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Andrew schnitker: the darton college softball team has the region championship target in sight. But there's also that same bullseye mark on the cavaliers back and it doesn't mean much to d-c head coach david dews

The Darton College softball team has the Region 17 Championship in scope, but there are five other teams with the bull’s-eye mark directly on the Cavaliers back. And if you ask Cavaliers Head Coach David Dews that doesn’t mean much.

“Well, I've had it on there for a while, so we're used to it,” Dews said.

As the number one seed, all the competition will be looking to knock the Cavaliers off the top this weekend in Locust Grove, Georgia. That can put a lot of stress on a team. However, it’s a lesson in chemistry that cools down the Cavs pressure.

“If you don't get along off the field, you won't get along on the field. You won't play hard for each other...us loving each other off the field...helps us play better together on the field,” Outfielder Monique Wooten said.

“The more pressure we put on each other the worse we do so we just do our thing. And it pays off in the long run...this is just how we roll,” Darton ace Cara Law said.

Others should take a page from the Cavs chemistry lesson. In the last month and a half, the team has rolled up 26 wins in its last 28 games. Great pitching always helps, as well. Darton's two aces Katy Lewis and Cara Law each have 20 wins and ERA’s below one for the regular season.

“We each bring something different to the table and I just believe we feed off each other and we encourage each other. We're just going to have to step it up one more notch for this tournament,” Law said.

One more step up for the Cavs is a spot in the National Junior College World Series in Utah. A win in the Region 17 tournament this weekend would take the program to its second World Series appearance in the past five years.

“I'm hoping that we can make it every year but it's really tough to do. I think it has a lot to do with the kids that we have and the character, and the way we do things in the program,” Dews said.

Certainly, Dews’ squad is thinking about the World Series too.

“Oh man, I just can't tell you. I dream about it all week...it's all I think about I just want to win state and spend a couple more weeks with my teammates,” Law said.

“Trying to get that ring...working as hard as I can to get there,” Wooten added.