Softball is back — Lady Bulldogs will field a varsity team this season
Whitefish softball players Chloe Tafelski and Brooke Bernat run through a drill at practice in the WHS gym on Friday, March 24. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish junior Billie Melnick catches the ball and looks to throw it to a teammate at softball practice in the WHS gym on Friday, March 24. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
It has been a journey to revitalize the Whitefish High School softball program over the past few years, but this season the Bulldogs have enough players to field a varsity team again.
Whitefish head coach Dave Bennetts says the program has worked hard to recruit players and create a solid team going forward. The Whitefish team has 16 players this season, which is enough for both a varsity and JV squad with a few swing players.
Since 2019 the softball team struggled to recruit enough players. Only six girls signed up to play in 2019, so the season was canceled. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic prevented kids from playing spring sports and it further hurt the program’s ability to create a varsity team. Over the last two seasons, Bennetts and assistant coach Tami MacKenzie both came on in 2021 with hopes to improve the team, working with the players to increase numbers and create a real team. The girls played junior varsity games only over the last two seasons, but will now finally field the varsity team they hoped for.
“We’re excited about it. It’s a tough division with Polson and Columbia Falls, Libby and Ronan are up-and-coming programs, so it will be a challenge,” Bennetts said. “That’s the beauty of having those first two years, they have a little game time under their belt.”
Team captain and WHS junior Jude Perry says this step for the softball program is something she and her teammates have been looking forward to.
“It’s really exciting and I know it's going to push us a lot which I know is something that will bring us together as a team, even more,” Perry said. “It will be hard, but I think we can do it.”
Perry is a starting pitcher for the Lady Bulldogs and played the last two seasons as well as pitched throughout her youth playing career. She says she is ready for the leadership role of captain and believes the team will be able to compete well.
“I think this year will be good for us, pushing ourselves and becoming more competitive,” she said.
Bennetts says there are six seniors on the team as well as several younger players. They will expect sophomore Esme Fennessy at third base as well as sophomore Selena Simms to play big and lead the team as well.
“We have some youth coming up and then six seniors, so there will be some good leadership and good camaraderie on the team,” Bennetts said.
He also added that they are doing what they can to help bolster the youth program, which will in turn continue to feed the high school team.
Softball also isn’t school-sponsored, therefore the team has to raise all of its own funds. The athletes all participated in fundraising events this year and Bennetts thanks the community for supporting the program.
“My acknowledgment needs to go to the community of Whitefish, folks donating and supporting these girls in their fundraising efforts because without them this program would be nonexistent,” he said.
Whitefish softball was scheduled to begin the season in Thompson Falls on Tuesday after press time. Next, the Bulldogs will play Thursday in Ronan and Saturday in Polson. Whitefish’s first home game will be on Friday, April 14 at Smith Fields at 5 p.m.
