Our defense sparks us. When we make a good defensive play, when we come in to bat, it carries over. We don't strike out much. We do a good job of putting the bat on the ball.

That's been our key all year. Our defense has kept us in games and our bats have won them for us.

It used to be just the opposite. It used to be us watching them. We know about the established program they have (in baseball). Now, we're trying to establish something on this side of the street.

We came back here today (with the distractions) taking the approach that this is another away game. We're trying to stay with the same routine, and hopefully not get caught up in all that.

We even have some of the boys peeking over the fence watching our games. That did not used to happen. We kind of got their attention. Everybody knows about the baseball program. We're trying to establish that respect for our softball program. Support has been tremendous. What's neat is that some kids are stopping me in the hall and telling me they are coming out for softball next year.

I've been very lucky with them. They work hard and everything I ask them to do they approach it with a workmanlike attitude. I often see the girls working by themselves. It's paid off. We started off against some of the bigger schools and we got better as the season went on. Defense, hitting, it's all coming together now.