Prep softball notes: Mt. Spokane’s Makenzie Funk receives prestigious honor

Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Haynes made a quick trip to the Northwest this week. There was a high school athlete in Spokane he wanted to meet in person.

Haynes, a former cornerback for the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Raiders, recognized Mt. Spokane senior Makenzie Funk as one of 25 finalists in the country for the U.S. Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence earlier this year.

Funk, who plays shortstop for Mt. Spokane’s softball team, was joined by her family, classmates and her entire softball team at the award ceremony on Wednesday at Mt. Spokane High School.

“I think one of my teammates started even crying a little bit,” Funk said. “My teammates were just really excited for me. It was a cool day.”

The award recognizes sophomore, junior and senior level student-athletes in high school who have exemplified excellence in athletics, academics and within their communities.

Funk was one of three student-athletes on the West Coast who were honored as finalists for the award. She was the only finalist named to the list in Washington.

Funk’s softball coach, Carl Adams, originally wrote her a recommendation letter when she sent in an application to be considered for the award.

“It was an easy letter to write. There’s so many good things to say about her,” Adams said. “Coaching her – whether she’s one of 25 finalists or not – is unreal. This is just, to me, it’s recognition that’s well deserved.”

Funk is in her fourth season with Adams at Mt. Spokane. After graduating this year, Funk plans to play softball at Knox College, a Division III program in Galesburg, Illinois.

Before she heads to Illinois in the fall, Funk will make a detour to Ohio. All 25 finalists were invited to Canton, Ohio, in August during the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week, when the winner of the award will be named. The finalists will also have the opportunity to witness the 2017 Hall of Fame induction ceremony that weekend.

Finalists were told that they could only choose one person to bring with them to Canton. Funk said that decision was made fairly quickly.

“My dad called dibs the second he heard about it,” Funk said.

The winner will be announced on Aug. 5.

Post Falls breaks through

Brian Stranger is on a snapping streak.

The Post Falls softball head coach led his team last week to its first victory over Coeur d’Alene in seven years.

The Trojans topped Coeur d’Alene 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader on April 7, ending the Vikings’ winning streak against Post Falls at 28 games.

The last time Post Falls beat the Vikings was in 2010 when the Trojans went on to win their first 5A Region I title.

“They beat up on us pretty good the last couple of years,” said Stranger, is in his third season at Post Falls. “They’re happy to get that monkey off their back right now.”

Stranger said last week’s big victory is just the beginning for the Trojans, who are off to a 4-4 start (1-1 in the Inland Empire League 5A).

“That win is not their whole season,” Stranger said on Thursday. “Their goal is to do bigger things than that,” such as qualifying for state this year, something that has seemed farfetched in the last six seasons.

Stranger replaced 17-year coach Jack Foster in 2015 after the Trojans went 0-12 for four straight seasons. In his first year at Post Falls, Stranger led the Trojans to their first win since 2010. Their victory over Lewiston – Post Falls’ only win that year – snapped a 54-game losing streak. The following year, the Trojans improved to 3-9 in league.

The Trojans fell 10-8 in the second game of the doubleheader last week. Coeur d’Alene took a six-run lead, but Post Falls rallied to tie the game at 8. The Trojans allowed the Vikings two more runs before the game was called because of darkness.

“All the pieces are starting to come together,” said Stranger, who has high hopes for his Trojans this season. “We certainly haven’t reached our peak yet.”

Post Falls will take on the Vikings again on Friday in a doubleheader at Coeur d’Alene at 3 p.m.

GSL stats leaders

As of Wednesday, Shadle Park pitcher Jaya Allen leads the Greater Spokane League at the plate with a .727 batting average. She’s had eight hits in 11 at-bats, including three home runs. She’s tied with Mt. Spokane’s Brittney Coladonato for the most homers in the GSL.

University’s Kirsten Anstrom sits behind Allen with a .650 batting average. Her 13 hits in 20 at-bats leads the GSL. Anstrom’s teammate, Sierra Apodaca, follows Anstrom with 11 total hits.

Anstrom and Apodaca are tied for the runs batted in lead with 11. Mt. Spokane’s Ashton Cathey follows with nine.

Allen has the most strikeouts (57). Mt. Spokane’s Jesse Dupuis leads with an earned-run average of 0.72.