played, at bats, and home runs.   He was the first player in Division Four to reach 1,000 career hits. And there’s a lot more.  He has won the batting title twice; holds the division record in hits for a season (76, fall ’08); has led the division in triples seven times; in hits four times; in sac flies twice; in runs scored, RBIs, home runs, and walks once.

Our feature player grew up in a small town in Missouri – Des Arc. There are about the same number of people in Divsion Four as there were in his hometown- about 300.  He  spent forty years as a teacher, coach, principal, school superintendent. Graduating from Flat River Junior College where he played basketball (clue-he’s tall),  Southeast Missouri State University, University of Missouri  and the University of Mississippi, he taught physical education in Cape Girardeau, Missouri for five years; served as the elementary schoolprincipal and superintendent at Scott City, Missouri for twenty-nine years; and school principal and superintendent in Southern Illinois for six years.

He and his wife Mary moved into The Village of Poinciana nine years ago from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past August. They have one son,  Brad who lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Lisa, and three sons – 10-year-old Aidan, 8-year-old Owen, and 6-year-old Beck.

When not playing softball, he enjoys genealogy, travel, and watching college basketball games.

Something on your bucket list?

“To see my grandsons play high school and college sports” is a bucket list item.

“Softball in The Villages  has been very important to me because of all the friends I have made through softball.  I don’t think one could find a better group, for lasting friendships!”  Says our Mr. Spotlight.

The Villages-News.com is proud to present: Doug Berry!

Thanks to Joe “Statman” Sanchez for statistics and Steve “Gatorman” Gustafson for photos.

Doug_Barry_collage

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