New London — It is called the Law of Attraction, which, loosely translated, suggests that whatever you focus on comes into your life. If you choose gratitude and positivity, you walk around fulfilled, no matter the circumstances. If you're one of those people who makes the room better after you exit, then you'll be miserable.

And now all these years later, Missy Parker's words, echoing the Law of Attraction, still resonate with her team, the one that has risen from consecutive 0-20 seasons not long ago to a state tournament berth (and a nifty 8-4 record so far) this season.

There aren't many sports stories in our corner of the world better than New London High softball right now. The Whalers are a monument to the Law of Attraction. Even in the days when the team goals were to not get no-hit, they found their salvation in celebrating the little things. Staying patient and positive. Being faithful. Believing. All those things that sound like clichés from a motivational speech.

Except it really does work.

"It's really how you look at things," senior Joe Potter was saying Tuesday at practice. "You can become a better player or just cry about it and quit. Staying with it during the hard times and believing in yourself and the coaches get you through it."

Joe Potter was there freshman year for a three-win season. That was after the back-to-back 0-20s. This is New London, where forking over money for travel ball isn't always an option. Lest we forget the Whalers, because of their ability to attract kids from out of district with the science and technology magnet high school option, were stuck in the largest division within the Eastern Connecticut Conference.

Not exactly causes to sing showtunes.

"Back then," Parker said, "we always celebrated the little things. Our goal was 'let's try not to get mercied.' If we didn't get shut out or no-hit, it was an accomplishment. We still celebrate the little things, but there's different expectations now."

Different expectations? Sure. But the same attitude. It's called never forgetting where you come from. It's a big thing in the 06320.

"Positivity for me is a huge thing. I live my life by it," Potter said. "If you're not positive, you'll never see the fun in anything. There's always good things that happen. Either figuring out fundamentals or seeing coach smile after you do something good. All the little things add up to the big picture. Progress is all that really matters."

The Whalers qualified for the state tournament Monday for the first time in nine years. The accomplishment was historic. But the metaphorical richness of finding progress through little things is positively priceless.

"I thought I was going to cry (Monday). That's how much it meant," Parker said. "It's been years of putting in so much time and effort. The fact that it's finally paying off for the kids and their hard work is really awesome. It's coming together. Whatever the rest of the season brings ... hey, four and five years ago, we were 0-20.

"The one thing I always wanted to instill here is that no matter the score, the kids keep playing hard. If the scoreboard wasn't on, people would never know what the score was judging from how hard our kids were playing. We've always taken a lot of pride in that."

Maybe that's why the shirts some of the kids sported in practice Tuesday read, "hustle, hit, never quit."

"It's really euphoric. I don't have another word to use," Potter said. "It's not luck. I don't know a single person on this team that won't run the extra lap or dive for a loose ball, even in the gym."

And now Joe Potter, who hails from one of New London's most longstanding (and best) extended families, has a sports story to tell. Seems Joe Potter's dad, John, likes to tell the tale of a 43-yard field goal he made for the Whalers in the 1983 state championship football game.

"Oh, God," Joe said. "I've heard it so many times. 'I set records in high school.' Or 'I remember kicking for an hour after practice and then going to work.' That's all I hear in the Potter household. Now I have my own story about softball and never giving up. I'll tell that to my kids."

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro