However, should it happen, the Big Sky agrees the Treasure State is an untapped resource - no pun intended - of softball talent and would welcome the addition.
Others who would welcome the Big Sky adopting college softball are the future players, many of whom wrap up seasons and/or careers this weekend at the state Class AA, A and B-C tournaments.
For years, softball was the only sport sponsored by the Montana High School Association that didn't require teams to qualify for state, thus allowing every team to participate.
That changed following the 2004 season, when Class AA implemented a playoff system and Classes A and B-C started using regular-season records to determine state entrants.
Many coaches and fans felt Montana's high school softball teams needed that added exposure to promote its athletes to colleges.
None was more persistent than Missoula Hellgate coach Kevin Callaghan, who talked about suing the MHSA over the matter during the 2005 season.
Callaghan cooled on the legal proceedings, but would be hot on the idea of the Big Sky adding softball.
“I think it'd be wonderful,” he said. “There's so many girls that aspire to play in college. This game has grown in leaps and bounds, and if they could go watch (the University of) Montana play, it would only make girls better.”
Montana is not one of the conference's schools interested in adding the sport, but that doesn't mean people aren't looking to the future.
“There's a demand for it,” Callaghan said. “I know I'd be a season ticket holder for sure. Maybe some of that Grizzly fever can spread to another sport. I think it'd be great.”
“There's a lot of good softball players in Montana that would benefit from playing college softball,” Kasper said.
There are currently four teams tied to the Big Sky that offer college softball: Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, Idaho State, and Portland State, with Weber State adding a program in 2010.
The way it stands, the league would only add softball as a sport if a sixth school was interested in sponsoring a program. That number was listed in the Big Sky Conference's code as five schools until a meeting this past fall.
The league's school presidents voted to increase the number to six from five to avoid several problems. If the code had stayed at five teams, the Big Sky would have had to sponsor a league championship in the 2010 season when Weber State came on board.
But only leagues with six teams receive an automatic bid from the NCAA and teams like Sacramento State and Portland State, which already compete in well-established leagues, would have to fight for postseason berths.
Sacramento State, which features former Missoula Big Sky standout Brittani Clifford, won its conference tournament to advance to the NCAA, but if the Big Sky Conference added softball, all its member schools would have to drop out of their conferences to join the fledgling Big Sky.
The vote to increase the minimum number of schools to six before a conference tourney would have to be played delays the league from adding softball until more schools are found.
“What's prompted this change was it wasn't fair to these teams to come join the Big Sky if we do not have an automatic bid to the NCAAs,” Kasper said.
Some schools like Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona, which used to sponsor softball, have expressed interest in adding the sport down the road.
Northern Arizona, for one, has created a master plan that is looking at adding facilities in the future, including one for an outdoor women's sport.
“It's hard to say whether we're pushing it either way,” Kasper said. “It's up to the schools to do that.”
The Answer
Kalispell Glacier's Larry Iverson III committed to the University of Washington recently, answering the question of where the state's best high school golfer plans to continue his career.
The defending Class AA boys' state champion traveled to Seattle for an official visit in mid-March. It went well, to say the least.
“I went over there during spring break and kind of fell in love with the program, the campus and they fell in love with me,” said Iverson, 17, by phone on Wednesday. “It just happened so quickly.”
Iverson said he met with head coach Matt Thurmond his first day there and was offered a spot on the team the next day.
It was Iverson's first college visit and he needed some time to decide, so he waited until he returned home and talked with his parents before calling four days later to accept.
“Everything worked out,” Iverson said. “It was exciting to get that put behind me before I go to a bunch of tournaments this summer.”
Now the only problem is facing Iverson's high school coach Rob Logsdon, who played at Washington State from 1991-93.
“That made it a little harder to swallow,” said Logsdon, “but I'm really happy for Larry. They have a stronger program than Washington State, so I am happy for him.”
Logsdon helped set up the visit by making a call to former UW golfer and Billings native Rob Bergeson, who rang up Thurmond to give Iverson a reference.
“It's a great thing, a Montana kid helping out a Montana kid,” Logsdon said. “I know Larry's excited to have it out of the way going into his senior year.”
Iverson, who shot rounds of 67-73 to earn medalist honors by eight strokes, is already the favorite to repeat at the State AA meet next fall.
“As far as I'm concerned, he's the best junior I've seen in Montana and I've seen some of the greats like (Kelly) Gilligan, Scott Anderson, Bergeson and (Josh) Hedge. He's ahead of them at this point in his life.
“(Iverson) will go to Washington and do what it takes to be the No. 1 player - not just make the traveling squad.”
Irish times
Two high school seniors from western Montana were awarded the 2007-08 Les Irish Memorial Scholarship given by Northwestern Scholastic Insurance.
Shane Donaldson of Thompson Falls and Jenny Snipstead of Kalispell Flathead won scholarships, the MHSA announced last week.
Donaldson participated in cross country, track and field and student government. He will attend the University of Great Falls this coming fall, majoring in education.
Snipstead participated in volleyball, music and theater. She plans on attending Pacific Lutheran University this fall, majoring in secondary music education.
One male and one female student win the scholarship on an annual basis. The award is in memory of Robert “Les” Irish, longtime executive officer of the MHSA.
Nick Lockridge may be reached at 523-5298 or at nick.lockridge@lee.net
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