"I think our hitting has improved because of our confidence in each other," freshman Vicki Madden says. "Having so many newbies on the team helps."

Rebecca Whalley made the decision to leave her home country, Australia, to play for Radford University softball coach Mickey Dean without meeting him face to face.

Photos courtesy of J.B. Whitesell

Shannon Keefe, a freshman middle infielder from Illinois, says the Radford University softball players are "like sisters."

RADFORD -- Ask Radford University softball coach Mickey Dean what makes his freshman-heavy team successful and he'll tell you it all hinges on trust.

That emphasis is working. Encouraging his players to trust him, one another and their own abilities has helped propel Radford to a 37-13 record.

"I try to instill a sense of discipline," Dean said. "Not just in softball, but socially and in the classroom and in life. You do those things right and the softball will come."

Nearly all of his eight freshmen had a connection to Dean or to Radford prior to coming to school there. One exception is pitcher Rebecca Whalley, who is from Maryborough, Australia. Coming to Radford was a leap of faith for her. She made the decision to leave her home country and play for Dean without ever meeting him face to face.

"I couldn't have told you the state I was going to when I was on the plane," Whalley said. "I thought for sure it was West Virginia I was headed. I just had to trust the recommendation of my coach that I made the right choice to come here."

Whalley's journey to the United States in January wasn't without its complications. She missed a connecting flight in Chicago, lost Dean's phone number and had difficulty finding a hotel.

"And I'm the guy that's supposed to be taking care of her," Dean said laughing.

Eventually she made it to Radford. She's second on the team in wins with a 9-5 record and is currently working with Dean on expanding her skills. Her goal is to be one of the dominant pitchers in the Big South Conference.

Dean took over as Highlanders coach in 2006 after Amy Kvilhaug moved on to St. John's. In his first year, the team rattled off a school-record 44 wins.

"We return seven starters from last year's team, and right now only three are playing at their original position," Dean said. "It speaks volumes to their selflessness and level of commitment to the team."

Senior Cassie Rhodes, who earned first team All-Big South honors last season, made the move from shortstop to the outfield so the team would have room for freshman Kristen Shifflett's bat in the lineup. Sophomore Hope Creasy from Christiansburg made the move to the outfield after anchoring third base for all 71 games last season. The adjustments have paid off, with freshmen holding three of the top five batting averages among the team's starters.

Among those freshmen is Vicki Madden from Virginia Beach. Madden said she wasn't highly recruited out of high school because of her 5-foot-2 height but was glad Dean took a chance on her.

"She struggled a bit to adjust to a college setting and didn't start at first," Dean said. "But she's a prime example of making the most of an opportunity. Here's a girl who got hurt in high school and taught herself to hit left-handed. Then she came here and decided to switch back. It's amazing."

Madden now leads all starters in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and home runs.

"I think our hitting has improved because of our confidence in each other," Madden said. "Having so many newbies on the team helps. You realize that it's new to all of us, which makes it less intimidating."

To help strengthen the team bonds Dean borrowed a team ritual from Louisiana State coach Yvette Girouard. Every other week, members of one class cook and host dinner for those in the three other classes.

"It's one of the very best things we do here," Dean said. "It gives them a chance to all get together off the field to talk about whatever they want. And then afterwards we can have a team meeting."

Even with all the practice, meetings, travel and games, the players don't seem to tire of being around one another.

"We're like sisters," said Shannon Keefe, freshman middle infielder from Illinois. "We'll do team breakfasts and bonfires or play pranks on each other. I've been pelted with eggs by Sarah [Himan] and Creasy."

Keefe was quick to note that despite the egging, Himan is one of her mentors on the team. Himan has volunteered to stay with her after practice to work on hitting. It's that kind of teamwork and camaraderie that Dean hoped his returning players would show toward the incoming class.

"I credit our upperclassmen and assistant coaches for building up a good foundation before I got here," Dean said. "Our goal now is to take it to another level."

The confidence of his young team, coupled with the experience and leadership of its few seniors, has Radford poised for sustained success.

"Right now, Coach has us believing in ourselves," Shifflett said. "I think we could start a dynasty here. I really want to win the Big South because if we can win it once I know we're going to want it even more every year."

It's a philosophy shared by others on the team.

"This is just the beginning," Keefe said. "No one's seen the real Radford yet."