As the sun began to set Tuesday afternoon, the Charles Henderson softball team was found still on the field, getting in some last minute work before calling it a day.

A day filled with upper 80-degree weather was just one of the reasons the girls were outside till almost 6 p.m. and there was another reason as well, and one that could help turn the Trojans’ season around for the better.

Currently, CHHS is 5-10, recently snapping a nine-game losing streak thanks to back-to-back wins over Enterprise and Northview.

But now, the next test for the Trojans is about to take place, as the bulk of its area play will resume, starting with Rehobeth in on the road today.

Despite the Trojans recent struggles, head coach Robin Synder said he is seeing steady improvement from his girls on a daily basis, something that means more to him than winning right now.

“I’m not really focused on what our record is,” the coach said, “we are focused on improving.

“And the last couple of games, we have been playing better, and we have been looking better in practice. These are the things that I like to see.”

It has not been all bad for the Trojans this season. The team started things off on a three-game winning streak in an Auburn Tournament.

And while the Trojans are 2-1 in its last three games, CHHS will look to keep improving not only against its area foe, but also in the upcoming Vestavia Hills tournament this weekend.

“The best thing we can do is look at it one game at a time,” Snyder said.

“Every game we have lost this year, we have had a chance to win, but beat ourselves.

We can’t keep doing that. If we have give ourselves a chance to win.”

And that is exactly what Synder hopes happens against Rehobeth in a game that not only means a lot now, but also will have am effect on the postseason.

“It’s a big game. Every area game is a big game because it provides a chance to for us to gain some confidence,” the coach said.

“We want to enter the area tournament as a team the other have to beat to win, not the other way around. So winning these area games now is important for this team.”

The Trojans are 0-1 in area play, after falling to Eufaula 6-0 in February.

“Really and truly, our mindset is good,” Synder said. “We are making progress and I think we have played better the last five or six games. We are getting there, it’s just a matter of getting wins on the board. But to be honest, it’s not about that. If we go out and play a great game but still get beat in the end, that’s fine. If we go out and beat ourselves, that’s when it hurts the most and that is what we are trying to avoid.”