By Christina Myles

Above the backfield at Franklin stand three large signs showing the accomplishments of past Troy O-Zone baseball teams. While the 2014 team wants to add another sign to the hillside, the main focus of the coaching staff is to get better every day.

The biggest improvement that head coach Kevin Bryan has seen from his Dixie Youth team is learning the team concept.

“Most of these boys played the same positions on their school teams so there are all on about the same level playing wise,” Bryan said. “So it has been a big adjustment for them when some of them are having to play new positions but they accepted the challenge and I have seen the difference.”

Over the past three weeks Bryan said the main things these 11 and 12-year-olds on the team has been working on are throwing, catching and hitting.

“Those three things are the fundamentals,” Bryan said. “If you got those you can hustle through every game.”

Bryan said he hopes his team will ultimately play the best baseball they can because he knows how hard they have worked in practice, but he said that the main thing is he wants from his team is to go out and have fun.

“We have 12 exceptional boys who have worked hard everyday leading up to this and I am just looking forward to getting things started,” Bryan said.

Going into their first game Bryan said he still wants the team to remember that baseball is a game of failure.

“Even the best strike out,” Bryan said, “But I want these boys to remember to come back every time with a good head on their shoulders and with confidence.”

The Dixie Youth will be competing against Eufaula Friday night at 8 p.m. in Hartford in their first game of the District Tournament.