Two years ago, we wouldn't even be talking about the University of Montana Grizzly softball team.

They didn't even exist, beyond getting a coach and a new facility ready and finding a lot of recruits with little or no experience playing at the college level.

My, how far we've come! After only two seasons in existence, Grizzly head man Jamie Pinkerton on Friday was named Big Sky Conference Softball Coach of the Year! Pinkerton led his team to a 27-win regular season, an 11-win improvement from Year 1, and the Grizzlies tied for third in the Big Sky at 14-7. And it would have been a short run from third to first, just one win away from sharing the conference title.

The Griz are already drawing big crowds by college softball standards. They only graduate two seniors and have a ton of outstanding undergrad talent. And they are coached by one heck of a nice guy. It's been a pleasure to get to know Jamie a little bit in the past year.

Congratulations, coach! Here's to many more terrific seasons.   DB

 

 

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