CANTON, Ga. (January 29, 2025) – Riding a 35-game conference winning streak heading into the 2025 season, Berry was picked No. 1 in the SAA softball preseason poll. The Vikings have won nine SAA regular season titles in the league’s 11 year history, including each of the last three.
 
Berry was voted No. 1 on five ballots and earned 25 total points. Rhodes checked in at No. 2 with 19 points and a first place vote. Centre (17) and Sewanee (13) rounded out the top five. The poll was conducted among the SAA’s six head coaches.
 
2025 SAA Softball Preseason Poll:
1. Berry - 25 (5)
2. Rhodes - 19 (1)
3. Centre - 17
4. Sewanee - 13
5. Millsaps - 11
6. Hendrix – 5
 
Berry is coming off a 46-7 overall record and perfect 18-0 mark in the SAA last season. They advanced to the NCAA Super Regional before falling to eventual national runner-up Belhaven. The Vikings return five players named to All-SAA teams a year ago, including four first teamers. Ava Fouts was voted the SAA Pitcher of the Year and SAA Newcomer of the Year after going 6-0 with a 0.48 ERA in conference play.
 
Rhodes was third in the SAA last season, going 9-9 in the conference and 19-25-1 overall. Nine of the Lynx 10 All-SAA honorees from 2024 return for head coach Rebecca Arbino, including First Team pitcher Gina Dudley.
 
Millsaps hosting Blue Mountain on February 1 will officially start the SAA softball season. Three more teams start the following weekend with all six schools getting underway by mid-February. The first conference series will be March 22-23 with Berry hosting Hendrix and Millsaps welcoming Sewanee. The SAA Softball Tournament is set for May 8-11 in Columbus, Georgia.
 
Fans can follow SAA softball all season long at SAA-Sports.com   
 
SAA Softball Preseason Poll History
2024 (No. 1 Berry)
2023 (No. 1 Berry)
2022 (No. 1 Birmingham-Southern)
 
SAA Softball Regular Season Champions (Tournament Champion)
2024: Berry (Berry)
2023: Berry (Berry)
2022: Berry (Berry)
2021: Birmingham-Southern (Birmingham-Southern)
2020: none
2019: Birmingham-Southern (Birmingham-Southern)
2018: Berry (Berry)
2017: Berry (Berry)
2016: Berry/Birmingham-Southern (Berry)
2015: Berry (Berry)
2014: Berry (Birmingham-Southern)
2013: Berry (Millsaps)