Sandpoint tennis, softball prepare for season's first matches

SANDPOINT — Instead of testing their skills within the four walls of the gym, several Sandpoint High School sports teams were finally able to practice outdoors this week — just before their first matches of the spring season.

Coach Kent Anderson, Sandpoint men’s and women’s head tennis coach, held his first outdoor practice Tuesday. To make that happen, many of his players volunteered to clear the snow- and ice-filled courts at Travers Park.

“Our first matches of the year are this weekend and this was the first time we were able to get outdoors. I’m really excited for this season and am confident this team will be successful,” Anderson said.

A majority of the players also expressed that they are excited for the season to begin. Anderson’s encouraging attitude seems to be the difference-maker for most of these athletes. The team is looking to capture another district title and send multiple individuals to the state championship once again. Captains for this year’s girls team are Neva Reseka, Maise Brazill, Patch Howard and Maile Evans; captains for the boys team are Evan Wiley, Owen Larson and Aden Heitz.

A few minutes away, the Sandpoint softball team practiced in the middle school parking lot for just the second time this year. The team has spent the majority of their time practicing in the gym late at night, but that does not seem like a deterrent whatsoever. Coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams is preparing to take this team deep into the postseason; her post-practice speech was nothing short of motivational.

Sandpoint softball’s four seniors — Bella Crum, Ashlyn Darling, Mayle Ducken and Elizabeth Dysart — are looking to lead this team to victory. Even though the team is smaller this year, the seniors said the energy is just as high. The four said this is a team that always has each other’s backs, communicates well and really feels like a second family to them.

“One of our team goals this year is to be mentally tough and not to be too hard on ourselves. It is our job as seniors to keep the energy up,” Mayle Ducken said as the team’s seniors nodded their heads in agreement.

Sandpoint men’s and women’s tennis is in action this weekend in Clarkston, Wash., at the Clarkston Tourney. Sandpoint softball is headed to Richland, Wash., on Saturday to compete at the Richland Mixer, where they will take the field for their first two games of the season.

OTHER:

Baseball — Sandpoint at Post Falls on Saturday, March 18 at noon.

Track & field — Sandpoint at Bonners Ferry Invitational on March 18 at 10 a.m.