In their last practice drill Thursday, Calvary Lutheran's players continuously cheered each other on.
Some were running the bases. Others were fielding ground balls hit by a coach.
At the end of the practice, they gathered around assistant coach John Burks before breaking their huddle after he reminded what their goal is this season.
"The girls' goal is to win districts," head coach Denice Burks said.
Despite the program only being in its second season, the Lions still see a Class 1, District 5 title as a possibility within reach. They're already seeing progress from year one to year two.
Calvary Lutheran has 19 players on its roster this year, up from 11 last season. The bump in players allows them to have a junior varsity team for the first time. The JV team will be used to get younger players more time on the field, as well as train varsity players at new positions.
It also lets the young program give valuable experience to its players.
"Last year was kind of a last minute, throw together when they decided to actually put the program back in place," Burks said. "They only had 11 girls, not a lot of experience and being last minute we didn't get a lot of games in our schedule so we had a small schedule and several rainouts at the end, and for our district we had to go all the way down to the Bootheel."
First baseman Brooke Rollins is the lone senior on the Lions this year. She is one of the team's two captains, along with catcher Amanda Braun.
Pitching to Braun will Helias transfer Presley Welch and Amanda Braun's cousin Haley Braun. Despite being cousins, Haley Braun has only pitched to Amanda Braun one other year when they played on a travel team together. Still, their relation could turn them into a valuable combo for the Lions.
"That's one of the best parts," Haley Braun said of playing with her cousin. "Even though we don't see eye-to-eye on everything all the time it's cool to have family there."
Haley Braun said she is also excited because they were able to get a year of experience under their belts last year. Now she is hoping they can put it towards building a new program up and perhaps one day leaving their legacy as the program's first District 1, Class 5 champions.
While a district title is still the team's top goal, Burks also just wants her players to give their all when they're on the diamond. She wants them to push and support each other.
Even though last season had its struggles, her players still displayed that camaraderie.
"Last year something that totally sticks out in my head on how they stick together is there was a girl on the team, who decided not to play this year, who had never played ball before," Burks said, "and there was two outs, she was up to bat, had not had a hit yet this season, she hit the ball, she got out at first but the entire dugout came out and was high fiving her and hugging her because hit it, the first ever."
Calvary Lutheran opens its season at noon today at Vienna. The Lions' home opener is 10 a.m. Aug. 27 against School of the Osage.