Inland Empire, Intermountain Softball Preview

In predicted order of finish:

Inland Empire League

Lake City Timberwolves

1996 record: 21-6 overall, 13-2 IEL (first)

Coach: Dwight Wilson, 3rd year

Top returners: Courtney Zimmerman, sr., pitcher; Amber Barnes, sr., p; Kim Koll, jr., catcher; Kim Budvarson, sr., outfield, Autumn Cheyne, sr., of; Christina Johnson, sr., 2b; Allison Gerzina, sr., utility; Lindsay Herbert, jr., 1b.

Newcomers: Katie Hatrock, sr., shortstop; Nicole Owen, jr., inf/of; Heidi Brynsten, jr., utility; Laura Baker, soph., inf/of; Shelby McIntosh, soph., of; Jill Ashkinos, frosh., if; Megan Carpenter, frosh., c/of.

Coach’s comment “I like our chances. We only lost four players from last year, which seems to tip our hand a little bit. Our success will all depend on the development of the bottom of our order.”

Outlook: The T-Wolves came in second at state last year and will most likely represent the IEL in the championship again. LC has both starting pitchers back and good team speed.

Coeur d’ Alene Vikings

1996 record: 16-14, 13-5 (second)

Coach: Larry Bieber, 4th year

Top returners: Amber Orr, sr., 3b; Kelli Babcock, jr., c; Christie Babcock, sr., p; Sarah Ballinger, sr., p; Jessica Moore, sr., 3b; Katelyn Tatum, jr., 1b; Liana Robinson, sr., 2b; Kara Lenz, jr., 2b; Stacy Mitchell, jr., of; Natalie Wuest, sr., of.

Newcomers: Blake Hoorelbeke, frosh., p; Annie Stranger, jr., ss; Stacy Weber, soph., of; Kelsea Kuntz, jr., of; Gilliam Dodds, sr., of.

Coach’s comment “We’ve got good returning players and we’re solid at most positions. The key will be how good our pitching turns out to be.”

Outlook: The Vikings will be solid throughout, with a lot of experienced players returning. If LC has an advantage, it will be in pitching.

Post Falls Trojans

1996 record: 4-17, 3-11 (fourth)

Coach: Jack Foster, 1st year

Top returners: Lyndsy Klaudt, sr., 2b; Jennifer Glaser, sr., of; Angie Foster, jr., ss; Saundra Julin, jr., if.

Newcomers: Becca Reed, frosh., pitcher; Suzanne O’Reily, sr., of; Katie Parsons, sr., of; Shandy Mills, jr., of; Jennifer Gullingsrud, jr., of; Cassie Porter, soph., 3b; Misty Evey, jr., 2b/of; Darcie Buffington, sr., c.

Coach’s comment “We lost a lot to graduation but we have some seniors that have played a couple years of junior varsity. Defensively, we look real good, but our hitting is hard to judge right now.”

Outlook: The Trojans are responding well to Foster and have a lot of experience. Reed is one of the bright young players in the league, with a lot of club team experience.

Sandpoint Bulldogs

1996 record: 7-10, 5-7 (third)

Coach: Radd Raynor, 1st year

Top returners: Stacie Hartmann, sr., inf; Jodi McKitrick, sr., inf; Leah Free, sr., ss; Tami Owens, sr., rf; Angie Corliss, sr., cf; Bobbie Jo Jensen, jr., c.

Newcomers: Tina Smith, sr., p/lf; Katie Dalessio, jr., of/1b; Jenny Allard, jr., of; Katie Pinch, jr., utility; Candice Nelson, jr., 3b; Kassey Donaldson, soph., p/of.

Coach’s comment “We’ve got lots of practice in the gym, but I can’t judge the team until we get more time outside.”

Outlook: The Bulldogs will hit the ball well and play good defense. Pitching is a question mark beyond Smith, and that could be Sandpoint’s biggest problem.

Lewiston Bengals

1996 record: 4-14, 2-9 (fifth)

Coach: Dick Richel, 5th year

Top returners: Amy Church, jr., ss; Rachelle Gill, soph., cf; Jessica Presnell, jr., lf.

Newcomers: Naomi Yokomizo, jr., p; Becky Overall, jr., of; Sarah Emerson, sr., 1b.

Coach’s comment “We should have had five senior starters back, but none of them turned out. It’s real difficult because the one intangible every coach wants is returning experience.”

Outlook: The Bengals lost the top four batters in the order when the seniors decided not to play. Most coaches in the league expected the Bengals to contends until those players didn’t turn out.

