Columbia Falls could see high school baseball in 2023
In addition to Glacier Twins, Columbia Falls plans on having high school baseball next year, provided it gets the blessing of the school board.
High school baseball could soon be coming to Columbia Falls.
The School District 6 Board last week heard a presentation by the newly-formed Columbia Falls High School Baseball Association for a team at the school starting with the 2023 spring season.
For at least the first three years, the team would be self-funded privately, though the school would hire the coaches, with input from the newly-formed Columbia Falls High School Baseball Association.
It’s expected that the team would serve at least 36 players on varsity and junior varsity and those that didn’t make the squad could play Babe Ruth leagues if they desired.
The team would rent space from the Glacier Babe Ruth Baseball Association at the Sapa Johnsrud Fields in Columbia Falls, which already has lights, so night games could be played.
The baseball team already has the blessing of Glacier Babe Ruth.
Statewide, at least 10 other schools are considering or have already started adopting high school baseball after it was approved by the Montana High School Association last year.
Some of the schools in class A include Polson, Libby, Browning and Whitefish as well. Whitefish is still in the discussion phase.
Montana is one of the last states in the union to adopt high school baseball.
It’s expected the high school program with bolster the strength of the Glacier Twins, a summer league American Legion team, as well.
The expectation is at least 50 kids will initially try out for baseball next year.
The first year the club will have to raise about $49,000, as it will have to buy new equipment, uniforms and the like. After that, it’s expected to cost about $28,000 a year, which includes umpires, transportation, coaches and insurance.
The board at last week’s meeting took the presentation under advisement. It it’s expected to formally vote on the sport at its April meeting.
The board, as of late, has been expanding youth sports programs. Last year it approved junior high soccer and the expectation is that girls wrestling could soon be added in the next few years as well.
The district is also considering whether to fully fund the swim program. The cost of the swim team would be about $22,000 a year if the district takes it on.
Like baseball, swimming is currently a club sport.