CHUCK BANDEL
Valley Press
Recent Stories
Copperheads take one from Trotters
The unofficial score: Anaconda 1, Plains 0, Mother Nature, 1-1.
St. Regis star John Pruitt signs with Rocky
One of the greatest challenges facing small town athletes who aspire to move on and continue their sports careers in college is that the small number of students at many B and C schools do not typically produce college-level competitors.
COLUMN: Choosing sides
Life, they say, is all about choices.
Tigers golfers win on home course
The Tigers boys blistered the Trestle Creek Golf Course on the edge of town for a 345 team total over the 18-hole layout to clinch the team title by a wide margin over runner up Thompson Falls, 345-397.
Superior tennis notches more wins
If tennis is your sport, Superior High is a good place to be.
Thompson Falls hosts Gary Thompson Invite
It was, as Thompson Falls head golf coach Doree Thiilmony said, “lots of golf.”
Lady Hawks softball scores two big victories
There is a saying in softball/baseball circles that chicks dig the long ball, a reference to fondness for home runs.
Seeley-Swan meet draws top teams
It would be a massive understatement to say the sports teams at Loyola Sacred Heart in Missoula are having a good year.
COLUMN: Steeplechase
As comedian Jerry Seinfeld used to always say, “what is the deal with….?”. In this case, insert the word steeplechase at the end of that inquiry.
Noxon-Thompson Falls baseball co-op posts 13-2 win over Troy
Move over win column number, you’ve got company.
Plains and T-Falls athletes shine at local track meet
This may as well have been a preview of next month’s Montana high school track and field postseason as a pair of local teams strutted their stuff at the Thompson Falls Invitational meet this past Tuesday.
Trotters softball shows fight against Eureka
Despite what the scoreboard read at the end of the game, this was maybe the sign the Plains Trotters softball team has been waiting for.
Lady Cats tennis back on the court
For tennis fans in Superior and around the area, it was a welcome site indeed.
Trotters softball faces top opponents
It was a tough week for the young Plains Trotters softball team.
St. Regis golfers win Plains Invite
One thing was certain following the 2024 version of the Plains Invitational high school golf tournament this past Friday in Plains: there are some pretty good young golfers in St. Regis and Florence.
Noxon-Thompson Falls co-op baseball home opener
This was a scene worthy of an advertisement for America.
Trotters finish second at Dave Tripp Memorial
There’s a new player in the local track and field game, new contender that is, as evident by the results of this past weekend’s Dave Tripp Memorial Track meet in Polson.
Local teams post solid results at Libby Invite
Bigfork boys and girls pretty much dominated the Libby Invitational track and field meet this past week at Logger Stadium on a blustery Tuesday afternoon.
Lady Hawks take on top softball teams at Missoula tourney
A couple of things are certain about the Thompson Falls softball team.
COLUMN: Iron Mike back in the ring
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the arena, Tyson is being served.
High school soccer coming to Thompson Falls and Plains
The sport, often described as the number one spectator sport in the world based on the number of fans who watch and follow it across the globe, is coming to Sanders County and beyond this fall as a high school sport.
Swope leads Lady Bobcats with medal in javelin
The Superior boys and girls track and field teams are emerging as a Class B Montana high school state contender, early results continue to show.
Prep golfers compete at Florence-Darby Invitational
Despite rain and the threat thereof, there was action on the links Thursday for Plains and Thompson Falls high school golfers.
Lady Hawks softball improves to 4-0
Thompson Falls pitching struck out 14 Sandpoint, Idaho batters this past Friday, giving the Lady Hawks a sweep of their two-game road trip and keeping their season record unblemished.
COLUMN: Give us a break
I sometimes get the feeling Ma Nature is not a big fan of springs sports, the kind played in the great Montana outdoors.
Plains cancels baseball season
They are, technically, one for two in baseball’s iconic jargon.
COLUMN: Say it ain’t so, Sho!
The Major League season has just begun.
Lady Hawks notch big wins to open softball season
With the necessary spring practices out of the way, the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks softball team got down to the business of the 2024 Class B high school season.
Superior posts strong results at Corvallis meet
It was a good test for the opening meet of the season for several of the Montana high school track and field teams.
Red Devils tally baseball win over St. Ignatius-Arlee
It’s a classic example of what you do when you fall off a horse….if you like horse riding.
Superior and Noxon impress at Frenchtown meet
It’s the 2024 Montana track and field season in the opening throes, but an interesting trend is potentially developing for Sanders and Mineral county fans of the sport.
Noxon-Thompson Falls baseball kicks off debut season
Cold, rainy weather with doses of snow between the raindrops.
Superior Bobcats feature mix of experience and youth
The theme remains the same for spring sports at Superior High School: a good group of experienced athletes with another year under their belts, and a promising core of underclassmen eager for their chance to shine.
Hot Springs looks to overcome injury bug
There are so many variables to the start of a new sports season, including the dreaded injury bug.
Golfers tee off season with practice round
It was a most welcome chance to get out on the golf course for a “practice competition” that was a three-way meet in disguise.
Plains track and field stacked with returning athletes
Loaded is not a bad way to be.
Thomson Falls starts track season with firepower
The overall numbers are down for those who came out for Thompson Falls track and field this spring.
Alberton tracksters have high hopes
Slowly but surely the varsity sports program at Alberton High School, now in it’s second year of existence as a non-co-op team, is producing some quality athletes.
St. Regis reloads with top golfers
Last year was a good year for the St. Regis High School golf team.
Noxon tracksters put in work as season begins
There’s a new competitor in Noxon these days, a high school baseball team. But the existing spring high school sports program is also still there.
COLUMN: Caitlin Clark
This is a great American success story playing out in real time.
Students excel at 4-H Communication Days
Perhaps among the group of 4-H presenters is a future orator of great skill.
Lady Hawks have high hopes for softball season
Last year, coach Jared Koskela and the Thompson Falls girls softball team made it to state.
Trotters softball opens season Saturday
Last year’s Plains Trotters softball team was like a tale of two teams. They opened the season losing six straight before picking up a win against Troy.
COLUMN: Gonzaga Kool-aid
Let the Madness begin.
Thompson Falls golf teams tee off season
Building on the success of last year is no doubt a goal of this year’s Thompson Falls High golf team.
Noxon and Thompson Falls form co-op baseball team
Two ballparks. Two Montana towns. Two groups of baseball hungry young men.
Carey and Sneed to lead Plains golfers
A smaller than average turnout this year has Plains High School counting on quality over quantity.
Bobcats golfers ready to hit the links
There is a common thread that runs through the high school golf coaching community around here, and perhaps everywhere.
Hannum and LeCoure earn All-State awards
As expected the top two teams in boys and girls Western 7B dominated the recently released state and district all-star teams for 2023-24.