The North 14U achieves first program win, plans for another team

The North 14U travel softball team split a doubleheader against Krushers 14U, a Montana-based travel team, Saturday in Libby, Mont.

In the first game, The North clinched its first-ever program win 16-7. The team lost a close second game, 15-11.

Following in the North 16U’s footsteps, the 14U squad won its first game of the summer season in a convincing fashion. Jennifer Petersen and Hannah Frago, both from Bonners Ferry, led the team in Game 1’s nine-run victory. Petersen went two-for-three with three runs scored and two RBIs while Frago went two-for-three with two singles and an RBI. Bailey Wilson received the win on the mound; she pitched three innings giving up four hits, four earned runs, six walks and struck out four batters.

In Game 2, The North fell just short after squandering a two-run lead in the final inning of play. The entire game was a back-and-forth affair with the lead changing almost every inning. Wilson and Taylor Bannick both led The North at the plate with two hits each. Bannick and Petersen both recorded doubles and accounted for four out the team’s seven RBIs.

The North 14U will be back in action July 14-16 for a tournament in Coeur d’Alene.

GAME ONE

THE NORTH 16, KRUSHERS 7

The North 457 – 16 9 3

Kurshers 043 – 7 4 7

(Game called after three innings)

W – Wilson. L – M. Willis.

HITS: NOR – Wilson 2, Frago 2, Petersen 2, Short, Newsom, Bannock. KRU – L. Willis 2, Parker, Haugan.

2B – Haugan.

GAME TWO

KRUSHERS 15, THE NORTH 11

Krushers 024 36 – 15 9 6

The North 234 20 – 11 6 7

W – Kim. L – Petersen.

HITS: NOR – Bannock 2, Wilson 2, Petersen, Olsen. KRU – T. Parker 2, Allen 2, Gassett, C. Parker, L. Willis, M. Willis, Kim.

2B – Bannock, Petersen.

The North softball continues to make history, plans to start 12U travel team

SANDPOINT — Interest in youth travel softball has skyrocketed in Sandpoint as of late, especially since the inception of The North — a fastpitch travel softball team in Sandpoint that played in their first tournament this summer. The North’s 16U and 14U teams have been so successful that the travel softball organization is looking to field a 12U team in the near future.

An informational meeting regarding the 12U team will be held on War Memorial Field next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Those interested do not need to be a resident of Sandpoint to join the team; the 16U and 14U teams consist of players from both Bonner and Boundary counties as well as Sanders County, Mont. The meeting will answer questions regarding tryouts, schedules, costs and more. This will also be an opportunity to meet coaches Beth Danish and Cody Montgomery, both of whom are involved with the Sandpoint Little League.

Cody Montgomery, an SLL board member and minor league softball coach, is excited to coach the new 12U team. He believes travel softball plays a real foundational role for the players who want to continue to progress in the sport. With the new travel teams in the area, it will allow dedicated players to continue to play into the summer, including possible fall and winter seasons as well.

“This is an investment in the future generations of our area and the goal here is the positive development of young people, not just building softball players,” Montgomery said.

These new travel teams will be important to athletes like Montgomery’s daughter who began playing softball in 2021 at just 8 years old and fell in love with the sport. Unfortunately, Sandpoint loses a lot of young softball players at this age because other sports offer more opportunities for them to pursue. Combine that with a lack of upkeep at the Sandpoint Middle School fields, it becomes even harder to retain players. That being said, with all the new softball activity in Sandpoint, Montgomery and Danish are looking to continue to give opportunities to the area’s youth softball players.

“Most players at this age group haven't traveled to compete in an event before, sports or otherwise,” Montgomery said. “Anytime a team I've coached even played at a different field or in a town close by, the players got excited. When we traveled to Lewiston for the softball Little League all-stars tournament, the players were wound up just to see new territory, stay in a hotel, and create a whole new set of experiences. I never thought I would hear anyone get excited about driving down the Lewiston grade, but they all were charged up,” Montgomery added.

Montgomery and Danish want to continue that level of excitement with The North’s new 12U team. The two have coached together in the past and really love “watching things click” with players at this age.

“These players are learning so much, so fast," Montgomery said. "It's a great experience to share with them. Coach Danish and I really like watching these young players push themselves and are both excited to coach the new 12U team.”