Get on board with Extra Inning Softball’s regular feature, The Last Inning!
We are scouring the Internet and Social Media and keeping our ears to the street for the latest going on in the softball community.
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Here’s our TLI for Wednesday, Feb. 23:
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TEAM PROFILE: ATHLETICS MERCADO 2026-BERNI
Jason Berni’s Athletics Mercado team won two out of three games against OC Batbusters 08-Hudon to win the Tier 1 Alliance 12U national title last year.
Athletics Mercado 2026-Berni is a first-year 14U team this season and recently won a PCFL Qualifier to earn a Tier 1 spot in the 14U division of Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series 2 this summer in Viera, FL.
Coach Berni talked about his team to Extra Inning Softball recently…
TEAM PROFILE Q&A
When did the team/program start and how/why did it come to be?
Mike Clark and I started our team in August of 2017 (first-year 10U) with two girls. At the time, I called Dave (Mercado) and told him that my kid was ready to play travel and asked him who was coaching the 08s. He said, “You are.” I had no intention to coach, but I agreed to do it.
Where are you based? Where do your athletes come from?
We are located out of the Murrieta, CA, area but our players come from San Diego to LA to Las Vegas. Our parents sacrifice a ton to get our girls to practice. Not to mention the sacrifice that our girls make spending hours of their weekends in cars.
What was the purpose of creating the team?
The purpose of our team is clear and never changes. We seek to use softball to develop strong young women who will be leaders in their communities when they grow up. The wins, loses, titles, etc. will take care of itself.
What have been some of your successes in terms of winning or placing at events?
We had a good year last year winning the Ronald McDonald Tournament in Texas and The Alliance National Championship. This is all great, but at the end of the day it is behind us. The true fun is in working to be at our best day-by-day.
What makes the organization unique?
Our organization is still relatively new when compared to the other top organizations around the country. What makes our organization unique is the amount of success that we have had in a short amount of time. I had the opportunity to be part of the first team back when the Gamers Academy first started, so it is really cool to see how far it has come.
What’s your softball background and how did you get to the point of leading the team?
Actually, my background is in baseball. I played four years at Long Beach State under legendary coach Dave Snow and I’m currently the head baseball coach at the high school I teach at. There are many similarities, yet I am always looking at that things that cross over as well as learning how the two games are different.
How many teams are there in the organization overall?
I have no idea! I do know that our (Athletics Mercado) organization has grown over that past five years that I have been involved. My time is spent focusing on developing our girls as well as the few teams that we practice with from time to time.
Has there been a key moment or defining experience in the team’s history?
A key moment for our team is winning the Alliance National Championship. We played 14 games in 6 days. Our girls showed how mentally tough they are. This is something no one can ever take from them.
What is your primary focus or goal with this team?
Our focus is making the little things, big things. These are the things that 99 percent of the people attending games never recognize. Everyone sees the big game-winning hit, but overlook the girl wearing a dose and reading the ball in the dirt that got her in scoring position. Little things are big things.
What do you think are the strengths of the team?
Our team gets along well with each other. So much so that they are constantly giving each other crap. This is impressive since we don’t even have two girls from the same city. You see this looseness in their play. We also have amazing parents. They trust our staff and allow us to do our jobs. I’ve never seen a team this young without any parent issues.
If there is one thing you would say that separates you from other club programs, what would it be?
Our team has two former D1 players who played in the College World Series and another coach who has a daughter who already played at the D1 level. You cannot simulate this type of experience. Our girls work daily to prepare not just to be good now, but to work towards learning what will be expected of them as they continue in their journey.
Anything else interesting or fun about your team?
Our girls know how to and love playing pepper. Coaches teach your players how to play. Too many girls nowadays are robots and never do anything softball related WITHOUT structure.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
*** Scroll down to check out the player bios on the powerhouse A’s – Mercado/Merni team plus top underclass performers and more commits.
