Berry's softball team is entering the 2022 season ranked No. 17 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association NCAA Division-III preseason national rankings and No. 2 in the Southern Athletic Association preseason poll; however, Head Coach Emily Stanley isn't focused on where they are ranked in the polls.

"We have to focus on one day at a time, one moment at a time," Stanley emphasized. "The rankings are great, but that's not necessarily the goal. The goal is going to be working together to accomplish what we're setting out to do this year."

The Vikings are looking to achieve their goals while staring down one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Berry has multiple matchups against preseason top-25 teams, including a clash with Depauw University, which is No. 1 in the nation in the preseason polls.

As they prepare for this highly competitive season, the focus remains on themselves and not the opponents they face.

"This year our strength of schedule is probably one of the best in the nation, and that is awesome," Stanley stated. "But it doesn't matter about the rankings and who we're playing, it matters that we do us. I don't care if we're facing the number one team or the 100th team; I want us to play our game."

Their game is going to be centered around a core of talented young returners and a slate of incoming freshmen while having only one senior and two juniors coming back from last year's squad.

"I love our dynamic" Stanley expressed. "We've got some really strong returners; we've got some really strong newbies and I'm just excited to see how they all work together."

That group of strong returners includes juniors Madison Hollis and Aleeya Thronton who are looking to lead this young team. Hollis is a First-Team All-SAA honoree that appeared in 22 games last spring, starting in 18 of those games, and amassed a 13-4 record in the circle along with a 2.59 earned run average. Thornton started in all 35 games a season ago and accumulated a .320 batting average with a team leading 33 runs as she went on her way to be named Second-Team All-SAA.

Sophomores Riley Jackson, Anna Jackson, Morgan Frye, and Shelby Daniel are also looking to make an impact this season as they return after all being selected First-Team All-SAA in their freshman campaigns.
After falling just short of an SAA title last spring, the Vikings are hungry to secure a championship this season with the focus continuing to be on bettering themselves and not worrying about who stands in their way.

The Vikings open their season by hosting Maryville College in a doubleheader. Sunday's opening matchup of the 2022 season begins at 1 p.m., with the second game of the doubleheader set for 3 p.m.