A look ahead: spring sports begin in the area
Tyler Korn hits a forehand during doubles play at Travers Park last season.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
The 2022 winter sports season wrapped up in Idaho following the boys state basketball tournament.
As of writing, there is snow dumping from the sky, resulting in some not-so-spring feelings.
But as of now, Sandpoint and Priest River are scheduled to open up its spring sports seasons.
Clark Fork will begin its season the following week.
All these games are subject to change with weather permitting.
SANDPOINT
The busiest team to start the season has to be Sandpoint tennis. The Bulldogs start their season with four separate events in a seven day span.
The team will open up its season today at the Post Falls Trojan tournament in Post Falls.
The girls team is returning a slew of players from last season.. The boys however, will have some new faces and some familiar ones as well.
On March 15 and 18, the tennis team will spend some time down in the Lewis-Clark Valley, starting with a match against Lewiston at Lewiston High School.
On March 18-19, Sandpoint will participate in the Clarkston tournament at Clarkston High School, which will be a two day event.
St. Patrick’s Day will serve as the busiest day for Sandpoint athletics next week.
Starting off with the tennis team going to Lake City at 2 p.m.
March 17 will also be opening day for both Sandpoint’s softball and baseball teams.
The Softball team will open its season at 4 p.m. at home against Timberlake.
The Bulldogs faced off against the Tigers twice last year; they lost both games by a combined score of 34-4.
Sandpoint was starting over in 2021 after COVID-19 ended the 2020 season.
This year, the Bulldogs are bringing back most of its lineup from a year ago with more experience under their belt.
The baseball team will also go up against the Tigers to open up its season, but on the road.
Last year, the Bulldogs shut out the Tigers 6-0.
Sandpoint is coming off of a 4A district I-II championship and will have a deep bullpen for the second year in a row.
PRIEST RIVER
The Priest River track team will start its season on Friday, March 18, with a road trip to Lewiston. The Spartans are returning two state qualifiers for 2022, Matyvus McLain, and Erik Deem.
Deem finished sixth at the 3A Idaho state track meet in pole vault. McLain qualified for three events, the high jump, discus, and shot put.
Priest River baseball will open up its season next Saturday, March 19, at Newport High School in Newport, Washington,
Head coach Marc Shultz highlighted the Spartans senior leadership as a strength heading into the season. It’ll have a total of three seniors on its roster.