Spring break allows time to reflect

Spring break is upon us, and while I’m sure the players won’t complain about a week off of school and they’ll still practice during the vacation, the timing wasn’t the best.

It seemed as though games were consistently happening for the first time this season last week and boom, another week off for spring break.

While it isn’t the end of the world, it most certainly gives local sports fans a little less to look forward to, especially on a Monday.

Usually this day is reserved for a look ahead at the action-packed week for high school athletics, but this week, let’s take a look back at how the area did in its action last week.

Starting off with Sandpoint baseball, which played in its home opener at Memorial Field on Tuesday, March 29, against Bonners Ferry in a doubleheader.

The Bulldogs handled the Badgers in Game 1, 9-2, but Bonners Ferry showed some fight in Game 2.

With the game tied at five in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jack Zimmerman went out and won the game for the Bulldogs.

Zimmerman got on base and managed to use his savvy baserunning to score the game-winning run.

The baserunning of Zimmerman was refreshing for a Sandpoint team who had been struggling with running the bases throughout its contest against Bonners Ferry.

League play will begin for most area teams after spring break, but Sandpoint Tennis got its first taste of league play against Moscow on Tuesday, March 29.

Head tennis coach at Sandpoint High School Kent Anderson stated this match would give the Bulldogs somewhat of an idea of where they stood prior to districts.

If that sediment is true, Sandpoint should be prepared for a successful postseason.

The Bulldogs defeated the Bears 9-3. What made the feat even more impressive was how many of its players weren’t available during the match.

Sandpoint was without its girls number two and three players and Tyler Korn paired up with boys number one singles player Cayden Kindred, who filled in for Jacob Dawson.

Each player who stepped in, won their match.

Anderson said with these results, it’s sure to make the challenge matches at practice much more interesting.

Over at Priest River, Matyus McLain picked up three gold medals at the Glenn Wolf Invitational at Deer Park High School.

He finished first in discus, shot put, and the 100 meter sprint.

The Priest River boys team finished in first place scoring 91 points, 13 and half points ahead of second place Chewelah.

The girls finished fifth overall, with Allyson Barton placing first in discus.

The girls 4x200 meter relay team finished in second place.

Priest River baseball was in action on Thursday, March 31 against Newport at Priest River High School.

The Spartans demonstrated its biggest strength in its doubleheader against the Grizzlies, having no quit..

The Spartans fell somewhat soundly in Game 1 13-7, but flipped the script in Game 2 and won 11-4.

The attitude and want to be there for their teammates have formed this Priest River baseball team, according to head coach Mark Schultz.

The Priest River softball team continued to develop in its 16-6 loss to Newport.

Lilly Freitas and Brodie Hansen have been major contributors to the Spartans. They hit back-to-back doubles in their game against the Grizzlies.