I feel we have been extremely successful for a young team.

Our future goals include winning the SSUSA World Championship Tournament in Phoenix in October and to win the Winter Nationals in November. We have moved up from an AA team to an AAA team in the national tournaments this year.

We're all upbeat. We saw a lot of positive things. We need to put together four solid games.

First of all, we have good ballplayers who play within themselves. No. 2, we have proper chemistry. We have players that enjoy playing together. The support of our community is the No. 3 reason. The Villages Merchants receive funding for entry fees to the various tournaments from local establishments.

You don't have to go to Harvard to figure out that the Big East is the best league in the country. You don't have to be a genius. A dummy like me can figure that out. When I look at my coach of the year candidates, Jamie Dixon is in my top five. Jamie has done a fantastic job. He has lost some heartbreakers on the road, but that's because winning on the road in the Big East is so difficult. They've been able to win at home. And that's the key when you play in a tough league. You better win your home games.

Programs that pay farmers not to farm often devastate rural areas. The reductions hurt everyone from fertilizer companies to tractor salesmen.