Everything earned her way ... Lake City High product Loffer makes the most of extra year in College of Idaho softball lineup

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

College of Idaho softball coach Al Mendiola might have summed up Haley Loffer’s career with the Yotes in a few short words.

“If there ever was a kid that earned everything she got, it was her.”

From her early days as a catcher for the NAIA program in Caldwell to being named NAIA Player of the Year this season as a graduate student shortstop, it was never promised, guaranteed or given.

LOFFER WAS named NAIA Softball Coaches Association Player of the Year earlier this month after the lefty hitting leadoff hitter led the Yotes in batting average (.406), slugging percentage (.775), on-base percentage (.566), runs scored (81), hits (65), doubles (15), home runs (12) and total bases (124).

“I never, never thought this would happen,” Loffer said of being named NAIA Player of the Year. “I didn’t really think it was a thing and didn’t realize it until my junior or senior year. I really didn’t think about the awards and recognition. I just love to play softball and was thankful it was awarded to me.”

Loffer, a 2018 graduate of Lake City High, was a four-time all-5A Inland Empire League selection, earning MVP honors as a senior. She was also named Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference selection this past season.

Loffer left the Yotes program with 18 school records including most games played (238), games started (237), runs scored (237), total hits (250), doubles (53, shared with Destiny Turner), triples (18), home runs (33), total bases (463), walks (162), intentional walks (6), most times hit by pitch (42) and stolen bases (155).

“The one that I always wanted to break was the stolen bases record,” Loffer said. “The one that was the most unexpected was the home run record because I’ve never thought of myself as a home run hitter. It was very unexpected, but very exciting.”

In her junior season in 2021, College of Idaho went 44-19, advancing to the NAIA World Series and finishing third.

“We had a really good team that year,” said Loffer, who College of Idaho teams went 189-70 in her five seasons with the Yotes. “I think then was when I realized just how good things were going for me.”

Loffer played in the outfield as a freshman at Lake City, then played her last three seasons as a Timberwolf at shortstop.

“I knew she was something special coming out of Lake City High,” Mendiola said. “At first, I thought she was an unbelievable catcher from seeing her in club ball. But after seeing her play shortstop at state with Lake City, I was convinced she’d be a good shortstop. My mindset was to have her at shortstop and then her freshman year, our starting catcher got hurt, so she went and did what she needed to do.”

Loffer moved to shortstop the following season and played her last four years there.

It was during that junior year in 2021 that others took notice.

As a junior, Loffer earned honorable mention All-American honors, batting .359 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs and 34 runs batted in. That season, Loffer stole 28 bases on 32 attempts.

“She really had a breakout year as a junior,” Mendiola said. “And I think some people saw that in her as a senior as well. But people definitely knew her after her junior campaign.”

As for this year, probably the biggest secret about Loffer was that Mendiola knew of all the accolades that she was going to receive from the NAIA.

“I knew about the All-American and all the awards she was going to win about a week and a half before we could announce it,” Mendiola said. “It was tough because she was at the team banquet, and you just want to tell her. But you just can’t. You want to go up and hug her and congratulate her, but you can’t do it.”

DURING HER junior and senior year, Loffer and second baseman Kylie Smith — a Coeur d’Alene High product — comprised the middle infield for the Yotes, combining for 140 wins — including 13 in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.

“Hands down, it was the best middle infield we’ve ever had here,” Mendiola said. “To have a player like Kylie that knows where Haley is going to throw from playing together for six years with club ball, it was great for us. Kylie was an unbelievable second baseman and didn’t get a ton of credit from the league. But she made a lot of big plays and did the simple things. It was just an unbelievable tandem. North Idaho, they’ve got talent. But you’ve got to be a special player and good person to be successful at this level.”

Playing together, Loffer added, helped build the relationship with Smith after years of being on opposite sides of the Coeur d’Alene/Lake City rivalry.

“In the beginning, we didn’t like each other,” Loffer said. “As we went to play club ball together, we grew a little closer and started talking more. As soon as I got on campus, we became best friends and it was crazy getting that time together.”

WHEN IT came time to make her decision on returning for a fifth year, Loffer didn’t even consider another program — or not playing a fifth season at all.

“I never once thought about transferring,” Loffer said. “I’ve got a good connection with Bobby (Wright, the assistant coach) and Al. I really love the school and never once thought about it. I’ve grown really close to Al, and had I left, that might have changed. I’m just really glad I stayed.”

Transferring isn’t something that Mendiola has had a lot of in his 19 years as College of Idaho coach.

“I’ve never felt that a player has wanted to go to another program from here,” Mendiola said. “There’s something special about our athletic department. Our biggest goal is when they’re done, our relationship with them continues. I’m going to be there for Haley and every player a lot longer than they’re going to play for me. As a program, it’s something we’re going to continue to push to do. We’ve had a lot more players that have transferred here than out.”

While her collegiate career may be over, Loffer is still looking into continuing her playing career.

“I’m looking into my options to see if I can go further with it,” Loffer said. “If not, I’ve got a job with an auditing firm in Boise that begins at the end of July and I’ll start my adult life.”

Loffer hasn’t ruled out coaching — eventually.

“I’ve thought about it, but I don’t think it will happen very quickly,” Loffer said. “But it might be something I’ll pursue in the next couple of years.”

“She’ll realize this, but coaching is a tough profession when you’ve got to work and most likely travel," Mendiola said. "Coaching is a great way to continue to grow those relationships, but tough to do. We’ve had a lot of kids that could be great coaches and be successful, but they just don’t have the time to do it. I’d love to see Haley coaching, and I’m sure she'll be a huge asset to wherever she winds up.”

Replacing Loffer on the field might be a little tricky according to Mendiola.

“I need to find someone to replace the athlete,” Mendiola said. “But the person, that’s not going to be easy at all.”