Crushers claim state softball championship
<p>Pictured back row, left to right: Coach Mike Golden, Cassidy Hansen (Cusick), Brianna Balcom (Cusick), Topi Elsfelder (Sandpoint), Ryleigh Groat (Sandpoint), Bre’anna Williams (Sandpoint) and coach Junior Williams. Front row: Reigan Allen (Cusick), Jesi Huntley (Priest River), Faith Golden (Sandpoint), Autumn Lawler (Priest River) and Desirae Samph (Sandpoint). (Courtesy photo)</p>
SANDPOINT — The words Sandpoint, softball and state champion are not often uttered in the same sentence, but thanks to a dedicated group of local players, they are now.
The U14 North Idaho Girls All-Star softball team, aptly called the Crushers, won two games over the weekend to win both the District 1 and Idaho State Championship, while qualifying for the prestigious Western Regional Tournament in Arizona in August.
A hard-working group of local players, parents and coaches are trying to elevate the level of softball in Sandpoint, and this year’s team showed that the work has paid off. The win marked the first time in 14 years that a Sandpoint-based team has qualified for the Western Regionals, and the team will now set about trying to raise as much money as possible to make the trip possible.
The team started with five experienced players and a host of first year players, and by practicing five times a week has improved greatly, culminating with a state championship.
“It’s great for the kids and gets softball going here in town,” said Mike Golden, who is coaching the team with Junior Williams, Rachel Hammack and Monica Allen. “They’ve come a long ways this year. They have great camaraderie, with everybody helping one another.”
The Crushers, made up of players from Cusick, Priest River and Sandpoint, traveled to face the Post Falls Heat over the weekend in a best-of-three series, notching a commanding 26-16 win the opener and an 11-6 win in the championship.
Since there was no opponent from the Boise area qualifying for state, the Crushers advanced directly to the Western Regionals, held Aug. 3-10 in Murana, Ariz.
The team will be selling water at the Sandpoint Lions' Fourth of July Grand Parade in Sandpoint on Wednesday, the first of many fundraising efforts to help cover the considerable cost of the trip.