When my girls believe they're capable of winning in softball, we will be able to compete for a title. Teams aren't throwing their No. 3 pitcher against us anymore for a reason.

That hasn't always gone well. We've lost some girls in the past. But I want girls who are going to be dedicated, even if it's just for three months.

We're competing. That's something we haven't done in the past. The whole morale of the team is different.

We're not measuring our season on wins and losses. But a win sure does change the attitude. It just reaffirms to me that we're headed in the right direction.

That tells me there's interest. Not having a youth program hurts. Most of our kids come in without having played the sport. But we're building a base.

It takes more than two years to build a program. But I feel like our foundation has been laid. Now it's time for us get over the hill.

We don't have it yet. We allow the other teams to have hope that they can beat us. But skill-wise, we've grown enormously.

That opened a few eyes. But you know what, those four kids are still with me.