Idaho: Spring prep sports season melts away

I‘m not a big fan of our new high school indoor spring sports season.

What? You say you haven’t heard of whiffle ball (both baseball and softball varieties), miniature golf, badminton and track and field in the hallways and cafeterias/commons?

Any bets on when the first baseball or softball games north of Lewiston will be played? Bonners Ferry, believe it or not, has less snow than Coeur d’Alene, I’ve been told. Timberlake, located on the back side of Mt. Spokane, was hit the hardest this winter in this region, and it could be June before the Tigers’ baseball and softball teams play on their home fields. I admit that might be stretching the truth a little, but not much.

What teenager in his or her right mind wants to go play golf, do the 400 meters, or play baseball or softball (even with extra, extra layers of warmth under uniforms) in this weather? It’s not called under armor for nothing.

I’ve always had much respect for spring sports athletes in the Panhandle. Even in a good year – and I can count those on one hand the past two decades – it takes an uncommon dedication to do what I affectionately refer to as late winter sports in these parts.

Get a job and make a little extra scratch or spend two to three hours a day (unless it’s a doubleheader or quadrangular track meet, otherwise known as a strangle-me track meet) six days a week outside battling the predictable inclement conditions?

Last year, for example, I don’t recall one exceptionally warm day until the state meets. Correct me if I’m wrong. I still haven’t thawed out from winter.

The Lake City baseball team won its first three games – all in Lewiston last Friday and Saturday. The Timberwolves saw much melting on their field last week.

Post Falls’ baseball and softball fields were somewhat functional for practices last week – the first time any Kootenai County teams have practiced outside so far on their fields. But baseball and softball games scheduled Tuesday at Post Falls had to be postponed.

Just before spring sports tryouts began in late February, I heard that North Idaho was supposed to get 15 more inches of snow before winter concludes. I’m not trying to rub more salt in the wound here, but supposedly with the El Nina weather pattern we’ve experienced, we’re supposed to have a wetter than normal spring – not my prediction, but the forecast of a local meteorologist.

Anyway, give me a call when the REAL spring sports season finally begins. Just give me a few minutes to find my parka and umbrella. Scratch that – my winter coat is still hanging on my coat rack.

A few predictions

I’ll start with baseball this week.

In the Inland Empire League, defending 5A state champ Lake City and state runner-up Lewiston will secure the two state berths. Here’s the order of finish among the 5A teams: 1) LC, 2) Lewiston, 3) Post Falls, 4) Coeur d’Alene. For a third straight year, the state champ will come from North Idaho (Lewiston won in 2006), and I see LC repeating. It’ll be an all-IEL state final for a second straight year.

“One Sandpoint player told me the other day that the Bulldogs have what it takes to win the 4A state title for the second time in three years. He just might be right.

The Bulldogs graduated ace Tyler Lichty, but they have plenty of arms and even more bats to make a run at a state title. At the least, Sandpoint should capture a state trophy for a third straight year.

So here’s how they stack up in 4A: 1) Sandpoint, 2) Lakeland, 3) Moscow.

“In the Intermountain League, I see St. Maries as the favorite. But Timberlake should be right on the Lumberjacks’ heels. Defending league and district champ Bonners Ferry lost too much to graduation to be in the mix.

The order of finish should be: 1) St. Maries, 2) Timberlake, 3) Bonners Ferry, 4) Priest River, 5) Kellogg.

“Check back next week for my softball picks.