There’s a quiet force behind every swing, pitch, and play from Mt. Pleasant, NY’s Lady Colonials. A voice of calm guidance that’s helping transform these young athletes into resilient competitors. The weekend of May 10th and 11th revealed just how much Coach Joe's measured wisdom and balanced style is part of the team's game-day arsenal.

DOWN AND UP AND DOWN AGAIN

First up, Saturday’s game against Yorktown. The Lady Colonials’ explosive seven-run second inning screamed offensive potential, not to mention an ability to dig deep—having fallen behind 5-0 after Yorktown’s first two at-bats. Backed by Coach Joe’s “you got this” attitude, not only did the LCs stay focused and strong, but they also answered back with an electrifying comeback. The Mt. Pleasant players crossing home plate seven times to take the lead at the bottom of the second.

Heading into the fourth inning. Score: Lady Colonials 7. Yorktown, 6. 

Though Yorktown surged ahead with another six runs in the fourth, the Lady Colonials stayed in the game. Saige's triple brought home Giada and Laila, and a final-inning rally brought them within striking distance before the final out. Final score: Yorktown, 14. Lady Colonials, 11.

Coach Joe's postgame message struck the perfect tone: "We hit well enough to win the game. We pitched well enough to win the game. You didn't give up. You battled at bat."

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

Sunday’s game against New Castle showcased a team that had absorbed Coach Joe’s lessons. Saige dominated the mound with an impressive 13 strikeouts—read that again, 13 strikeouts!— while allowing just two hits and two runs over six innings.

The offense methodically built their lead—two runs in the third, three in the fourth, and an insurance run in the sixth. End score: Lady Colonials, 6. New Castle, 2. It’s one more for the win column.

WORDS THAT TRANSFORM

What makes Coach Joe exceptional isn't complex strategy—it's his ability to deliver exactly what young athletes need to hear at critical moments. "That was a bad inning. Everyone's allowed to have a bad inning. Keep your heads up," he told them during the Yorktown game, normalizing the struggle while maintaining expectations.

After the loss, his focus shifted to the path forward: "The amount of runs they scored off of errors was six or seven. That was where we fell short today. Back at it tomorrow!"

Coach Joe’s genius lies in his ability to pair unflinching honesty with unwavering belief. He doesn’t sugarcoat the tough moments, but immediately and seamlessly pivots to possibility. It’s this nuanced balance that teaches his young athletes that facing reality head-on isn’t defeat; it’s the catalyst for a shift in energy, a lift of spirit, a critical moment of motivation, a catalyst for a comeback.

PLAYOFFS ON THE HORIZON

Beyond the continued improvement in offense and defense, the Lady Colonials have demonstrated resilience and mental toughness. And their timing couldn’t be any better, with bigger-stakes playoff games right around the corner. Coach Joe’s style has his team prepared to take on the leagues’ toughest opponents. They’ve got the big swings. They’ve got the power pitching. They’ve got the head and the heart.

That’s the #StuffTeamIsMadeOf