Intermountain League

Lakeland Hawks

1996 record: 23-2 overall, 11-1 league (first), state champ

Coach: Danielle Bean, 10th year

Top returners: Monica Hall, sr., p; Angie Tweedy, sr., c; Tiffany Hall, soph., p; Jessica McBride, sr., of; Jerri Anne Huber, jr., of; Annie Carhart, sr., of/1b; Jacque Foster, jr., 3b; Shawny Nicklas, jr., of; Paige Smith, jr., of.

Newcomers: None.

Coach’s comment “The kids know that anything they accomplished last year doesn’t count this year.”

Outlook: The Hawks won the A-2 state title last year and only lost one player to graduation. There aren’t any key newcomers because almost the whole team returns. Behind the pitching of the Hall sisters, Lakeland will be favored to repeat.

Moscow Bears

1996 record: 13-11, 6-5 (third)

Coach: Robin Barnes, 4th year

Top returners: Heather Griggs, sr., p; Melissa Barnes, sr., inf; Erin Makus, sr., p; Emily Shupe, sr., of; Marisa Swank, sr., of/inf; Traci Hasslhun, sr., 1b; Kasey Kinziger, jr., ss/c; Emy Makus, jr., inf; Amy Sorbel, jr., p/1b/of.

Newcomers: Kara Swank, jr., inf; Christina Thornton, jr., 1b/of.

Coach’s comment “We’ve got a nice group of veterans and the young kids have enthusiasm. We’ll be a stronger all-around team than last year.”

Outlook: If anyone can knock off Lakeland it will be Moscow. Success may be a family affair as the Makus and Swank sisters are the catalysts on this talented team.

St. Maries Lumberjacks

1996 record: 11-12, 7-4 (second)

Coach: Jason Hillman, 1st year

Top returners: Jamie Wolfe, jr., of; Alicia Adams, jr., ss/p; Amy Reid, jr., 1b; Shasta Schawrtz, soph., of.

Newcomers: Jamie Hammes, soph., 3B; Lindsey Harpole, frosh., of; Lindsey Boyd, soph., of; Tiffany Holdahl, frosh., 2b.

Coach’s comment “Our fielding and defense should be solid and our pitchers both throw a lot of strikes. We’re a little behind in our hitting.”

Outlook: St. Maries is a year away from giving schools such as Lakeland and Moscow a run. The Lumberjacks should improve throughout the season.

Bonners Ferry Badgers

1996 record: 1-13, 1-9 (fifth)

Coach: Ron Smith, 2nd year

Top returners: Tammy Blanford, sr., p; Shauna Erickson, sr., p; Stephani Merrifield; sr., of; Brandi Myers, sr., 2b; Jennifer Soito, jr., of; Brittany Schave, soph., c; Lindsay Falck, soph., p/inf; Julie Day, soph., of; Laura Neumeyer, soph., of.

Newcomers: Becky Bateman, sr., inf; Kayla Howlett, frosh., inf; Becky Merrifield, frosh., of; Raija Erickson, frosh., inf/p.

Coach’s comment “We haven’t got much practice outside, but it looks so far like our defense and pitching are going to be good.”

Outlook: The Badgers just got their practice field cleared of snow this week, so they’ll be a little behind most schools. Things look up from last year.

Priest River Spartans

1996 record: 5-14, 3-9 (fourth)

Coach: John Mullaley, 2nd year

Top returners: Katie Peterson, sr., ss/c; Rita Auten, sr., 3b; Katie Scott, jr., p; Molly Mason, soph., inf; Nicki Johnson, soph., inf; Jennifer Kelly, soph., inf/of.

Newcomers: Erin Pettit, soph., of; Tanesa Lee, soph., of/inf; Missy Karukes, frosh., p.

Coach’s comment “We’re very inexperienced, but the team has a good work ethic. I think that we’ll improve quickly.”

Outlook: The Spartans won’t have a practice field until April because of packed snow. With 13 sophomores on varsity, watch out for Priest River in a couple years.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH Monica Hall, senior, pitcher, Lakeland Courtney Zimmerman, junior, pitcher, Lake City Amber Orr, senior, third base, Coeur d’Alene Erin Makus, senior, pitcher, Moscow Angie Tweedy, senior, catcher, Lakeland Lindsay Herbert, junior, first base, Lake City Lyndsy Klaudt, senior, second base, Post Falls Kelli Babcock, senior, catcher, Coeur d’Alene