The Front Row with ERIC PLUMMER, August 5, 2012

Here is a six-pack of questions that I'm going to both ask and answer. The interviewer and interviewee wrapped up in two-for-one special.

Q: Can the Coeur d'Alene Vikings win a third consecutive state 5A football title in 2012?

A: History says no. Only two other teams have ever won two consecutive state 5A titles - Pocatello in 1989-90 and Highland in 1997-98 - and neither could claim the trifecta.

As Winston Churchill once said, "history is written by the victors." I'm sure head coach Shawn Amos wouldn't mind a little history being written by the Vikings.

It will take some yeoman work. The secret is out, and the numbers on the back of the Vikings' jerseys may as well be targets. The best teams in the state will no doubt come gunning for the champs.

Will there be a three-peat? Who knows, but it will be a lot of fun finding out.

Q: Is hitting a softball as easy as it looks?

A: No. During a fundraiser for the Sandpoint Crushers U14 softball team, which is playing at the Western Regionals in Arizona right now, I decided to buy 20 pitches for $5 and step into the makeshift cage for some rips.

Easy stuff, right? Wrong.

I whiffed on the first six pitches and fouled off the next few, before finally squaring up a few of the rising and hissing fastballs. All told I probably had four hits among the 20 pitches. That put me right at the dreaded Mendoza Line, named after light-hitting shortstop Mario Mendoza and still recognized today at the lowly .200 benchmark for hitters.

The coaches said the pitching machine was set for 70 mph, but with a much shorter distance than a baseball mound, it was more akin to hitting a 90 mph fastball.

That didn't do much to soothe my bruised ego. I'll have a newfound respect the next time I watch the Sandpoint hitters dig into the box against Lake City and future Missouri flame thrower Casey Stangel.

Q: What makes the Long Bridge Swim such a great event?

A: Eric Ridgway.

Sure, if you ask him, the race director will humbly tell you it’s the community and hundreds upon hundreds of volunteers that make the event. And he’s right.

But having covered the swim for seven straight years, I can’t help but appreciate the pure positive energy and passion for swimming that Ridgway pours into the event. It was his brainchild 18 years ago, and he’s been the driving force ever since.

One swimmer on Saturday came up and gave Ridgway a high-five, jokingly telling him to cheer up and stop being so glum.

A more sarcastic line was never uttered.

Q: How can 14 and 15 year-olds be world class swimmers?

A: I have no idea. Other than maybe gymnastics, I can’t think of another sport where kids still in middle school can be at the elite level.

The last three Long Bridge Swim winners were 14, 15 and 15 years-old. Katy Ledecky, only 15, just broke the American record in winning Olympic gold in the 800 meters in London.

Can you imagine a 15-year-old dunking on LeBron James? Or running away from Usain Bolt? Or winning a third set against Roger Federer?

Q: How did lacrosse become so popular in Idaho?

A: I’m still trying to figure that out. At the risk of dating myself, when I was in high school lacrosse was played mostly at East Coast prep schools and universities. I never saw it live until about 10 years ago, and now it’s one of the more popular spring club sports.

A recent boom in popularity has seen the heretofore affluent eastern sport hit the far-reaches of the West. Could field hockey, squash and water polo be far behind?

Q: Who is the happiest baseball fan in Coeur d’Alene?

A: I’m going to hazard a guess that it might be Bill Everson, of Everson’s Jewelry. I was in a Coeur d’Alene fantasy baseball league for many years with Bill, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger Pirates fan anywhere.

The small market Buccos were actually buyers instead of sellers for the first time in a long time at the trading deadline, giving their loyal fanbase hope.

Could this be the resurgent Pirates’ year? I know at least one guy who hopes so.

Eric Plummer is the sports editor of the Bonner County Daily Bee in Sandpoint. For comments, suggestions or story ideas, he can be reached at eplummer@bonnercountydailybee.com.