BHS Athlete Profile: Small in Stature, Big in Heart, Berardi Rose to the Top

Even the biggest of kids can feel small as they begin their freshman year at high school.  For those like Kayla Berardi who don't have size to help them, the feeling can be overwhelming.  But Berardi never let her size stop her from making a big impact in the classroom or on the playing field in her four years of high school.

Berardi, who entered high school the same size as she leaves it according to her softball coach Frank Bonacci, proved the old saying is true.  It's not the size of the package but what's inside it that matters.  And inside Berardi is a big heart filled with competitive fire and a desire to succeed.

As a freshman Berardi showed potential as an athlete right away, making varsity in both field hockey and softball.  Four years later as a senior, Berardi produced one of the most dominating seasons in the history of Brookfield sports.  Being handed the ball in every game for the Lady Bobcat softball team, Berardi went 22-3, delivering a season for the record books.

Berardi was part of a group of seniors that grew together over four years, building the program up to its most successful point this past season.  Although she was given the responsibility of being the ace on a team that went 18-1 in the regular season and ultimately earned a number three seed in the Class L State Tournament, Berardi consistently heaped praise on her teammates during her stellar season.

"I had a good group of teammates," Berardi said, stating that it was the team's unity that helped them to have the season they had.  "We were very bonded, very close as a team."

In her freshman and sophomore season, Berardi was part of a pitching rotation.  By her junior year, the rotation was trimmed down to just her and teammate Stephanie Moss.  The two split time between first base and the mound.  By the mid-point of her junior year, head coach Bonacci began to think the team would be best suited with each player taking on a more defined role.

"I started her as a freshman because she had potential and determination," Bonacci said of Berardi when she first made varsity.  "She progressed each year.  I felt confident she could handle the day in, day out workload.  She never got tired, has a great work ethic.  She always wanted to pitch."

Moss is a power hitter who was better suited to take on the everyday role of being the first baseman than the smaller Berardi.  Bonacci weighed his options and made his decision.

"I decided to put all my eggs in one basket with Kayla," he said adding that the decision was made easier by Moss, who fully understood his choice.  "There was something about Kayla that said 'go this way.'"

Berardi wasted no time in proving that the coach had made the right decision, recording back-to-back shutouts to open the season and recording four in the first seven games.

"I was ready for it," Berardi said of taking on the challenge of taking the ball every game during the season.  "We had a great group of seniors who all took on their roles.  We wanted to lead the team."

By the end of the season Berardi had established herself as one of the top power pitchers in the state by striking out 215 batters.  She wound up throwing 13 shutouts, three of which were no-hitters and one that was a perfect game.

"It was rewarding to see her go out there and do it," Bonacci said of his player coming through for him and the team.  "Do it for the team, that was her main focus.  She did what she had to, the seniors picked each other up all year."

While picking each other up all season long, the seniors also took on leadership roles to help the underclassmen that made big contributions to the team's success.

"I talked to the freshman, I knew how they felt. I wanted to help them, show them what to expect," Berardi said of how she tried to be a team leader.  "They need to stay close as a team, work hard in the off-season and prepare for whatever happens," she added.

While Berardi racked up incredible individual accomplishments that led to her being named to the All-SWC Team for the second consecutive season and making the 28^th Annual CHSCA Senior All-Star Game, her thoughts remained on the team's successful season.  The Lady Bobcats suffered two difficult semi-final losses in both the SWC and State Playoffs, but that didn't diminish her pride in what they did together.

"I'm proud of the team," she said.  "We were always underestimated.  We proved this year that we could play with the best teams."

The field hockey team didn't enjoy quite the successful run the softball team did, but Berardi continued her play as a top center midfielder in the SWC.  She earned her second All-SWC award as a senior tri-captain for the team.

Her accomplishments in both sports led to her being ranked 22^nd on the News Times Top 25 area athletes of 2010.

Her most impressive accomplishment however was that of being named Senior Scholar Athlete of Year.  Staying focused on her grades has always been her top priority.

"I would get home before practice to do my homework," she said of how she balanced sports with schoolwork.  "I made sure I always had time, never rushed."

Succeeding in the classroom as she has done on the playing field has earned her a scholarship to Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.  Berardi will continue to play softball in college while she majors in cyber security.

"She's going to college for college, for academics not for softball," Bonacci said of the player he had the pleasure of coaching for four years.  "She has set herself up for life."

Berardi will bring with her to college the things she learned as an athlete: patience, talking to others when she is struggling and always bettering herself as a person.

As for any would-be cyber hacker out there, if you find yourself being stared down by Berardi, be prepared to feel the heat. 

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