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Bountiful first baseman Jessie Martin works on her fielding during a recent practice. The Braves are looking to win their third straight Region 5 title this week.
Out with the old and in with the new sums up the Bountiful Braves heading into this season.
    Outgoing coach Kelly Anderson ventured northward to Syracuse to become the athletic director, making way for assistant coach Butch Latey to fill the roll as commander-in-chief from the dugout. The Braves are targeting their third consecutive Region 5 title, any concern of a drop off with transitions at the top have quickly faded.
    With Latey at the helm, success should never have been a question as he brings decades of experience and a humbled personality to boot. In other words, Latey will never allow the players to get too high or low throughout the season and might be the difference maker come playoff time, finally lifting the Braves past the semifinals.
    "We've always had a good coaching staff," catcher Kim Weese said. "It really helped us out with the transition that [Latey] already being on the staff before."
    Latey, who makes daily drives from his South Jordan home to practices and games, says he doesn't regret for one second accepting the job now, or even the assistant position four years ago after leaving Salt Lake Community College. He does reassure that this isn't going to be a one and done year and plans on coming back for another season.
    As for present day, Latey has a tremendous opportunity to get Bountiful to the next step: a state championship appearance,
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something Anderson could never do. This particular squad has crucial seniors who have been climbing that mountain many times now. Such as Weese.
    If Latey is the commander-in-chief, then Weese is the secretary of defense. A four-year starter, Weese has caught and blocked everything thrown her way. The former all-stater has helped the pitching staff evolve with each season, essentially becoming another coach on the field.
    "[Weese] supports me as a pitcher and [instills] a lot of confidence in me," senior Jessee Martin said. "She's really good at calling pitches where we are on the same page for the most part."
    After ace Lindsay Parkin was sidelined last month due to injury, Martin received the word she'll need to be the new anchor of the staff. Primarily a pitcher, Martin did play out of position her junior year due to a wrist injury. Wanting to get back in the circle, she worked endlessly in the offseason to prepare for this season. And it's paying dividends. Martin's 3-1 in her last four and holds 1.90 ERA for the season.
    Latey acknowledges that the new ace is doing awesome after struggling a season ago. As for Weese, he says the leader has gotten off to a slow start but his 100 percent confident [Weese] will regain her swing at the plate.
    A career hitter over .300, Weese is averaging just .242 through Monday.
    "My teammates have been amazing, they've been strong at every point and are doing it without me," Weese said. "All I can really do is take baby steps to get better. I'm confident that will happen, everyone goes through slumps every now and then."
    Who knows how dangerous Bountiful's lineup will be once Weese returns to familiar results. Their already averaging a solid 6.7 runs per game through Monday with the pitching staff holding steadily at just over three per contest.
    If there is one area that Bountiful's lacking, it's certainly not confidence. It'd be a terrible mistake to judge it as being overconfident or egotistical. This group is fully aware of the talent in the lineup and what it's capable of - just ask region foes the last two seasons.
    Although the Braves inquired a stutter step against region leader Roy last week, it still hasn't faded that old sense of confidence throughout the Bountiful dugout.
    "[Roy] got us this time and we know we didn't play particularly well . . . next time we play them it'll be different. We'll really give it to [them]."
   
   Keeping on that winning feeling
    * First-year coach Butch Latey has Bountiful in the thick of the Region 5 race, on course for the Braves' third consecutive title.
    * Former all-state catcher Kim Weese is off to a slow start, hitting just .242, well below her career numbers.
    * Ace Jessee Martin has been lights out to opposing batters.