The Lakeland High School Hawks softball team made a strong showing at their annual tournament in Boise, bouncing back from a challenging start to the season. After suffering two tough losses at the beginning of the season, the Hawks demonstrated resilience and determination throughout the tournament, ultimately finishing with a 2-4 record. The Hawks were ready to go and compete right away in these series of games all the way to the end.
The Hawks faced La Grande high and fell 9-4. The Hawks with some motivation after the loss bounced back with a win against Homedale 23-10 showing off the bats on this Lakeland Hawks team. Hawks would then go on to play McCall High and take a big win 10-4 and after a loss to Centennial High 13-11.
Although, suffering some losses this tournament, the team overall was able to demonstrate their ability to compete at high levels and being able to rise above whoever their opponent is. Playing on the road is one thing for a team but for the Hawks to be that far on the road down south and still put on a clinic like they did says something about what this Hawks team is about.
The team faced a series of tough opponents, but they showed noticeable improvements in both offense and defense. In their first few games, the Hawks struggled to find their rhythm, but by the second half of the tournament, they started clicking. Strong pitching performances and key hits in critical moments allowed them to secure victories in two of their matchups.
While they didn’t reach the top of the leaderboard, the experience was invaluable for the Hawks, giving them a chance to learn and grow as a team. Coach and players alike reflected on the positive strides they made, particularly in their mental toughness and ability to bounce back after setbacks.
“I feel like we really grew as a team through these games,” Delilah Zimmerman said.
As the season progresses, the Hawks are looking to build on the lessons learned from the Boise tournament and use it as fuel to propel them through the rest of the year. With a solid foundation now set, they’re confident that this tournament will be a turning point in their season. The Hawks will look ahead to play their league rival, the Sandpoint Bulldogs in the Hawks first league game of the 2025 season.
