Berg Wins Gold in Pan-Am Maccabi Games

By: Zach Seidel

McDonogh junior Stacy Berg recently returned from Argentina with a gold medal. The Jewish softball player participated on the victorious American team in the Pan-Am Maccabi Games in Buenos Aires over the holiday break.

She was the youngest member of the 14-player American team. The United States brought players ages 16-25 from all across the country to compete in the tournament in Argentina. Berg played in three of the five games as a catcher and outfielder.

“She’s a great player,” said U.S. assistant coach Lew Strudler. “She did a great job for us in a couple of spots. Stacy is very good.”

The team's success is even more impressive considering how little workout time they had. The Americans began to practice in Miami a few days before leaving for Buenos Aires, and practiced some more upon their Dec. 23 arrival, including a game against the Argentinean national team, a different team from the one that was in the tournament.

They lost their first game to the Israelis, but proceeded to win four in a row, including a 6-0 win over Argentina in the Dec. 31 final.

That night the team went out to dinner to celebrate their victory and received their medals the next day in an Olympic-style ceremony that Strudler said was very emotional.

The Pan-Am Maccabi Games are held every four years in South America. The Maccabiah Games take place in Israel every four years.