Bath girls soccer seniors, from left, Clayr Owens, Lindsey Brown and Stephanie Hilts.

BATH – Jordan Parks’ first-ever coaching gig didn’t start out glamorous.

The resources for the first-year varsity girls soccer coach at Bath High School were minimal from the start. The team used donated practice pinnies (jerseys) and orange cones, and each player had to bring their own soccer ball during preseason workouts and the first week of practice.

Parks took control of a three-year-old team that was nearly scrapped a year ago due to lack of participation. This season, however, an influx of impressive underclassmen have coupled with a group of tight-knit seniors to help the Bees, who went 2-7-1 last year, capture 14 wins in just their fourth season as a program going into this week’s district tournament.

“Last year, I know there were games where only nine or 10 girls could play because (they) only had 12 girls on the roster,” said Parks, who fields an 18-person roster. “I was just hoping to be .500. I was focused on individual goals early on in the season, just doing the basics.”

Bath ended its regular season with a 14-2 record last week. The Division 4 Bees don’t play in a conference, and Parks used his connections as a Michigan High School Athletic Association referee to put together a full 18-game schedule, which consisted of wins over the likes of Waverly, Stockbridge and Portland.

Senior April Svendson said she was expecting a turnaround this season due to the growing numbers and strength of the incoming class, which includes leading goal scorers Tait Hosford and Olivia Jubb. But she didn’t expect to walk away from the regular season with only two losses — both of which were to Laingsburg.

The Bath seniors often felt outmatched the past three years, but that was not the case this season.

“It was hard to take it seriously because each game we knew we didn’t have the numbers, so we thought (going in) it would be hard to pick up wins,” senior Stephanie Hilts said.

The program is still trying to find its footing. There is no junior varsity team and the varsity squad plays on the school’s somewhat disfigured football field.

“There’s a big crown on the middle of the field, and for some of the shorter girls it’s hard to see other side,” Parks said laughingly.

The school’s athletic department, which fully funded the soccer team for the first time this year, is looking to invest in a soccer field within “the next five years or so,” according to Parks.

Still, Parks and his girls have found a way to bring excitement to the team that struggled to attract supporters in previous years. This season, the Bees have gained a consistent fan base and receive praise routinely from those inside the school.

“It is really cool to come out and see our friends supports us more, and even people we’re not that close with,” senior Lindsey Brown said.

Early on, Parks said he was concerned that the girls wouldn’t buy into the consistent effort, and added that he was worried the incoming freshman and seniors wouldn’t be on the same page. And after the first half of the season, anchored by an experienced defense, Parks said he started to see the potential.

Senior Clayr Owens is another veteran who was confident that this season would be different, but was wary about how all of the new pieces would mesh. Now, she believes the Bees have a chance to continue to write history at next week’s district tournament.

“Before, I never thought (winning a district title) was possible, honestly,” Owens said. “Now, I think we do. We have a shot.”

Contact James L. Edwards III at jledwards@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII.

FIRST ROUND DISTRICT SCHEDULE

Note: all games will be played Tuesday

DIVISION 1 (semifinal and final at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix)

Battle Creek Lakeview at Holt, 6 p.m.

Okemos at Everett, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 1 (all games at Rockford)

Grand Ledge vs. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, TBD

DIVISION 2 (semifinal and final at Dexter)

Jackson Northwest at Mason, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 2 (semifinal and final at DeWitt)

St. Johns at Waverly, 6 p.m.

Fowlerville at East Lansing, 7 p.m.

Haslett at DeWitt, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 2 (semifinal and final at Fenton)

Flint Kearsley at Owosso, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 3 (semifinal and final at Alma)

Midland Bullock Creek at Ithaca, 5:30 p.m.

Essexville Garber at Alma, 5:30 p.m.

DIVISION 3 (all games at Williamston soccer fields)

Portland vs. Williamston, 6 p.m.

Lansing Catholic vs. Lakewood, 6 p.m.

Stockbridge vs. Leslie, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 3 (semifinal and final at Lake Fenton)

Perry at Durand, 4:30 p.m.

Chesaning at Ovid-Elsie, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 4

Laingsburg at Saginaw Arts & Sciences, 5 p.m.

Bath at Carson City-Crystal, 5 p.m.

DIVISION 4 (at Dansville)

Maple Valley vs. Lansing Christian, 5 p.m.