'The fun they have is universal'

SANDPOINT — When the Sandpoint JV softball team took the field against Coeur d’Alene for the season opener, five of its players, from countries scattered around the globe, had absolutely no clue what was about to happen.

Unfazed, the Bulldogs went out and notched an impressive victory over the 5A state softball power, with Spain’s Sofia Olaso, Italy’s Simona Barale, Germany’s Stefanie Kowalewski, Ecuador’s Belen Martinez and Brazil’s Mariana Azevedo each playing a part in the win. In the post-game handshake after their first ever game, the five players each said “nice game” in their mother tongues.

Welcome to Sandpoint JV softball, where a lineup brimming with international diversity had one of the best seasons in recent memory.

“They’d never seen a softball game the day we beat Coeur d’Alene. All of the sudden you can see the lights go on, the catches start to happen, they’re getting it. It makes it all worth it,” said JV head coach Jeff Free, noting the language barrier is tough even though all of the girls speak some English. “They’re just a hoot, the personalities are so different. The fun they have is universal. You can bridge all kinds of gaps playing this game.”

All five players took part in other sports during the season, including soccer, volleyball and basketball. All agreed that softball has been the most fun experience.

Kowalewski, an athletically-built exchange student from Germany, started the season in the outfield and eventually moved to catcher. By the end of the season she was not just handling the pitches, but chasing down base runners on the paths.

“We’ve all improved so much, it’s just insane. It’s so cool, we learned so much and everybody accepted us. We knew literally nothing,” admitted Kowalewski. “We were part of the team from the very first day. Even if we make mistakes, nobody is mad at us. I have such a tough time realizing I have to leave them.”

Azevedo called the team “lots of sisters” and marvels at how much fun the team has every time it takes the field. While the sports have been a huge part of her year abroad, one memory will linger far longer than any other: when Olasco saw snow falling from the sky for the first time.

“I cried the first time I saw it. I was like ‘oh my god,’” she recalled. “I didn’t even touch it, I just started crying.”

Martinez, from Ecuador, said skiing was definitely a highlight of her stay. Growing up, she had heard of baseball, but had no idea a sport like softball even existed for girls to play. Like the other four, sports played a large part in her student exchange experience.

“I ended up doing a lot of sports here that I don’t do in Ecuador,” she said. “We don’t have all the extracurricular.”

The JV team notched several wins over bigger 5A programs, a sign that bodes well for the future of the program. First year varsity head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams, a longtime JV coach, said the program has foreign exchange students participate almost every season, and with great results.

“They’re accepted every year and have a blast,” said Hawkins-Williams. “I think it says a lot about the girls we get in our program and their character.”

Who knows what the five players will remember most when they look back on their experience in Sandpoint decades from now. Many may never play the game again, or they may spread the love to their home countries upon return.

One thing is certain: they’ll always have the memory of a great softball season.

“Getting really close to everybody,” answered Barale when asked of the biggest highlight. “I’m going to cry when I leave.”