MEDFORD TRANSCRIPT

Defenders of the Faith: North Medford feels no pressure

Christopher Hurley/churley@cnc.com

Simply put, that was then. This is now.

“I don’t even think about last year’s team,” Covelle said. “As a coach, I’ve always concentrated on my kids. I never went to any of the other 12-year-olds games, when I was 9-10-year old coach. I just focused on my kids.”

After spending countless hours on the diamond throughout the season, Covelle enjoys spending his time away from the field with his family.

“I have a life to live,” he said. “I spend so much time at the park all year long anyway with the regular team and with the all-stars and when all-stars are over and it comes time for me, I want to do my own thing. As far as pressure, I don’t even worry about it or think about it.”

When it comes to his team, Covelle feels they have the potential to do great things, its all a question of putting it all together. If his team plays the way they are capable of, that shouldn’t be that much of a problem.

Although the team has experienced some rough stretches in the field, making 15 errors in its first two games, the coach expects a better showing from his club the rest of the way and is hopeful that they can accomplish that goal.

“I expect us to come out and win,” said Covelle. “I’ve had these kids for four years and there have been only a couple of kids here and there didn’t make it past two years. Ninety percent of the kids have been retuning since they were nine. So I expect a little better defense out there.”

“If we win, we win,” he added. “All I want these kids to do is learn how to play the game properly. If they go out and incorporate what I teach them, they’re going to win.”

The rest is up to them.