Intermountain League softball
Defending league champ: None (Lakeland, last year’s champ, moved up to 4A)
Defending district champ: Timberlake
Returning all-league picks: Melissa Piephoff and Kala Allred, Timberlake; Rachelle Solom and Erika Lehman, St. Maries.
League: Teams will play the traditional 15-game schedule, playing each other three times – divided into a doubleheader and single contest.
Postseason: The top two teams earn state berths. The district tourney will be held May 13-14 at Timberlake. State is May 19-21 at Buhl High School.
In predicted order of league finish:
Timberlake Tigers
2004 records: 19-10 overall, 9-6 league
Current records: 0-0, 0-0
Coach: Mike Menti
Years coaching: 6th
Returning lettermen, starters: 7, 6
Key players: Melissa Piephoff, senior, shortstop/pitcher; Shanda Masterson, sr., third base; Katrina Galloway, sr., center field; Kala Allred, sophomore, p/left field; Holli Edelblute, sophomore, catcher/ss.
Coach’s comments: “It’s a great group of kids. It reminds me of my first year (when the Tigers took third at state). They’re always asking for more BP (batting practice) and more groundballs. You don’t have to ask them to clean up after practice. They just do it.”
Outlook: The Tigers, who have won back-to-back district titles and three of the last five, are slight favorites over St. Maries to win league and district titles. They feature two solid pitchers in Piephoff and Allred. Timberlake, which has qualified for state each year under Menti, has few weaknesses.
St. Maries Lumberjacks
2004 records: 14-14, 7-8
Current records: 5-0, 0-0
Coach: Cory Stapleton
Years coaching: 2nd
Returning lettermen, starters: 7, 6
Key players: Rachelle Solom, sr., ss; Erika Lehman, sr., cf; Rayna Eises, jr., of; Kristi Smith, sr., 2b/p; Betsy Bentcik, sr., p/2b.
Coach’s comments: “We were awfully close last year (to getting to state). The girls remember that, too. They’re hungry and they know what it takes now.”
Outlook: The Lumberjacks are seeking their first trip to state since 1998. St. Maries took two of three league games against Timberlake last year before the Tigers evened things by beating the Lumberjacks in the district final. Lakeland earned the second state berth and eliminated St. Maries in a loser-out game. The Lumberjacks are on a mission this season.
Kellogg Wildcats
2004 records: 6-14, 4-11
Current records: 1-5, 0-0
Coach: Craig Turbak
Years coaching: 3rd
Returning lettermen, starters: 5, 5
Key players: Stephanie Martin, sr., p; Liz Collins, sr., c/p; Felicia Frisbie, sr., ss; Bridget Lund, freshman, p/cf.
Coach’s comments: “They have the capability, but you can only coach so much and then it’s up to them. We’re going to have strong pitching. If we hit we’ll be OK. That’s been our weakness.”
Outlook: Timberlake and St. Maries should establish they’re clearly the best teams in the league. But Kellogg won’t be too far behind. And if the Wildcats can put together a consistent offensive attack, they could challenge for a state berth if the expected leaders stumble.
Priest River Spartans
2004 records: 13-9, 11-4
Current records: 2-2, 0-0
Coach: John Mullaley
Years coaching: 10th
Returning lettermen, starters: 3, 2
Key players: Lesa Barber, sr., ss/2b; Amanda Campbell, sr., infield; Liz Karkoski, jr., inf; Shauna Schryver, jr., p; Amber Henderson, soph., p.
Coach’s comments: “We’ve got a lot of girls who played fairly well (on the junior varsity) last year, but they’re young,” 10-year assistant Ed Kassa said. “It’s going to be a matter of playing time and getting better as they play.”
Outlook: The Spartans were hit hardest by graduation. The nucleus of the team steps up from JV. Priest River will have to mature quickly to compete with the aforementioned teams.
Bonners Ferry Badgers
2004 records: 1-19, 0-15
Current records: 0-0, 0-0
Coach: Kenton Clairmont
Years coaching: 1st
Returning lettermen, starters: 6, 6
Key players: Amanda Johnson, sr., 3b; Aubry Hoover, sr., c; Melody Clark, sr., 1b; Tyga White, jr., inf; Sara Kerby, jr., inf; Camy Way, soph., cf; Kristina Turpin, fr., of.
Coach’s comments: “They’ve got good skills; I don’t feel like I’m starting at ground zero. They just haven’t been taught how to play softball. I’m sure we’re expected to be in the cellar.”
Outlook: The Badgers’ program was on the brink of cancellation when Clairmont stepped forward a day after spring teams could begin practicing. Clairmont, a 1992 BF graduate, is the third coach in as many years. He was the head baseball coach for three years at Moscow when he attended the University of Idaho. Bonners Ferry was third at district three seasons ago.