Last year, coach Jared Koskela and the Thompson Falls girls softball team made it to state.

So there will be high expectations for this year’s team, despite the loss of three key seniors from last year.

But pressure and expectations are concepts Koskela and crew are preparing to handle as opening day of the 2024 high school softball season draws near.

“Balancing pressure and stress so the team plays together,” Koskela responded when asked about his coaching philosophy. He then added, “plays together and enjoys the game”.

That philosophy and a strong group back from last year’s top six finish at the State tournament in Anaconda are key reasons why the Lady Hawks have a solid chance of making a repeat appearance in the state finals.

Back for another go round are several starters from last year’s team, which finished the year with a 16-12 record and a fourth place finish in the Divisional tournament.

With pitching a key ingredient to success in fast pitch softball, Koskela has two returning veteran pitchers from the 2023 squad, including his daughter, junior Sarah Koskela, who is also a quality catcher. In addition to Koskela, junior Olivia Fitchett, one of the mainstays from last year’s staff, is back. Fitchett is also a solid catcher, which gives the Lady Hawks depth at another key position.

Both players had a good year at the plate for the T Falls offense in 2023.

Also returning for another year is sophomore infielder Gabbi Hannum, a multiple sports standout who also excels in basketball and volleyball for T Falls.

Perhaps the key returning veteran is senior infielder MacKenzie Robinson, a captain from last year’s team.

Olivia Harnett, a quality outfielder is also among the key returnees from the state finals team.

And while the team has some good power coming back, Koskela hopes to improve the Lady Hawks’ “smalll game” over last year.

“Either on offense or defense, we’d like to improve on the small game aspects of softball,” he said. Expect the team to find ways to manufacture runs via improved base running and timely hitting.

Overall, Koskela said he feels good about the team Thompson Falls will put on the field this year.

“We have State experience,” he said. “We have a good mix of speed and power, along with three pitchers capable of pitching in a varsity game. We also return a solid core of upperclassmen with competition for a few spots among the lowerclassmen”.

The Lady Hawks open the 2024 campaign with a home game versus next Tuesday (March 26), then travel down Highway 200 two days later (Thurs, March 28) for a game against Sanders County rival Plains on the Trotters home field.

    Thompson Falls head softball coach Jared Koskela shown during a game versus Plains last season, has a solid core of returnees from the Lady Hawks Top 6 State finals team in 2023. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)