SANDPOINT - So far this season, the closest the Sandpoint softball team has come to simulating actual softball is when they take to the blacktop behind the middle school, crammed between eight foot snow berms, basketball hoops, chain link fences and buildings, while head coach Derek Dickinson tries his best to drill the necessary fundamentals before their season begins Saturday at the Lewiston Invitational.

Suffice it to say, it's a great year to have a positive attitude, and head coach Derek Dickinson calls that the strength of his team in 2008, lauding the group as the most die hard softball players he has been around.

Leading the charge will be a talented young trio of infielders, each of whom played key rolls on last year's team. Sophomore Rachel Hammack will play third base and pitch, along with providing a spark with her fiery play.

“She's intense, always willing to dive and play at an all-out level,” said Dickinson of Hammack, who emerged as the Bulldogs hottest hitter at the end of last season.

She'll team with sophomore Molly Givens as co-ace of the pitching staff, with Amber Murphy also logging some innings. Dickinson loves Givens' defense at second base, as well as her ability as a solid contact hitter.

Junior Kim Guercio moves to shortstop this year, and will be counted on to provide a spark with her speed and base running atop the batting order. She's batted over .380 the last two years, and Dickinson believes she's ready to take another step up. Guercio, Givens and Hammack will set the table for Erin Cometto, who will bat clean up, followed by Amanda Rodriguez, who returns with varsity experience in the outfield.

Moscow will once again be the team to beat at the 4A level, but Dickinson believes his team is closing the gap. With returning experience on the mound and in the infield, coupled with Moscow losing a lot of players, it will most likely boil down to execution, as softball so often does.

“We want to be aggressive offensively and get some base runners on,” said Dickinson. “Defensively we're much improved across the board. Our pitchers won't blow anybody away, so we need to rely on good defense.”