First-year coach seeking improvement from Bulldogs

SANDPOINT — First year Sandpoint softball head coach Elizabeth Hawkins has set a modest-sounding, but realistic goal for her team this season: to reach .500.

To do so, the Bulldogs will need to improve on last year’s 4-18 record and beat the 4A and 3A opponents on the schedule, as the 5A softball teams in North Idaho are among the best in the state.

Hawkins, who coached the JV teams in the past and succeeds the lengthy tenure of Derek Dickinson, believes her team might just have enough offense to make a run at going to state, which hasn’t happened in more than a decade.

“My goal is for us to be .500, and it’s a big goal for this program. Beat who we’re supposed to beat and we can get there,” she said, lauding the top half of her lineup. “One through five are experienced and can hit for power. Hitting is going to be our strength. A lot more power bats than in years past, and a lot of varsity experience. ”

Leading the way are seniors Topi Elsfelder (1B) and Morgan Bluemer (3B), each of whom has played three years of varsity softball. The pair both have live bats, and will anchor the infield defensively while providing senior leadership.

“I’m going to lean heavy on Topi and Morgan,” admitted Hawkins. “They’re on my corners, will anchor my defense.”

Batting third and playing shortstop will be junior Cody Baldree, a two-year returning starter with lots of raw talent both in the field and at the plate.

“She’s always thinking; what’s going on in the field, where the next play is,” described Hawkins of Baldree. “She’s always helping her teammates to get better.”

Junior Alison Calvert will bat leadoff, hoping to set the table for the middle of the order. Sophomore Sam Holland will bat cleanup, and handle the pitching staff behind the plate.

“Sam is very strong and has high expectations of herself,” said Hawkins of her backstop. “She plays with a lot of confidence and strength. You’d never know she was a sophomore.”

Taking the mound for the Bulldogs will be freshman left-handed hurler Bree Baldree. Senior Lucinda Calvert, who started nearly every game for the Bulldogs last season, injured her knee in basketball and will miss the season.

Behind Baldree is sophomore Nycole Moreland, and both pitchers will be seeing their first varsity action. Despite their youth, Hawkins believes each can get the job done with a strong defense behind them.

“Bree throws hard. She’s working on off-speed and has a lot of spin,” described Hawkins, also lauding Moreland, who has only pitched for one season. “She has natural pitching ability and she works hard.”

Senior Lily Martin, sophomore Kenzie Crabb and junior Ashley Lundquist will patrol the outfield, and each is capable of getting on base at the bottom of the order.

The team is unified in its goal to reach state, and eager to show the program is on an upswing. Bluemer, who brings a left-handed bat into the middle of the order, likes the team’s chances.

“I want to go to state in softball. It hasn’t happened in a while, and I think we can do it,” she said. “We’re a lot more focused this year.”

The Bulldogs open the season today against perennial 5A power Coeur d’Alene. First pitch is at 4 p.m. at the Sandpoint Middle School field.