Stephen Slezak, Campus Carrier asst. sports editor
Junior Riley Uhls of the Berry College Vikings baseball team has had a career year so far. After 25 games, the first baseman slashed a .402 batting average, 1.115 OPS, .673 slugging percentage and totaled six home runs. Uhls also leads all of Division III in RBIs (runs batted in) at 54. Uhls headlines the Viking offense who ranks among the best in the country in runs scored per game.
“I was definitely expecting the year I am currently having,” Uhls said. “I have always set high standards for myself and having the year that I am having now was one of those expectations that I had. I know that I have put the time and effort into having the type of success that I am having.”
Uhls is from Lexington, Kentucky, and attended West Jessamine Hish School. Uhls came to the Vikings after stacking up a .383 batting average and 35 RBIs in his senior year as a West Jessamine Colt.
In Uhls’ freshman year, he finished with a .300 batting average while compiling 21 hits and 17 RBI’s. Sophomore year is where Uhls began to shine in his college career. Starting in all 42 games, Uhls has a .384 batting average, totaling 66 hits, 55 RBI’s and had 15 doubles in his year. Uhls was awarded with second team All-SAA for his performance. Through his development into his junior year, Uhls gives credits to the coaching staff and teammates that have helped him up to this point.
“My coaches and teammates have been a huge part in my development here at Berry, not just as a hitter, but an infielder, as well,” Uhls said. “Coach Beasley has been a huge impact on my swing in making it more compact, as well as homing in my approach at the plate. My freshman year, our assistant coach also helped me improve my infield skills a lot, making me the first baseman I am today.”
The Berry Vikings lineup is one of the most potent lineups in the entire country. The Vikings have six everyday players who are hitting over a .350 batting average. When having quality hitters throughout the lineup, it helps Uhls get pitches to see and hit.
“I definitely agree that having multiple threats in our lineup makes it hard to pitch against us,” Uhls said. “In a line-up you can really only pitch around one or maybe two players, but our line-up has so many players that can do damage that pitching around any one of us is not ideal because the next hitter is just as dangerous. This makes sure that pitchers will pitch to me because the next batter up is just as good.”
Senior Joe Garcia has been a starting player for the Vikings since his freshman year. Garcia has played with many all-conference players over his time, becoming one of the conference’s best hitters this season alongside Uhls.
“Riley Uhls is the heart of Berry’s lineup,” Garcia said. “His work ethic, dedication to his craft, and competitive mindset allow him to excel on the baseball field. He plays a vital role in helping the Vikings win every day.”
To be able to give a consistent approach and output as a collegiate hitter is one of the most difficult things that an athlete can do. Uhls has put together a year and ultimately a career of being a consistent hitter at the plate and one of the most feared bats in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA).
“I would say that hitting is chasing a feel, and whatever I can do to continue to feel that is what I do,” Uhls said. “Somedays, I have to put in a lot more work because something has gone wrong. Being able to sense these wrong feelings is crucial to making sure that things do not get off.”
As the Vikings look to finish up their season, Uhls is a name that will be in contention for post-season awards that include SAA athlete of the year and All-American honors.