Softball, full rooster and new coach
Badger softball is back at it, complete with a full roster and a new head coach.
Cynthia Sumpter, who has been the junior varsity coach for the past three years, has taken over the head coaching position.
In 2021, Badger softball advanced to the 3A state championship, they went 0-2. Last year saw a massive influx of girls coming out, capping the program at 32 girls, and placing 16 girls on JV and varsity.
This year the program has 18 girls, enough for only a varsity team.
In the 2022 season, the Badgers finished out their season in the 3A District 1 lose-out game against Priest River.
The Badgers were behind by one run in the first inning and paced the Spartans in the second and third. The game was tied 6-6 following the top of the fourth inning but the Badgers couldn’t keep up the heat, and the Spartans won by 10 runs.
Eventually, Timberlake went on to take the district title and advance on to the state tournament, where they went 1-1, beating Kellogg 18-1 and falling to South Fremont 14-8.
Now with Timberlake and Bonners Ferry being the only teams in the 3A Intermountain League, the Badgers have to defeat the Tigers in a best out of three at districts in advance to the state tournament.
Since several Badgers players came out for summer league and started practicing their pitching and catching in January, Sumpter is hopeful for the team’s chances this season.
She hopes to grow the program and get more girls involved with Sandpoint Little League to grow softball and the feeder program for Badger softball.
Kaylee Sumpter is the lone season on the team.
Softball has been out on the road, traveling approximately 200 miles to play Orofino and Grangeville. The Badgers were set to play the Colville Crimson Hawks, but the game was called due to field conditions and rescheduled to March 23. A double-header against Sandpoint was also canceled due to Bonners Ferry field conditions.
The Badgers are 0-6 in non-league play and are not set to play Timberlake (4-1) until April 14.
Sumpter said the program would not be running successfully without the support and dedication of volunteers Chad Coon, Makenzie Evan, and Mateya Falck.
