Some say adversity grows character, particularly in sports.

The last varsity softball team that called Millsboro Little League its home, Sussex Tech, made it all the way to the title game. This year, Delmarva Christian will host games there, but that won’t be the only thing introduced to the Royals this season.

“We have a lot of young faces out this year, so I think we need to have patience, work together and be leaders to the younger girls so they have time to grow within themselves over their future career,” senior Eve Bohinski said.

“We have two seniors, one junior and everybody else is a sophomore, freshmen and actually two eighth-graders,” coach Chrissy Dunn said. “We have 14 on the roster, and it looks good already, so there's young talent that I'm excited to see grow in the program.”

Senior Kylie McCabe also sees this season as a chance to build the younger players up and get them to buy into the team.

“There's not a lot of pressure on the team this year, just having fun, having good team chemistry, being unified with each other, talking to each other and encouraging each other, not belittling everybody,” McCabe said.

Dunn knows sweat equity also needs to be paid.

“They're going to need to work hard, they're going to need to be good teammates, and the talent is there,” Dunn said. “I've seen a good amount of talent. A lot of these girls play travel ball on the weekend, so they're constantly playing, but they're going to need to learn how to play together as a team.”

“We have a lot of potential within the young girls that we have coming in, and they all have the desire to learn and get better,” McCabe said. “They're all very coachable, which is a great aspect to have in a player.”

So far, the new home away from home and routine before practice are running well.

“We are transitioning right now and trying to get the process down smoothly before games start – getting the girls to and from practice and games,” Dunn said. “The girls have been great.”

With a routine in hand, Dunn will rely on Bohinski and McCabe to set an example.

“Cheering for the younger ones, being role models, being leaders, which I expected nothing less than that,” Dunn said. “They've done a great job, and I expect them to have a great senior season on the field, but also as leaders of the team.”

As for the young ones, Dunn wants them to trust the process.

“One step at a time, one inning at a time, one at-bat at a time, and one game at a time,” Dunn said.

Delmarva Christian will be tested out of the gate with an away game at 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 24 at Indian River.