There's no mistaking the confidence percolating from within the Brigham Young women's softball team.
Led by a potent one-two punch in Angeline Quiocho and Daniela Snow, the Cougars lead a three-team race for the Mountain West Conference title, and with it the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament, which would be their fourth straight.
Quiocho and Snow have combined for 31 homers and 88 runs batted.
"We've come together collectively," said Quiocho, hitting a robust .401, a point higher than Snow. "We have a lot of young players, but we've found it."
The "it" was lacking earlier this season, when BYU (36-16, 10-4 MWC) was streaky, inconsistent. Also, the Cougars were learning to play without one of their top hitters, Andrea Ramirez, who blew out a knee. Quiocho, an outgoing sophomore who punctuates defensive putouts with a quick two-step, paints Ramirez's No. 31 on her right cheek for every game.
If he had the power, coach Gordon Eakin would transport his team back to replay a 17-game stretch between Feb. 15 and March 14 when the Cougars, laden with freshmen and sophomores, lost 11 games as they struggled to find their focus and identity.
"We'd like to get those games back," he said. "I hope we can do that in a regional setting. This is our most talented team in a physical sense. But we significant part of our 12-player rotation.
"We played 30 to 35 games trying to get those kids ready for conference games. They've finally figured out how to play at that level."
BYU has already beaten second-place San Diego State, ranked No. 19 nationally, three of four times, while splitting two games with Utah, which also recently defeated the Aztecs to move into a second-place tie at 9-5. The Cougars and Utes meet again Friday and Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Certainly, Brigham Young has the offensive weapons to repeat as conference champs as well as winning 40 games for the fourth consecutive season. The Cougars own four of the top 10 batters for average as well as power.
Eakin raves about freshmen Kristin Dealhoussay, calling her the best second baseman in the country. She leads the MWC with a .501 on-base percentage.
"She's like a coach on the field," Eakin said.
Another freshman, pitcher Paige Affleck, is 9-2 with a 1.38 earned-run average. Meanwhile senior hurler Christina Trice is 16-6 with a 1.49 ERA. Although sophomore 2007 Christie Zinanti, a 20-game winner last year, has struggled, she has pitched well recently, improving to 11-7 while lowering her ERA to 3.33.
"We're all carrying a higher belief that we can do it," said Snow, a senior who has already has smacked a school record 18 doubles while leading the MWC league leader with 53 RBIs. "After [Andrea] got hurt, coach said we'd all have to hit 30 points higher, and we've done it."
Eakin may have been joking - albeit slightly - about his players bumping their averages, he serious about his two star sluggers.
"Angie has more talent than she knows," he said. "Dani always had All-American type talent, but always questioned herself."
Snow's game improved as her self-doubt waned. Admitted reserved, shy, Snow chucked away a pessimistic attitude. Last week, she was named the MWC Player of the Week after bashing three homers and driving in eight in a single game against UVSC.
"I started believing in the mental side of the game," she said. "I don't know why, it just clicked. Spiritually, I changed the way I look at life. I was baptized [LDS] my junior year, and it carried over to everything."
Quiocho is the yin to Snow's yang. Her favorite movie is "Hairspray," and is more than happy to show off her dance moves.
"She has All-American talent, if she can harness that 'Hairspray' attitude," Eakin said.
For her part, Quiocho recognizes that request, working with a personal trainer during the off season to get stronger physically as well as mentally.
"I'm a young player, but I should be up with the seniors, to lead by example," she said.
Trying to get Quiocho and Snow out has proved a daunting task for opponents. But what about facing a teammate?
"I pitch to them like I would anybody," Trice said. "It doesn't help them or me to take it easy.
"We're a very light-hearted group, but we know how to focus. If we show up and bring everything we have, we can go as far as we choose."