Strong team culture, versatile senior leaders and a deep junior class will be driving forces for the Whitefish baseball team this season. 

The Bulldogs finished the 2025 season with a respectable 15-4 record.  

“Last year was classified as a success in terms of our record, but we fell short in postseason play, lost the wrong games at the wrong times,” said Coach Kyler Blades. “That was a little disappointing, but we established a good culture. I enjoyed coaching the team, and a lot of the players are back this season.”  

The baseball program has 18 on varsity and 20 out for JV. With only three seniors on the varsity roster, the team will be supported by a solid junior class. Varsity assistant coaches Scott Murray, Darren Mcpherson and Forrest Kobelt will help the team improve.  

Two senior captains are setting the tone this season.  

Senior Tait Orme “in my eyes, is one of the best hitters in the state,” Blades said. “He’s going to be able to play corner infield, might fill in as middle infield and pitch as well. He’s kind of a Swiss army knife player – his best skill set is hitting the ball really hard and he does it consistently, a steady eddy type.”  

Senior Reed Boyer is “an athletically gifted player,” Blades said. “He’s really fast, and can boom and bust at the plate, and is a cannon on the mound. He'll serve us well in the outfield, will be a solid hitter at the plate, and will serve as a pitcher. He prefers to come out of the bullpen, and that fits his personality of high, effort, flame-thrower type of player that sets us up well to close the game.”  

In what is arguably the strongest conference in the state, every league game will be an important battle this season, no matter who the opponent is, Blades said.  

“All the teams in our conference can be dangerous,” he said.  

While playing the Wildcats, “a respected rivalry, we know their players really well, and they know us,” will be a highlight, it’s safe to say “all the teams in our conference can be dangerous.” 

The Bulldogs opened their season with a loss against Bigfork last week. They were scheduled to play Columbia Falls Tuesday evening.* Wednesday is at Eureka and Friday at Flathead. Looking forward, the Sapa-Johnsrud Invite is May 15-16 at Smith Fields.

*Game cancelled.