New Charles Henderson head softball coach Trent Givens isn’t measuring his team’s success and failures in wins and losses.

He is going about it in a more scientific approach.

The 2014 edition of the Lady Trojans features just a handful of players with considerable game experience, so Givens is taking small baby steps with his team.

“We have some game goals, a couple on offense and a couple on defense,” said Givens. “We are focused on reaching those right now. It doesn’t matter who you opponent is, you focus on the things you can control. We don’t worry about the scoreboard. We are just focused on us, and learning things the right way.”

Charles Henderson’s original season opener against Bullock County was postponed, so the Lady Trojans will get their first game action on Friday against American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa.

The team will stick around the area on Friday and Saturday to take part in the Patriot Classic at Sokal Park.

Givens, originally from the Tuscaloosa area, knows the type of talent that his team will face this weekend.

“ACA is a very talented 3A team that usually makes it to the regionals,” said Givens. “Northside, who is a lower division school, but is always competitive. We will also play Gulf Shores and Bibb County who are always tough and gritty teams. We will have our work cut out for us this weekend, but I think we will be better for it.”

Givens served as an assistant under his Hogan’s Hole neighbor Derek Irons a few years ago and is using some of Irons’ patented teaching tools for his team.

“I have the opportunity to coach under some outstanding head coaches,” Givens said. “Alan Reach, who went on to coach at Mississippi State, and Coach Irons haves had huge impacts on my career. Having this two guys as my mentors has been a blessing, and I am definitely picked up things along the way and will be using them on a daily basis.”

The Lady Trojans enter the 2014 season looking to replace veteran starters and All-Area players Becca Hartley, Olivia Hudson and Madison Mehaffey.

The Trojans and Patriots are set for 5:30 P.m. first pitch in Tuscaloosa.