"I look for a strong season," said McCollum. "Last year, as a new coach, I was hoping to build the program to be a contender in 2005. However, the players were willing to accept the challenge to change to a new way of coaching, and the program has accelerated at a much faster pace than I expected."

McCollum has been coaching girls fast-pitch softball for 19 years, so he should know a few things about building a program.

McCollum has a core of nine returning varsity players that now know his system and are ready to take it a step farther. Seven members of that group are experienced seniors who should provide quality leadership for the 2004 squad.

Second baseman Marina Mendez, who was a second team all-league selection last year, will be key to the Rams success. Mikka Dixon (third base), Kelley Snyder (first base), Nicole Garcia (outfield), Adriana Basurto (utility), Analisa Baum (utility) and Tina Panayotopoulos (utility) comprise the remainder of that senior core.

Pitching is always crucial to the success of a softball team and the Rams have an ace in sophomore Michele McCollum, who was the league's Freshman of the Year in 2003 as a varsity player.

The junior varsity team finished first in the division last year and there are additional young players from that team moving up to the varsity level. Two of them will be in starting roles—sophomore Nikki de la Rocha will take the field at shortstop and third base, and sophomore Aurora Donnelly, a first team JV all-leaguer last year, will provide support as a utility player.

Juniors Lindsay Beebe (pitcher) and Caitlin Edmunds (catcher) will also move up. Freshman Krysten Rorie could compete for some playing time as well.

"All these players work well as a team. I believe that is what has made them so successful," added McCollum. "Nobody is thinking about themselves; they think more as a team than individual players."

The Rams don't open Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division play until March 30, when they travel to Piedmont Hills, but the solid team play that McCollum referred to has been evident in pre-season contests. Willow Glen (5-3) was busy last week winning three of four games in convincing fashion.

The bats were hot and McCollum was firing smoke as she struck out nine in a 15-0 shutout against James Lick. Mendez led the way, driving in three runs while de la Rocha made the most of her two hits, knocking in two runs. Edmonds drove in two more in the Rams runaway.

The Rams bats cooled off in a 6-2 loss to Pioneer as Beebe took the loss.

McCollum (4-0) kept her record perfect, leading the Rams to a 6-2 win over Scotts Valley. She got solid support from Dixon, who pounded two hits to bring home three runs.

Willow Glen finished off the week's action with a 13-0 shellacking of Cupertino. Beebe (1-3) picked up her first win of the season and got plenty of support from the Ram hitters. Mendez displayed power, belting out four hits including a home run and a triple. Both Snyder and de la Rocha ripped three hits apiece. It was Dixon, Baum and Panayotopoulos getting the key hits and driving in two runs each.