There will be no fear of failure with this team, the Thompson Falls-Noxon Blue Hawks plan to play every game this season as if they have nothing to lose.

Coach Jared Koskela and his fearless young Hawks opened softball season play at Sandpoint and, as Koskela had expected going in, absorbed a 27-4 loss to the very good Bulldogs, likely one of the best teams the Hawks will see this season.

Although Koskela paid his respects to the Bulldogs, calling them “college level players,” he also found hope for his Hawks in the Idaho trip. “We did some learning and some growing,” he said. “We had two rough innings but we also had two outstanding innings. We can draw encouragement from Sandpoint, we saw a lot of good things.”

Koskela was referring to the first and fourth innings as the rough ones in Sandpoint and the second and third innings as the outstanding ones. The numbers back him up, Sandpoint won the first inning 12-3 and the fourth 14-0, but his Hawks played the Bulldogs straight up in the second and third, which ended in a 1-1 tie in runs.

“We knew Sandpoint would come out strong and try to put their foot down early,” he said. “But we saw some good stuff from our girls. They showed what they are capable of in those middle two innings. We are excited, we have something to build on here.”

The Hawks were also hampered Saturday by the absence of senior team leader Annalise Fairbank who did not have enough practices in due to her participation in all-star basketball games the week before.

The Hawks rapped out six base hits against very good pitching in Sandpoint. Kaylie Mercer led the Hawks offense, going one for two with that one being a solid double for a run batted in.

Audrey Fairbank also went one for two with a run and a walk, Marley Robinson added a hit and a walk, Kassidy Dana a hit and an RBI and Sydnie Eichert another base hit. Addy Traver drew two walks and scored a run.

Brielle MacArthur, Kaydence Pavlik, Nevaeh Christensen and Kylee Borgmann also all represented the colors and played well for the Hawks in Sandpoint, Koskela said.

The Hawks and Bulldogs also played a JV game at War Memorial Field, which sports an artificial turf, Saturday.

“We don’t play on the turf that much so it was a good experience for us to get to see that,” Koskela said. “It’s definitely an adjustment, the way the ball bounces off the turf is quite a bit different.”

The Hawks get right back at it this week with another pair of varsity/junior varsity doubleheaders, playing at Ennis Friday and returning home to host Three Forks Saturday. Both teams look to be among the best in the Montana B-C ranks this season.

“Ennis was ranked No. 10 in the first poll and Three Forks No. 3,” Koskela said. "We expect tough games and look forward to this week. We are excited to play, to keep getting better.”

    FIRST CONTACT – Blue Hawk eighth grader Kaylie Mercer connects with a pitch in Sandpoint Saturday. Hawks host Three Forks at Pirk’s Place in Thompson Falls Saturday. (photo courtesy of Khelsie Eichert)
  

    SLIDING IN SAFE, Kaydence Pavlik slides into third base as Madds Thompson takes the throw and Kylee Borgmann backs up the play in the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks’ team scrimmage at Pirk’s Place in Thompson Falls March 24. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)