Whitefish plans to keep growing softball program with goal of fielding varsity team
Whitefish freshman Jude Perry pitches while teammate Brook Smith plays first base during a softball game against Ronan on May 6 in Whitefish. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
Lady Bulldog Autumn Laferriere plays third base during a softball game against Ronan on May 6 in Whitefish. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish senior Ashton Ramsey lines up a hit while batting in a softball game against Ronan on May 6 in Whitefish. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish freshman Jude Perry celebrates hitting a home run with her teammates and assitant coach in a softball game against Ronan on May 6 in Whitefish. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish has struggled to field a softball team for a few years now, but the future of the high school program is looking up.
Bulldog head coach Dave Bennetts said they had a successful season on a junior varsity schedule and he sees a lot of potential in the girls.
“I’m really excited with that group of sophomores right now, I think there’s five or six of them that could potentially play together here for three years and really set a good foundation for that program going forward,” he said.
Recently Whitefish wrapped up its softball season and Bennetts says they beat Mission-Charlo right off the bat and were close in several other games. The team this year consisted of two seniors, a junior, a group of sophomores and a couple freshmen.
More than half of the team this year were first-year players, but the coach was impressed with their willingness to learn and the improvements achieved throughout the season. He added that the senior leadership from Ashton Ramsey and Brook Smith was helpful to teach the rest of the girls how to be competitive and good sports.
“Our girls, to their credit, are hitting the ball really well,” he said. “We’ve had other coaches come up and comment on that fact, which is a great thing with half of them kind of learning the game.”
Also the seasons to come will be an opportunity to continually grow the program. Bennetts knows of several current eighth graders playing in both the Columbia Falls and Kalispell leagues that he’s hopeful will be coming out for the Whitefish High School team next year.
“We are really optimistic…” Bennetts said. “We’re hoping next year when they (the eighth graders) become freshmen that we’ll get four or five freshmen out.”
Bennetts also said the high school team is looking to potentially host a youth softball camp this summer and start a pipeline of softball players in Whitefish.
“Maybe that will generate some more interest at the youth level and keep the program growing,” he said.
Next year Whitefish will likely have another JV schedule with plans to have a full varsity team a couple of years from now.
