By Bryce Koon for Berryvikings.com
ROME, Ga. -- The Berry College baseball team will be looking to build off their impressive 2015 campaign.
The team finished 23-18-1 and their season ended in the conference tournament against Birmingham-Southern. Berry is looking to improve and get over that final hump to seal a Southern Athletic Association championship this year.
The Vikings lost seven seniors last season, but has a big recruiting class that Head Coach David Beasley is excited to see perform this year. He expects the whole team to take a step forward and continue to improve.
"The team is very close to where I would like them to be," commented Beasley. "It's not necessarily the most talented club, but the best 'team' that wins championships. I think we have a very talented group this year--and if we play like a team--we can achieve all of our goals."
This year's leadership will predominantly come from the seniors, but Beasley feels that all of the classes on the team are disciplined and will provide leadership where it is needed. "I am confident about where the team is going into the season," shared Beasley.
"We have very talented players in all aspects of the game," said Beasley. "But we pride ourselves on our defense and pitching. We have to be solid on both pitching and defense in order to be successful."
Leading the way for the Vikings is Ben Jernigan, an ABCA and D3Baseball.com All-Region third selection last year. A senior, Jernigan led the team with a .383 batting average last season. He knocked four home runs and drove in 35 runs. Jernigan also made 12 pitching starts, compiled a 5-5 record, and posted a 3.32 ERA.
Junior Alfred Francis, an SAA second team selection in 2015, returns in the infield. He batted .338 with six doubles and 28 RBI and stole 17-of-18 bases last year.
The Vikings return SAA honorable mention pitcher Parker Austin. As a freshman, he produced a 2-1 record with an ERA o 2.31.
Catcher Devin Skelton also earned all-conference honorable mention accolades. A junior, he hit .280 and threw out 17 base runners behind the plate as a sophomore.
Berry will open their season on Saturday, Feb. 6, as Emory & Henry comes to town for a weekend series at Berry. The opening game is slated for 12 p.m. at William R. Bowdoin Field.
