It's a little under four months before the spring softball season starts up for the Haymarket Bobcats but 14U head coach Mike Bowman is already planning batting practice for next week in Catharpin.

"If you can hit, you can win games," he said.

So what Bowman did is he built a barn behind his home that serves as a batting cage where his players can hone their skills in the off-season. That could come in handy as some of them prepare to pull potential double-duty in the spring as both high school and travel team players.

This past fall season, the 14U Bobcats played the most games in the four-team Haymarket organization, posting a record of 13-9-1. The team also split an Oct. 17 double-header scrimmage against the Front Royal Fire two weeks after claiming third place at the Indian Summer Blast tournament in Charlottesville.

During that string of six games in two days, Haymarket posted four wins, a loss in the final four, and a tie during pool play on the first day of the tournament. Veteran and new players alike also stepped into the limelight.

Pitcher Kennedy O'Brien, who started more than half of the Bobcats' games on the rubber, tore through opposition pitching on her way to hitting "probably over .700" for the season, according to Bowman.

"She's just crushing the ball," he said, noting the Battlefield High School freshman is likely to earn a starting role on the school's junior varsity squad in the spring.

Describing O'Brien as a "pretty phenomenal player," Bowman mentioned that the fall season "really boosted her confidence up." He explained that showed up in her ability to hit her intended targets around the plate.

"Her pitch location ratio was, you know, 9-to-10," said Bowman. "When I was to call something, it was on the money."

He specifically pointed out that her speed "increased just unbelievably."

Meanwhile, O'Brien's youngest teammate Taylor Norris provided the team with "probably (the) strongest arm" in the infield during games pitched by left-hander Anna Torres, said Bowman.

When the Bobcats returned to Charlottesville to close out the season at the Hoos Throwdown tournament Oct. 23-24, the Bobcats' only seventh grader Norris earned credit for a game-winning assist against the August Flames.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Torres checked the runner at first base by throwing the ball to Norris. The lead runner, as Bowman expected, took off for third base. Norris then gunned the ball across the infield to third baseman Lucinda Swartzentruber, who applied the tag to end the game, according to Bowman.

"That was a big highlight," he said.

The coach also pointed out shortstop Diane McDaniel for being another defensive leader as the eighth grader shortstop became a key component for converting double play opportunities.

"When we had the opportunity to turn two, it happened," said Bowman. "That's what we went over a lot."

O'Brien's constant starts on the rubber led occasional way to the team sporting two other up-and-comers inside the pitching circle with Torres and Courtney Bowman. All three of them delivered wins during the Bobcats season closing tournament in Charlottesville as Haymarket outscored its opponents 29-0 in pool play.

Of course, the only catch to not winning the tournament meant that a loss had to come somewhere. For the Bobcats, that turned out to be in the first game of single-elimination play when Tidewater outgunned them 6-4 in the first game, despite Haymarket's No. 1 seed.

"It was very, very upsetting that we got knocked out Sunday because we blew out every other team we played," said Bowman.

However, as he plans for the spring, the coach has reason for optimism.

"Now I know solidly where nine players go as a coach on the field because I was changing them up just a little bit," he said.

Haymarket's spring opener is set to take place in Williamsport, Penn. at an indoor facility hosting a tournament. The rest of the season schedule is likely to be determined later this winter.

"I wish it was March 27 tomorrow," Bowman said, laughing. "I feel really, really good about this team. I can't tell you how excited I am about starting up in the spring."