"This is a building year," said the first-year coach. "We're looking to turn the program around in two or three years. By 2005, the team should be a real contender for a title."

Right now, though, Willow Glen is 10-4 in the early stages of the 2003 season and 2-0 to open the Santa Teresa campaign. And you won't catch McCollum complaining one bit.

The Rams pushed their league record to 2-0 last week with a 6-3 win over Prospect.

If the Rams are a little ahead of schedule it could be because of a combination of senior veterans and freshman prospects.

Third baseman Janelle Calderon, shortstop Angie Keeth and all-league center fielder Charisse Pineda are all senior returners for the Rams, and they join freshmen Michelle McCollum, a pitcher, and Nikki De La Rocha, a utility player, to form a solid nucleus this spring.

The Rams are coming off a dismal 4-20 season that saw them finish 1-11 in division play. The coach figures Piedmont Hills to be the division title favorite and looks for his club to finish at about .500.

But the Rams have already won 10 games and look to be progressing ahead of McCollum's schedule.

Willow Glen came through with a big win over Prospect last week, thanks to the pitching of M. McCollum and Lindsay Beebe and the power of Pineda.

Pineda homered and singled to drive in three runs for the Rams. Jamie Andrews tripled home a couple of runs, and Marina Mendez doubled and triple.

McCollum was the winning pitcher, striking out nine along the way. She pushed her season record to 9-3 and league mark to 2-0 with the win. Beebe came on in relief to pick up the save.

Earlier the Rams came through with a big 3-2 win over powerhouse Leland. Beebe was the winning pitcher, and Keeth had three hits to lead the offense. Calderon doubled for the Rams.

McCollum was the winning pitcher in a 4-1 non-league win over El Camino. Mikka Dixon had two hits for Willow Glen.


Badminton wins

The Willow Glen badminton team is off to a hot start this spring in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

The Rams had a dismal time of it in the Santa Teresa Division last year, finishing with a 1-13 record. But the move to the West Valley Division has helped Willow Glen get back in the winner's circle.

"I'm the new coach this year and could not be more pleased," said first-year boss Nancy Williams. "We're moved to the West Valley division and are taking it by storm."

The Rams have opened league play by beating Live Oak 11-4, Lincoln 12-3, Mitty 13-2 and Pioneer 13-2.

Seniors Tue Tran, boys No. 1 singles, and Nancy Huyen Vu, girls No. 1 singles, are top players for the Rams. Long Nguyen, a junior boy, and Hang Nguyen, a senior girl, are "others to watch," said Williams. And she calls Kim Fuentes, a girls singles player, "an exciting freshman to watch."


Rams fall

Doug Dionne doubled and singled twice and Justin Johnson had two hits, but the Willow Glen baseball team dropped a 9-1 decision to Oak Grove on Friday.

The Rams, 2-4-1 in the Mt. Hamilton Division and 3-8-1 for the year, will host Santa Teresa on April 2, 3:30 p.m.


Barreto three-over

Nick Barreto fired a three-over par 38 to lead the Willow Glen golf team to a 176-195 win over Oak Grove last week at the Santa Teresa Golf Course.

The Rams came back with a 180-201 victory over the Eagles later in the week at the Silver Creek Country Club to push their season record to 8-0.