Jeff Miller is preaching shortterm memory.

After all, the 2007 season offered few positives to hold onto. “The biggest thing with this team is we’re coming off a real terrible year last year. I mean, we went 0-15, we made a lot of mistakes, we averaged six errors a game last year, we had a team batting average of like .140 … It was just all-around (bad),” said Miller.

This year, the Generals have already earned two wins – a season- opening 6-3 triumph at 2007 playoff team Pelham and a 3-2 victory on April 21 against Fall Mountain.

Last season, they opened with an 8-0 loss to Pelham. “We had a team batting average of .396, and we made no errors,” said Miller of this year’s contest. “That’s the difference right there … We have a base-running blunder here and there, we can’t get a bunt down, but we’re giving ourselves chances.” Consistency is proving an issue, however.

Stark followed their first win of the season with seven errors in an 11-4 setback to Lebanon.

“The kids are working hard, we’re doing a lot of mental preparations, we talk about situations, so now when things don’t happen they know why,” said Miller, in his second year as head coach. “We want to get fundamentally and mentally sound. Even in the ones we lose, I want to play good baseball. Right now, a realistic expectation for us is to stay in ball games and continue to improve on the little things, and if we do, I think we’re going to come away with some wins.”

Should the offense and defense put them in position, the 2008 pitching staff is good enough to secure those victories, said Miller.

Kevin Leblond, Tom Vickers and Danny Serard form the rotation, while Ethan O’Neil and Jeff Weubbolt handle long-relief duties.

Greg Leblond, Kris Vincent, and Derel George are also available to pitch.

Captains Chad Croteau and Joey Plunkett lead the young squad.

Serard, Vickers, Nick Campono, Evan Paris, Nick Hea-field, Daniel Simeone and Steve Papachristos are also regular contributors to the lineup. Matt Vincent, Alex Capuco and Zac Keim round out the varsity roster.

“They’re still fragile,” said Smith. “This team, for a long time, expected to lose, and I’m trying to change that culture. I want them to expect to win.”