Torey Daniels isn’t afraid to get a little dirt on her pants. Sometimes it’s a lot more than just a little. It’s what comes with the territory of manning the middle of the field for the Vicksburg High softball team, which is hoping to repeat as Division 4-5A champion with Daniels leading the charge. The senior shortstop with a solid bat and great range is looking to help her team relive last season’s success.

Tuesday’s home opener against Germantown was rained out, but the Missy Gators will try again Thursday at 6:45 p.m. against St. Aloysius.

“That’s the main goal for me and most of the seniors,” Daniels said. “We want to win district for sure and make it through at least the first round of the playoffs. That’s our main goal.”

Vicksburg coach Brian Ellis believes she can do just that, calling Daniels one of the most talented players in the entire region.

“He’s very confident in me, probably way more confident than I am in myself,” Daniels said. “I’m probably my biggest critic for myself, but it says a lot about me and what he thinks of me. It’s nice.”

After the departure of six seniors at the end of last season, Daniels and her three senior counterparts have now stepped into the role of locker room leaders to the younger girls on the team.

“I try to take what Coach Ellis says and explain to them what he’s saying. They don’t always get what he’s saying,” she said. “I try to help them the best we can. When we’re hitting, if I see somebody struggling, I’ll take them out and take them to a tee and work with them a little bit, tell them what they’re doing wrong and how I can help them to fix it. That’s really something we all do as seniors. All the seniors do it, but I try to do it the best I can and help them as much as I can.”

That proactive approach to the game has made Daniels one of the pillars of this year’s team. With her shoring up the middle of the diamond and acting as a pop at the top of the order, she believes the Missy Gators have a shot at a playoff run. But her main goal is to make her senior year an enjoyable one.

“I just want this last year to be my best and have fun,” she said. “That’s really my main goal, is to have fun with the game.”