Weather slows softball start for Libby, C-Falls

Now, if only they could get outside.

It wouldn't be spring if sporting events weren't being canceled and coaches weren't scrambling to reschedule.

One softball game - Libby at Columbia Falls on Saturday - has already been postponed.

And just about every area coach has been wondering when the softball players will actually be able to practice their sport outside.

Class AA

Flathead

Three years, three trophies.

The Flathead Bravettes placed third in softball three years ago, brought home the first place trophy in 2003 and were second last year.

Flathead softball fans have come to expect a lot from their Bravettes and the 2005 season shouldn't be much different.

There are, however, two very big differences between the 2005 Bravettes and teams of the past three years.

First and foremost, Chelsey Lorenz, Gatorade's Softball Player of the Year for Montana in 2004, doesn't live here anymore.

The second is the Bravettes have moved on without longtime head coach Gene Boyle, who retired in 2004.

Flathead hired longtime assistant coach Dale Beerman as head coach - and Beerman is ready to play some softball.

The theme for this year's team is "A little dirt don't hurt."

"We've been doing a lot of running, a lot of stealing," he smiled.

"If we hit the ball … we've got to put the ball in play, then we'll be all right."

The Bravettes actually get their start when they travel today to Great Falls for a softball jamboree.

Each game will be five innings or one hour, whichever comes first, Beerman said. All 13 Class AA teams will be there, as will Laurel.

The Bravettes will play Bozeman, CMR, Great Falls High and Laurel.

"Hopefully, we'll get a little sun. After three weeks of practicing, they're ready to play a game.

"I'm bringing a lot of kids to this thing, just to see," Beerman said. "I just need to look."

The main thing the coach will be looking at is pitching.

Senior Brittanni Danielson heads up the Flathead staff, but three sophomores (Brianna Compton, Cori Hindoen and Heather Hagele) and one freshman (Courtney Sverdrup) will also get a look.

Danielson is doing well in the early going, the coach said.

"She could probably play for anybody in AA," he added.

"She keeps the ball down well. She knows the game really well in her head. She'll be fine."

One aspect of Flathead's lineup makes Beerman particularly happy.

"I think we've got one of the fastest outfields we've ever had. These girls go get the ball," the coach said.

They are: senior Amanda Lidstrom in right field, sophomore Leslie Quay in center and Liz Dwyer, junior, in left.

Top infielders include sophomore Christina Zorn at third base, senior Brandi Boreson at shortstop, junior Brittany Nelson and senior Chris Robertson at second and senior Rachel Bennett at first base.

Boreson made the move this spring from third base to shortstop.

Senior Ashley Fusaro will be catcher.

Class A

Columbia Falls

Pitching.

It's all about the pitching in fastpitch softball.

"That's the name of the game," said Columbia Falls coach Dave Kehr. "We're really young. But if we can pitch, we'll be in there."

Kehr is really looking forward to seeing the results of several months of hard work put in by senior pitcher Kym Island.

"Kym has worked really hard. She's gotten much better. She's pitching a lot more strikes, she has a lot more confidence and she's developing a change-up," Kehr said.

Other pitchers are senior Amanda Puryer and sophomore Jennifer Johnson.

Puryer "does everything pretty well. She's got a good glove, throws a lot of strikes. Teams will have a hard time hitting her," said Kehr.

Johnson "has been throwing the ball extremely well. She throws hard and she's developing a little change-up. She'll take some pressure off Kym and Amanda," the coach said.

He feels good about other areas for the Wildkats, too.

"Overall team speed is really good. I think from freshmen to seniors, this is the fastest team I've had."

Other returning starters include senior center fielder Kalee Wolf, and senior first base/outfield Lea Bukowski.

Others who will see significant playing time are:

- Stephanie Davis, senior shortstop, Crystal Ramsey, junior outfielder, and Jessica Lyman, sophomore catcher.

One speedy Wildkat Columbia Falls won't be able to count on this year is all-state, all-conference outfielder Shannon Andersen.

Andersen was the top graduate of four from last year's 3-7 league, 5-15 overall squad.

Others were: Catcher Ashley Dunnigan, third baseman/pitcher Jenny Ramsey and second baseman Colleen Dalimata.

Libby

Good speed, good defense and a whole lot of young players.

That's the line on the Lady Logger softball team for 2005.

Libby won the Western A division last year, but failed to place at the state tournament.

"We've got some good speed," said coach Dean Thompson. "And we have a good nucleus of freshmen, who have played a lot of softball in the summer."

The Loggers will rely on their defense this spring.

That's because of the three players the Loggers lost, one was first team all-state pitcher Jodi Gillan.

"When you lose your first team all-state pitcher, the girls are going to have to play good defense," Thompson said.

In her place are two freshmen - Brooke Hageness and Lacie Dedrick.

"They're doing well," the coach said. "They're good athletes and they had a good summer last year."

The Loggers also graduated first team all-state first baseman Anna Byrns and outfielder Nicole Kehn.

Returning, though, is first team all-state shortstop Nicole Rowan.

"Our best infielder and leading batter last year," said Thompson.

Two other all-state athletes return for the Loggers.

Senior Erin Bothman received all-state honors for her work in center field and junior Sara Lawrence was second team all-state in left field.

"She gets a great jump on the ball in center field," the coach said of Bothman. "She's a good leader."

Lawrence has "great speed," Thompson said.

Other returners include:

- Rose Young, senior. Young played third base last year, but moves to first this spring.

"Good team leadership. She's played for us for four years and she's just a good kid to be around," the coach said.

