Dec. 10, 2007

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Jason Berry, a former USC Upstate infielder that earned two letters in 1999 and 2001, has been named a volunteer assistant with the USC Upstate baseball program, head coach Matt Fincher announced Monday.

Berry comes to USC Upstate after running his own baseball clinic in Gaffney, S.C., for the past three years, where he gives one-on-one instruction in all aspects of the game. He also coached the Carolina Tribe, a United States Specialty Sports Association travel team, for the past four seasons, leading the 12-and-under team to the USSSA World Series in 2006.

He is also a physical therapist assistant for Physical Therapy, Inc., where he has worked for the past three years. Berry began his career in strength training while at Limestone College, where he was the school's Strength Training Coach during the 2003-04 season while he finished his studies.

Berry played two seasons under head coach Matt Fincher at then-USC Spartanburg, earning letters in 1999 and 2001. He hit a steady .280 in 23 games as a freshman in 1999, blasting four home runs and driving in 18 while adding 15 runs, seven doubles and two triples. In 2001, Berry hit .287 in 29 games, mashing six home runs and posting 25 RBIs. He added three doubles and 14 runs for the Rifles.

He put his name in the Upstate record book on March 31, 2001 against Belmont Abbey, as he went 5-for-7 with two homers, five runs scored and 10 RBIs in a 27-14 win. Both the runs scored and RBIs are Upstate single-game records and the 10 RBIs is also a Peach Belt Conference record. He also played summer ball for both the Spartanburg Crickets under head coach Mike Nobel in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League and the Atlanta Crackers under head coach Kevin Meistical.

Berry left USC Spartanburg after 2001, transferring to Limestone College where he finished his playing career in 2003 and graduated in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in physical therapy. A native of Alpharetta, Ga., he graduated from Milton High School in 1998.