If spring-time ever comes

It may not look, or feel much like spring yet, but the calendar argues otherwise and high school sports teams in Sanders County will begin practice for the softball, track and field and golf seasons next Monday, come snow or high water or both.

Of course, some of those practices set for the coming weeks will be forced indoors or cancelled all together, depending on what Mother Nature has in store for the winter-weary folks of Montana.

On the track and field scene, Thompson Falls thinclads will again be guided by Trenna Ferris, who will be assisted again by Amy Gilbert, Jake Susic and Sarah Naegeli.

In Plains, Denise Montgomery returns to coach track and field, as does her long-time assistant James Jermyn.

Another long-time coach in Sanders County, Noxon athletic director Matt Havens will again be the head coach for Red Devil track and field and Scott Richardson will be the assistant coach.

Hot Springs track and field teams will be coached by Bethany White, who will be assisted by Annie Gustafson.

On the softball diamond, the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks will again be coached by Jared Koskela who will be assisted by Julie Detlaff, while the Plains-Hot Springs Trotters will again be coached by Michele Bangen, who will be assisted by Kati Mitchell and Danni Walker.

On the links, Mike Bates returns to guide the Hawk boys and Lady Hawks in golf, with assistant coaching help from volunteer Gary Thompson. In Plains, the head coaching duties will be split this spring with Lisa Brown returning to guide the girls and Don Stamm coming on board to lead the boys.