- Sam Schultz, junior, second base, was first team all-conference, second team all- state a year ago.

"She's a great middle infielder," the coach said.

- Teri Rebo, junior, catcher, second team all-conference last year.

"She's a hard worker, gets along with all the kids," Thompson said. "She's a great student in the classroom."

- Casey Doyle, junior, right field. "Casey has got a strong arm for the outfield and she's got good speed."

Polson

The bull's-eye on the backs of the Class A defending state champs is seared in fairly deep.

The Lady Pirates begin defense of their 2004 Class A state title at noon Saturday in Ronan.

Polson graduated four starters, including three-time all-state shortstop Kdee Meidinger and second team all-state, all-tournament pitcher Ashley Woldstad.

Other starters who graduated were first baseman Kelsey Noble and third baseman Bonnie Klein, but the Pirates have a wealth of all-state returnees to draw upon in 2005.

"Very good bunch of athletes," said longtime coach Larry Smith of the Lady Pirates. "Lots of depth and lots of speed. Defense is definitely going to be our strongest suit. Defense is going to keep them in games."

The only weak point the coach could name earlier this week was lack of consistent batting.

To opposing Western A coaches, it must seem as if Strohm Fouty is about 25 years old. She isn't that old, but she is a senior.

She's also a three-time all-state selection. Two were as center fielder and the third was last year at second base.

She makes the switch this spring to shortstop.

"Strohm wears some pretty big shoes," Smith said. "She's so in control of everything and herself. The girl's mind and body work together," he added.

. First team all-state catcher Jenni Nesladek also returns for her senior season behind the plate.

"She's an exceptionally quick catcher with a very strong arm," the coach said.

Nesladek, a switch hitter, batted nearly .500 as a junior and was over .500 at the Class A state tournament.

. Keely Torgison, first team all-state left fielder, set a school record with 41 RBIs last year.

"She's probably the most tenacious player. That's the best way I can describe her," Smith said. "She's sacrifices her whole body to make a play."

- Tami Bonkowski, senior center fielder, second team all-state.

"One of the best outfielders I've ever coached. She's got good ball judgment and she's got the strongest arm on the team. She throws it on a rope," said Smith.

Other returners include:

- Juniors Janell Lundeen, right fielder, Nicole Brasher, pitcher, Aubrey Prescott, first base, Andrea Mazurek, outfield, Jore Noble, utility.

- Sophomores Dylan Zetterberg, pitcher, Jaelin Vandeberg, third base, Lindsey Rafter, first base/utility, Kyla McDonald, infield, Kendra Woldstad, utility, Brittany Jones, catcher/infield/outfield.

Whitefish

New year, new coach.

That's what is going on right now with the Lady Bulldog softball team.

But Aaron Phillips is no stranger to Bulldog softball or Whitefish athletics.

He was the assistant coach to former softball head coach Eric May for five years and is also the Whitefish freshman football coach.

The Lady Bulldogs open the 2005 season by hosting Western A addition Havre in a doubleheader Saturday. Game times are 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

"We're going into this one blind," Phillips said.

"I'm just glad we're outside and we'll be able to play our first game. We're ready to play some ball."

Phillips expects the Bulldogs to be a defensive team.

"We have great fundamental fielding. And hopefully, our offense will be one of our strengths, too."

The Bulldogs are a "little bit young and we haven't played together as a unit yet," he added. "We're trying to get the team jelling going on."

The Bulldogs graduated several members of the squad that finished third in the Western A conference a year ago.

Chief among those lost was all-state center fielder Carrie Biolo.

"But we have some good kids coming back," Phillips emphasized.

Leading the way for the Bulldogs this spring will be senior third baseman Tessa Kalfell.

Kalfell was all-state and all-conference last year.

"She's a great athlete," said Phillips. "We're looking to her for a lot of things."

Junior Alana Morris made all-state and all-conference at right field last year. She moves this year to center and will also lead off the batting order.

"Great speed, great attitude and very, very competitive," Phillips said of Morris.

Other returners:

- Makalya Peck, senior pitcher. "She pitches well and plays infield very well," the coach said.

- Katie Hodges, senior catcher. Hodges was second team all-conference last year.

- Amanda Joy, senior first base.

- Steph Burt, senior, left field. "Has a great arm in the outfield," Phillips said.

- Lauren Wagner, senior, shortstop.

Newcomers to Bulldog softball this year are: sophomores Sarah Vail at second base and Kilani Morris at right field.

Class B

Eureka

The news is good for longtime head coach Ray Wells and the Lady Lions.

Coming off their best season ever at 12-10, they graduated only catcher Chellie Davis. The Lions also have enough numbers this year for a JV team.

Davis was a significant loss - she was all-state and is now at Jamestown College in Jamestown, N.D. on scholarship.

But everyone else is back - and that includes six seniors.

"They are going to be a pretty good nucleus," Wells said.

Those six are:

. Ashley Horvat, who takes over behind the plate.

"She catches real well," the coach said. "She can play almost any position."

- Anna Ness, pitcher/second base.

- Aysha Carter, second base.

- Allison Stafford, left field/catcher.

- Tish Hall, shortstop.

- Chris Tumlin, center field/pitcher.

Others who will see a ton of playing time include juniors Autumn Franklin at third base and Sienna Heinz at right field and catcher.

Sophomore Amy Roberts rounds out the varsity at first base.

Pitching, hitting and fielding are all pretty solid for the Lions, according to Wells.

The only weakness the coach could name?

Nerves.

"They let their nerves get the best of them every once in awhile."

Wells is assisted this year by Christine Carvey.