Survive and Advance: Liberty softball coach not thrilled with level of play but accepts regional semifinal victory

By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer | May 21, 2025
Liberty junior second baseman Anna Dietrich watches the flight of a ball she hit during a 14-7 victory over Griggsville-Perry in the Class 1A Barry Western Regional semifinals Tuesday at Western High School. | Shane Hulsey

BARRY, Ill. — Liberty softball coach BJ Fessler remained optimistic while also addressing the elephant in the room in the postgame huddle following a 14-7 victory over Griggsville-Perry in Tuesday’s Class 1A Barry Western Regional semifinal game. The No. 2 seed Eagles did not perform up to their standard. “I wasn’t hard on the girls,”…

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Liberty avoids bad inning to capture first softball regional championship since 2009

By David Adam, MRN Editor | May 20, 2022
The Liberty softball team celebrates after the final out of Friday's Class 1A regional championship game in Camp Point. | David Adam

CAMP POINT, Ill. — B.J. Fessler was prepared for it to happen. The Liberty softball coach had watched, time and time again this season, his team play well but lose games because of one disastrous inning. So when the Eagles took the lead in Friday afternoon’s Class 1A regional championship game with three runs in…

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