COEUR d'ALENE - Katie Rowe and Kory Kritz are enjoying what is left of their senior season together on the Lake City High softball team.

This time last year, that might have been the furthest thing from their minds.

As members of the Coeur d'Alene Crush, Rowe pitched and Kritz often caught.

"Pitching was always something I did for fun," Rowe said. "It was something I always enjoyed."

Kritz did not enjoy catching as much early on.

"I hate catching," Kritz said. "But it was something I needed to do in our ASA games because we needed a good battery (pitcher and catcher). I've caught a couple games in high school and we caught for each other."

"Kory and I were always good friends at that age and she'd volunteer if nobody else would want to catch," Rowe said.

After their sophomore year, the two stopped talking off the field and were no longer friends.

"We used to be really close around our freshman and sophomore years," Rowe said. "It got to a point where we just went our separate ways. We tolerated each other on the field, but didn't get along off the field."

That was until the start of their senior year.

"I think we matured a lot and we got to a point where I knew she wouldn't play in college and I wanted her to have a fun year," Rowe said. "I knew I created a lot of friction with her and I just figured our senior year would be a lot more fun if we just got along."

Rowe has since moved to shortstop and Kritz to first base for the Timberwolves, who open the 5A Region 1 tournament today at 2 p.m. against Post Falls. A win would put Lake City in the championship game at 4 vs. either Coeur d'Alene or Lewiston.

Rowe and Kritz are both four-year players on the Lake City varsity.

"Both of them used to come to camps here," Lake City coach Laura Tolzmann said. "They both used to tease me that they were going to go to Coeur d'Alene, but just wanted to come to camps. Finally one day, Katie Rowe came up to me and said 'Hey, hey coach, guess what?' And I was thinking uh-oh, what now? And she said 'I'm coming to Lake City and I'm going to play for you.'"

"It's been extremely fun with the two of them," Tolzmann said. "To watch them start out as young freshman and trying to figure out what their role is to now seeing them grow up and just enjoy the game has been huge."

Rowe has signed a letter of intent to play softball at NAIA College of Idaho in Caldwell, where she plans to study to become a dental hygienist.

"My sister (Michelle) went there as a freshman (in 2008), so I have a good relationship with the coach there," Rowe said. "I really like the campus and the school size. It's not too small, but big enough and I really like the sizes of the classes. It's a little bit smaller than those in the high school, but with better instruction."

Early in her freshman year at Lake City, Rowe moved to shortstop from center field, and played there ever since.

In her final regular season home game, Rowe stepped back into the circle for Lake City against Sandpoint, pitching the final two innings in relief. It was the first time she'd pitched in high school.

"Honestly, if Casey (Stangel) wasn't here, we could have put Katie in to pitch in any of the years she's been going to school," Tolzmann said. "On senior night, we just said, 'OK, let's see what you got one last time.' Katie's a well-rounded athlete and can be that kid that picks it up and can be phenomenal."

Rowe also played two years of varsity basketball at Lake City, before opting not to play her senior year to focus on her studies and improving as a softball player.

"It was easily the hardest decision I've had to make," Rowe said. "I love playing basketball and didn't want to give it up. But it became time to make some decisions and had to cut that out."

Kritz played volleyball her freshman year.

Kritz hasn't determined where she'll attend college next year, but wants to study to become a labor and delivery nurse.

"I really like helping people," Kritz said. "I've always wanted to be a nurse. For my senior project, I studied it a little more and went a little deeper into that field and it sounded like something I wanted to do."

Kritz still hasn't decided whether to play softball in college.

"I've been thinking a lot about it," Kritz said. "I've been going back and forth about it - but I know that if I do, it will be somewhere in the northwest."

Tolzmann said Whitworth, North Idaho College, Blue Mountain Community College and the Community Colleges of Spokane have expressed interested in Kritz.

"I don't think Kory understands just how good she really is," Tolzmann said. "She's been really solid and one of the best first basemen that Lake City has ever had. She's saved many, many plays for us this season. And she's got options, which I'm excited about for her."

Kritz's hitting has also came around this season, Tolzmann said.

"She had a good summer season with the Crush," Tolzmann said. "She struggled a little bit in hitting during high school the last couple of seasons, but just kept going. I think she just said, 'Hey, let's have fun this year' and I think she's playing more relaxed this year, putting up great numbers and having her best year ever."

She is currently hitting .509 with 17 RBIs.

"Kory's really good at first base, but with injuries we put her behind the plate as a sophomore," Tolzmann said. "We could really put her anywhere and she'd do a great job."

Both Rowe and Kritz are captains on this year, along with the other senior member of the team, Amber Edwards.

"It's really nice we're getting along this year," Rowe said. "This season wouldn't be possible without Amber. We're all getting along and leading by example. There's always been two seniors that are leaders since I've been here. I wouldn't wish for any other captains to have than her and Amber."

"There's been a lot of ups and downs in our relationship," Kritz said of Rowe. "It's interesting to see where we are now and where we were a few years ago."

Rowe is hitting .436 with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs and a slugging percentage of 1.036. She needs two home runs for the single-season record, set last year by Stangel, a junior who also has 10 homers this year.

"Katie has really stepped up as one of our leaders this year," Tolzmann said. "As our shortstop and leader of our infield. We have a lot of young ones behind her, so it's helped having her give good advice and keep our traditions rolling on how we do things. Kory is pretty laid back. I've had them all four years and they'll be tough to replace."