Coaches use spring training, football camp, and pre-season to "test" players in order to determine starters. This gives a team the chance to mix and match players to determine the strongest combination.

Throughout the season changes may occur due to injuries or when facing specific opponents. Generally, once the pre-season period is over, coaches and managers have a clear idea of their starters, substitutes and benchwarmers.

Week six of the 2008 season found the Indians of John Burroughs High School traveling to nearby Village Christian Schools, to face the Crusaders in a double header. The Junior Varsity players for both schools would face off in between the varsity matches.

On the mound for the Indians in game one, was Lizzie Peters, with Katie Budrick behind the plate. Burroughs opened up the first inning by going down in order. The Crusaders responded by sending eight batters to the plate and scoring five runs on three singles, a walk, and a home run by Shannon Leonard.

In the second inning, the Indians managed the highest batter count of the game - four. However, Budrick was left standing on third base after reaching on a fielder's choice then advancing on an error and a sacrifice. The Crusaders were held scoreless in their part of the inning.

Burroughs sent four more batters to the plate in the top of the third inning but walked away scoreless. The Crusaders pushed across a run on a home run by Madeline Velasquez.

Trailing 6-0, the Indians went 1-2-3 in the fourth inning. Village continued its scoring spree, adding three runs on two singles and a home run (third on the day for the Crusaders) from Emily Seidel.

In the fifth inning, trailing 9-0, the Indians were facing defeat by virtue of the Mercy Rule (10 runs behind after five innings). The first two batters flew out to the outfield and their third and final batter struck out swinging. Sensing victory, the Crusaders added the 10th run of the game, on a single, a walk and two Burroughs' errors.

The game was called after five batters.

The softball highlight reel of the day came from the JV team, led by coach Louie Binda. The Village softball program generously hosted a barbeque for Burroughs, allowing the varsity players to enjoy lunch in between games.

Varsity players and fans were able to eat and catch part of the JV game. The Indians JV squad crushed the Crusaders, 24-4.

In game two of the varsity teams, Burroughs had Kerry Hodgins on the mound, with Katie Budrick again catching.

Hodgins scattered four hits, three walks, and three strikeouts across six innings. The Indians' defense committed three errors and posted nine strikeouts against the Crusaders pitching.

Burroughs lost the second game of the doubleheader, 2-0. First year coach Steven Garcia is still trying to find the right combination of offensive and defensive players for the starting lineup.

With the season almost half gone, time is running out; complicating the process was Casey Reichelderfer, who was injured during the Village games.