The North softball continues to make history, plans to start 12U travel team

SANDPOINT — Interest in youth travel softball has skyrocketed in Sandpoint as of late, especially since the inception of The North — a fastpitch travel softball team in Sandpoint that played in their first tournament this summer. The North’s 16U and 14U teams have been so successful that the travel softball organization is looking to field a 12U team in the near future.

An informational meeting regarding the 12U team will be held on War Memorial Field next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Those interested do not need to be a resident of Sandpoint to join the team; the 16U and 14U teams consist of players from both Bonner and Boundary counties as well as Sanders County, Mont. The meeting will answer questions regarding tryouts, schedules, costs and more. This will also be an opportunity to meet coaches Beth Danish and Cody Montgomery, both of whom are involved with the Sandpoint Little League.

Cody Montgomery, an SLL board member and minor league softball coach, is excited to coach the new 12U team. He believes travel softball plays a real foundational role for the players who want to continue to progress in the sport. With the new travel teams in the area, it will allow dedicated players to continue to play into the summer, including possible fall and winter seasons as well.

“This is an investment in the future generations of our area and the goal here is the positive development of young people, not just building softball players,” Montgomery said.

These new travel teams will be important to athletes like Montgomery’s daughter who began playing softball in 2021 at just 8 years old and fell in love with the sport. Unfortunately, Sandpoint loses a lot of young softball players at this age because other sports offer more opportunities for them to pursue. Combine that with a lack of upkeep at the Sandpoint Middle School fields, it becomes even harder to retain players. That being said, with all the new softball activity in Sandpoint, Montgomery and Danish are looking to continue to give opportunities to the area’s youth softball players.

“Most players at this age group haven't traveled to compete in an event before, sports or otherwise,” Montgomery said. “Anytime a team I've coached even played at a different field or in a town close by, the players got excited. When we traveled to Lewiston for the softball Little League all-stars tournament, the players were wound up just to see new territory, stay in a hotel, and create a whole new set of experiences. I never thought I would hear anyone get excited about driving down the Lewiston grade, but they all were charged up,” Montgomery added.

Montgomery and Danish want to continue that level of excitement with The North’s new 12U team. The two have coached together in the past and really love “watching things click” with players at this age.

“These players are learning so much, so fast," Montgomery said. "It's a great experience to share with them. Coach Danish and I really like watching these young players push themselves and are both excited to coach the new 12U team.”