Skip to content
Home
>
Sports
>
Heartbreak in Hattiesburg: Southern...

Heartbreak in Hattiesburg: Southern Miss falls one win short of a trip to Omaha

By: Frank Corder - June 13, 2023

Southern Mississippi baseball coach Scott Berry center, hugs his wife Laura Berry, left, and kisses his daughter Kitty Berry, following his team's 5-0 loss to Tennessee during an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game Monday, June 12, 2023, in Hattiesburg, Miss. Berry had previously announced his retirement at the conclusion of the season. Tennessee advances to the College World Series. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

It was the final game for retiring Head Coach Scott Berry, the all-time winningest coach in Southern Miss Baseball history.

The love Scott Berry has for Southern Miss Baseball was palpable Monday night as he tipped his cap towards a sea of Golden Eagles fans who rose to their feet to honor the man that led their team to new heights over the past 14 seasons.

Berry announced earlier this season that he would be retiring at the end of the year. Unfortunately for him and his Golden Eagles team, the season ended one win short of a trip to Omaha as USM lost Game 3 in the Hattiesburg Super Regional versus Tennessee late Monday night.

However, while the heartbreak in Hattiesburg could be felt across Mississippi, there is no denying the impact the USM skipper has had on the game. Berry finishes his run as the Southern Miss Head Coach with seven straight 40-win seasons and a 528-276-1 record. He is the all-time winningest coach in Southern Miss baseball history. And perhaps what is most telling of Berry, to a person, he has always been a class act on and off the field.

This 2023 Golden Eagles squad finished the season with an overall record of 46-20. It is the second-straight year the team has reached and hosted a super regional, and the seventh-straight year for Southern Miss to reach the NCAA Tournament. The team also won the Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament.

Southern Miss Associate Head Coach and Pitching Coach Christian Ostrander has been named the next USM Head Baseball Coach.

The 5-0 loss by Southern Miss on Monday sends the Tennessee Volunteers on to Omaha for the College World Series where they are set to face LSU this weekend.

About the Author(s)
author profile image

Frank Corder

For nearly two decades, Frank Corder has reported and offered analysis on government, public policy, elections, business and matters of faith. He is the Editor for Magnolia Tribune where he oversees the day-to-day content development. Frank’s interviews, articles, and columns have been syndicated throughout Mississippi as well as in various national publications. His resume includes appearances on the BBC, CBS News, ABC News, and Fox News, among others. Frank is a frequent analyst on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State and beyond. During his career, Frank has interviewed government officials and candidates from City Halls to the White House, including Presidential candidates, White House officials, U.S. Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet Secretaries, and Governors. He previously hosted his own local radio and television programs and has managed private businesses in the financial, hospitality, and retail sectors. Frank has served his community as an elected City Councilman and as an Assistant/Acting City Manager. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he led the effort to plan Pascagoula's recovery and rebuilding which earned him recognition as Mississippi's Volunteer of the Year. Frank also led Pascagoula's municipal government out of a $14.5 million deficit, which the Mississippi State Auditor heralded as a model for other communities facing dire financial straits. As the president of the Pascagoula High School Quarterback Club, Frank has self-published "The Book of Pascagoula Football." He has been married for over 25 years and has two children, both of whom work in public education. Email Frank: frank@magnoliatribune.com