Coaches Don’t Shine In Incidents At Ballgames

There must be something in the air this spring in the Panhandle because a few coaches have experienced momentary lapses of sanity.

(Advice: Athletes, please ignore these juvenile acts by the coaches.)

Consider, at least among the incidents on the record, the following:

Moscow baseball coach Scott Knopp was suspended for a week after ordering an ejected player to switch jerseys with a reserve.

The incident occurred Saturday during a non-league doubleheader at Coeur d’Alene. After the player, who also pitches, was ejected, Knopp told the player to switch uniform tops with a reserve because he was considering using the ejected player later in the game as a pitcher.

Knopp never put the ejected player back in the game, but the intent was apparent.

Moscow school officials suspended Knopp this week. He will return Tuesday when Moscow goes to Lakeland for an Intermountain League doubleheader.

“It was an error in judgment,” Knopp said. “The kid didn’t play. It was my mistake. That’s all I’ve got to say.”

Moscow Principal K.C. Albright declined comment, saying it was a personnel issue.

Sandpoint clobbered Post Falls 19-3 in the first game of an IEL doubleheader Saturday at Post Falls, but the Bulldogs lost the second game.

Check that, the Bulldogs had to forfeit the second game.

Post Falls was ahead 7-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning when Sandpoint interim coach Dave Martinez was ejected for arguing with an umpire.

Sandpoint had to forfeit the game moments later after Martinez refused to leave the field.

Here’s the kicker: Martinez is a juvenile probation officer for Bonner County.

Head to head

It was suggested last year before Lake City High School opened its doors that an all-sports trophy be given to the city school that wins the most head-to-head athletic events each year.

We’re not sure if that will happen, but for those keeping score at home here’s a look at how Coeur d’Alene’s and Lake City’s boys and girls have fared overall this year.

With events remaining between the softball, baseball and tennis teams - not to mention the possibility of postseason games - Lake City leads 13-11.

The LC boys have captured wins in 7 of 13 events while the Timberwolf girls have tallied six to the Viks’ five.

Here’s how the boys’ events break down by season and event: fall, football (CdA two wins), soccer (LC one win), cross country (LC one win) and swimming (LC one win); winter, wrestling (CdA two wins) and basketball (split two games); spring, soccer (LC two wins), track (LC one win) and golf (CdA one win).

Here’s how the girls’ events break down by season and event: fall, volleyball (LC two wins, CdA one), cross country (CdA one win), soccer (LC two wins) and swimming (CdA one win); winter, basketball (LC two wins); and spring, track (CdA one win) and golf (CdA one win).

The chase for the all-sports title may not be decided

until regional tournaments conclude. LC’s softball team will be favored in two doubleheaders yet to be played, while the CdA baseball team should have the edge. And the softball and baseball teams could play again in statequalifying tournaments.

Prime coaching jobs

The two top boys basketball coaching jobs in the Intermountain League are vacant at Kellogg and Bonners Ferry.

It isn’t a surprise either. Dick Hollenbeck would have coached just one more year had he stayed at Bonners Ferry because he’s retiring from teaching most likely next year.

And Kellogg’s David Roberts has desired to climb the coaching ladder for a couple of years.

Though both jobs will probably be opened up outside, look for former Bonners Ferry head coach Pete Glindeman (Hollenbeck’s assistant) and Kellogg head girls coach Wayne Pfeifer to get serious consideration for the jobs.

Pfeifer has applied for seemingly every girls job in the area as he tried to get out of Kellogg. But with Roberts leaving, the job offers Pfeifer a chance to return to coaching boys. He coached boys and girls at Center, N.D., before coming to Kellogg.

If Pfeifer switches hats, look for Roberts’ junior varsity assistant and head track coach, Mark Holzer, to take girls job. Holzer resigned as JV boys coach.

Shawna Rainer, a 6-foot center from Spokane’s Shadle Park High, has signed to play basketball at North Idaho College. Rainer selected NIC over Spokane Falls.

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Greg Lee The Spokesman-Review