Bulldog softball program continues to grow in Whitefish
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)
The Whitefish High School softball program has had to endure a few hurdles but is headed in the right direction.
The Bulldog program was hoping to field a varsity team this year, but instead opted for one more year with a JV schedule. The softball team has this last year to gain enough interest to field a full varsity team next season, as the program will not be allowed to only have a junior varsity team again. Head coach David Bennetts says the team is well on its way though.
“We’re there, that's what it's been last year, and this year is kind of building that program,” Bennetts said. “The numbers are looking good.”
A little background to catch up on — in 2019 only six girls signed up to play Whitefish softball and the school had to cancel the season. In 2020 the season was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and in 2021 Bennetts and assistant coach Tami MacKenzie joined the team with hopes of revitalizing it. Last year the team had 11 girls play and this year the Whitefish softball program sports 14 girls, right on the brink of the numbers needed to field a varsity team according to MHSA rules.
Bennetts has been working to steadily build more local interest from girls wanting to participate. Additionally, the youth softball league is now bringing up girls who want to play and feeding into the high school team when for a few years that pipeline has lacked. MacKenzie does a lot of work with the youth league and Bennetts says having her as the assistant coach has been a huge plus for the team.
“She’s been a huge asset to me coming into the program, helping build it for the future,” Bennetts noted.
Bennetts says the young team fields six freshmen, a handful of sophomores and four juniors with just one senior.
Leading the team is three co-captains — sophomore Jude Perry, junior Chloe Tafelski and senior Anyssa Castro.
Perry as a freshman led the team from the mound and will do that again this season. Bennetts says she’s a talented pitcher and also a strong batter.
“Jude Perry, who’s a phenomenal athlete… is our pitcher,” Bennetts said. “She was our pitcher last year as a freshman and has made leaps and bounds going into this year. She’s our rock.”
He added that the team benefits from the on and off the field leadership from Tafelski and Castro as well. Tafelski was a first-year player who had a lot to learn about the game last season and is now in a leadership role on the team.
“Her growth has been just amazing,” Bennetts commented. “So we’re hoping for a lot out of her.”
And expecting much from Castro as well who is an experienced player and lone senior sporting the green and gold this year.
Two freshmen, Selena Simms and Avarie MacKenzie, also have a lot of on-field experience and the coaches hope to see them become team leaders as well.
Last season the Whitefish team only played in a handful of games and came to a 3-8 record. It was a learning experience all season long as many players came on the field with zero experience.
This season the team has a 17-game schedule, only five off from the varsity programs. Bennetts says the team’s goal is to win half their games this season; he believes that’s attainable for this squad.
Whitefish was set to play its first game of the season last Saturday against the Lady Pirates in Polson. Then on Tuesday after press time, the Lady Dogs were scheduled to host a doubleheader against Thompson Falls at Smith Fields and then will play again on Thursday in Ronan.