Bulldogs hungry for state title

Return core group from last year’s 3rd place team

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — Their coach says the team’s biggest strength is defense. The key players beg to differ, citing offense as the team’s biggest strength. Regardless of who is right, it bodes well for the Sandpoint softball team in 2018, looking to build off a 3rd place finish at state last year.

Head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams has steadily built the program into a legit state title contender. After beating Blackfoot and Bishop Kelly, and losing 6-3 to eventual champion Middleton, the Bulldogs return a nucleus of strong players hungry for more.

It’s why the head coach has set the bar high for an encore performance of last year’s 13-8 season, which saw the team run a perfect 7-0 in league play.

“Our goal for the team is to win a state championship, with winning league the immediate goal,” said Hawkins-Williams, whose 13-5 team lost nearly a third of its season last year to weather. “Be in better game shape. Most of the teams we played had 10 more games.”

With a bonafide ace anchoring a trio of solid arms, multiple players with home run power and a stingy defense, it’s easy to see why Hawkins-Williams is excited.

“I’m very confident with this group. A lot of varsity and state tournament experience. We’re a defensive team. We averaged two errors per game the last two years, which is outstanding at every level,” she described. “A level of defensive play that you usually see at the collegiate level. Double plays turned, great athletes in the outfield, aggressive baserunning.”

Senior Bri Baldree returns with plenty of varsity experience, posting a 10-2 record last year on the mound while torching opposing pitching with a .538 average at the plate.

Hawkins-Williams feels like Baldree will need to expand her pitching variety, as the other teams have seen her now for three years. With a plus fastball that often leads to double digit strikeouts, command of off-speed secondary pitches will be huge to keep hitters honest.

“She needs to look different, not just speed, expand her repertoire and fine tune what she’s doing,” admitted Hawkins-Williams. “I’m looking for her to continue to be one of the best hitters in the league.”

Hitting right behind Baldree might be the most dangerous hitter in the league in second baseman Kaitlan Ward. The returning league MVP drove in 22 runs in seven league games last year, finishing one RBI behind the team record held by Logan Free, and that was only because the Bulldogs lost a handful of games to weather. Most of her hits go for extra bases, including a home run against Priest River, and her clean up bat makes pitching around Baldree much tougher.

“If we get in more games, she has a shot at breaking the record,” said Hawkins-Williams of Ward. “She’s more hungry as a senior, wants it more.”

Setting the table atop the order are leadoff hitter Bri Barlow, a returning all-league player, and senior Audrey Mattila. Both came up big last year at state, and could be huge factors with a potent middle of the order following them.

Barlow has been hitting leadoff for the past two years, and with plus speed and instincts, can be a handful for defenses when she gets on base.

“She consistently hits .400, leads the team every year in stolen bases and runs,” lauded Hawkins-Williams. “More experience, more confidence, great base runner. It’s why I love having her at the top of the order.”

Barlow, a strong defender at short, said any run at a state title will take communicating, one of the most underrated aspects of any team sport.

“Know your teammate is going to pick you up,” said Barlow, who likes the team’s shot at contending for state. “It’s looking good, we get closer and closer each year.”

Tanis Davis held eventual state champion Middleton scoreless for three innings last year in a 6-3 loss at state, and with Mattila will provide the Bulldogs with some crucial pitching depth behind Baldree.

Davis also has some power, as she showed with a home run against Priest River on Tuesday, and the third baseman could be a surprise player for the Bulldogs.

“I’m expecting a breakout year for Tanis,” predicted Hawkins-Williams. “Her work ethic is huge. She works hard every pitch of every game.”

Natalie Petit hit a home run against the Spartans, and with Ember Dewey, Isabel Edwards, Emma Loutzenhiser and Brooklen Steiger, makes up a strong back half of the order.

The team showed grit and the ability to rally under pressure at state, a trait they’ll look to build on.

“We can always come back. The girls know that,” said Hawkins-Williams, who will be joined by new assistants Lisa Cessna and Kym Witthaus. “They’re going to fight, and it makes for exciting softball.”

Baldree will be a key player, as it’s nearly impossible to make any kind of state run without an ace to hand the ball to each game.

“This year our goal is to win state, and it’s definitely attainable,” said Baldree, adding what it will take. “Team bonding, last year we didn’t focus on it. We’re so close, and that extra push will help us.”

Ward also has high hopes, and would love to end a strong high school career on a high note.

“Winning state is definitely something we can do,” said Ward. “We have some hot bats this year.”