Charlie Berry: A Baseball Story

JENNIFER MOONEYHAM JENNIFER MOONEYHAM

JENNIFER MOONEYHAM

HUBERT WORLEY

BY BRENT HEAVENER

MAIS 2020-21 5A Baseball Coach of the Year

Having Charlie with our team last year was a great experience for all of us. He brought so much joy with him around all the guys and put everyone in the best mood. Watching Charlie walk out to the mound showed how strong he is and helped our team to realize how thankful we were to be playing the game of baseball. CLARK KELLUM

It meant the world to me because Charlie is such a strong kid and having him on our side for a few games put into perspective that there was way more to this team, school, and community than wins and losses. Just seeing a smile on his face was awesome to see. MASON NICHOLS

This year the Prep Baseball Team had a season to remember. They won their 20th State Championship and finished the year with 35 wins and ranked 4th in the nation. There are so many things that go into a great year. One of the things that would make this year memorable was having Charlie Berry throw out the first pitch. He was captain for the day and spent time with the guys. His presence would stick with them for the season. He made such an impact that the team gave him a Championship Gold Medal at the end of the season. Charlie’s love for baseball and time with the team reminded us how lucky we are to play this great game, and we are so blessed to have him a part of our program.

Charlie Berry is an 11-yearold 5th grader attending First Presbyterian Day School. He has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder that attacks the muscles, heart, and lungs. Charlie was diagnosed at the young age of 10 months and has been fiercely fighting the disease since. He travels several times a year to see different doctors with expertise in DMD. He completed a round of infusion therapy in which he had over 100 IV infusions administered in his home every Monday for two years. He is currently enrolled in a clinical trial traveling to and from Atlanta once a month. He is accustomed to a daily routine of a home stretching program, a hefty dose of different medications and supplements, and splints worn nightly.

Aside from the challenges his medical condition creates he is a happy, carefree, rough-and-tumble boy. He has a strong will and finds great joy in creating laughter.

At a young age he was introduced to the sport of baseball by teaming up with his fellow 3-yearold buddies and spending Saturday mornings playing tee ball. As each season passed Charlie’s parents would say just one more time, since his condition had a strict guideline of no contact sports. His love of baseball always won and he had another year playing his beloved sport. His heart is just as content standing in the outfield or hanging in the dugout as the “bat boy” for his favorite teams. Baseball brings him PURE joy and on any given day he will tell you that “one day he wants to play baseball at Prep.”