5-19-2008

The Buhl Lady Indians couldn't find a way past Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference rival Kimberly in six outings before the start of the 2008 State Softball Championships in Coeur d'Alene. On Saturday, they only needed to find a way to beat them once.

And that's exactly what they did. The Lady Indians dropped the first of what would be two title games, as the Bulldogs forced a second game, holding Buhl scoreless in the first, 4-0.

But the Indians knew that the time was now to play the best defense thay had played all year. In the words of Indian catcher Bailee Montgomery, they chose to leave it all on the field.

The Indians toughed out a 5-2 victory over the then one-loss Bulldogs, handing Kimberly only their second loss in 33 games on the season.

The only graduating senior from the championship team will be star pitcher Leslie Hunter, who will be attending Idaho State in the fall, where she won't be playing softball. The returning 15 players have a challenge to compete for a second championship title in as many years, as all the girls have been to the state tournament now, and each knows the effort it takes to get to the final game on Saturday.

Coach Shelly Hart has a lot of faith that her returning players, joined with a great group of incoming freshman, will have what it takes to get to the tournament again next season. And with the Kimberly Bulldogs losing a number of their key starters, yet returning ace freshman pitcher Nellie Makings to the circle, the Indians all but have their work cut out for them on their road to a repeat.