The North 16U competes in first travel softball tournament

The North 16U fastpitch travel softball team made history by competing in their first tournament on June 3 and 4 in Hayden. The team played five games in two days against some of the best travel softball teams in North Idaho and Eastern Washington.

“This is an amazing group of athletes with incredible support from their families and the community,” head coach Logan Conro said. “We are beyond excited to see what these young ladies will do in the coming years.”

The team consists of 15 players from Sandpoint, Priest River, Bonners Ferry and Thompson Falls, Mont.

The North opened play with two hard-fought games against the Lake City Thunder 16U and the Spokane Mudhens 16U – both well-established travel teams in the region – on Saturday in the first round of the tournament.

After losing to the Thunder 11-1 in four innings, The North battled against the Mudhens in the afternoon game, but were eventually defeated 8-4 in five innings of play. Abi Miller had a big game for The North against the Mudhens going 1-for-2 with an RBI single that scored two in the top of the third.

The girls got ready for three more games Sunday against PNW Fearless Fastpitch 16U, Washington Reapers 16U and Spokane Stealth 16U. The North dropped two close games to the Reapers and Fearless Fastpitch, 17-5 and 5-3, respectively, but in their last game of the tournament, the team rallied late to defeat the Stealth 3-2.

Ava Fredrickson of Bonners Ferry, hit leadoff against the Reapers. She went 2-for-2 with a double, a single, a RBI and two stolen bases.

Sarah Koskela was credited with the win and a quality start for The North. She pitched a complete game (five innings), giving up seven hits, two runs (one earned) and recorded six strikeouts. Koskela also led the team at the plate going 2-for-3 with two singles.

Overall, Peyton Cessna and Koskela led The North as they had at least one base hit in all five games of the tournament. Catcher Bailey Lancaster also reached base in all five games; she recorded four singles on the weekend.

“Watching the girls come together as a team so quickly and show so much growth and improvement in one weekend proves they are tenacious,” assistant coach Leah Platt said. “It has been exhilarating to see.”

The North 16U (1-4) will be back in action June 16-18 at the Fury Fastpitch Summer Sizzler in Frenchtown, Mont.