PREP SOFTBALL: Sandpoint nearly notches first win of season over Kennewick
RICHLAND, Wash. – Sandpoint fell to University High 12-0, and to Kennewick 9-8, at the Richland Mixer held at Richland High on Saturday.
In Game 1 against University, Sandpoint only mustered up one hit against the Titans – a double by Peyton Cessna in the top of the second. Sandpoint was rattled early, giving up seven runs in the first inning, but settled down.
“Bailey (Lancaster) was great behind the plate,” head coach Leah Platt said. “The outfield also had their work cut out for them and did a good job. University has some strong hitters.”
In Game 2 against Kennewick, the Bulldogs scored six runs in the top of the first to start things off. During the rally, Bailey Lancaster hit a two-run homerun, Ainsley Hull an RBI triple, Teagan Newsom an RBI double, and Cessna an RBI single.
Kennewick rallied back to take a 9-6 lead after three innings of play, but the Bulldogs kept at it. In the top of the fifth, Cadence Skitbitsky drove in a run after singling to right field. Later in the inning, Newsom would score on a wild pitch. However, neither team would score again, resulting in a 9-8 loss for the Bulldogs.
Platt said Smotherman, who pitched all six innings in the loss, did a good job keeping her walks to a minimum and let the defense work behind her. She also noted how Skibitsky had four great catches in center field and a throw out at home, and that Abi Miller and Hull also came up big in the outfield.
“It was awesome to see the changes and adjustments we made from the first game pay off in the second game,” Platt said. “The girls showed amazing fight and grit today. They all contributed in some way and picked each other up the whole day. It was fun to watch the spark in them all.”
Sandpoint (0-3) faces Bonners Ferry at home on Monday.
GAME ONE
Sandpoint 000 00X X – 0 1 5
University 712 2XX X – 12 12 0
W – Howard. L – Hull.
HITS: SPT – Cessna 1. UNI – Watkins 2, Howard 2, Fulkerson 2, Kudrna 1, Bailey 1, Wheeler 1, Carver 1, Mann 1, Singer 1.
2B – Cessna, Kudrna, Carver, Howard. HR – Fulkerson, Mann.
RBI: SPT – None. UNI – Fulkerson 2, Mann 2, Watkins 1, Singer 1, Howard 1, Wheeler 1.
SB: SPT – None. UNI – Wheeler 1, Walker 1.
GAME TWO
Sandpoint 600 020 – 8 7 2
Kennewick 243 000 – 9 9 1
W - Seiner. L - Smotherman.
HITS: SPT – Cessna 2, Hindle 1, Skibitsky 1, Newsom 1, Lancaster 1, Hull 1. KEN – Serrano 2, Seiner 2, Goodnight 1, Fielder 1, Davis 1, Berry 1, Sparhawk 1.
2B – Newsom, Serrano. 3B – Hull, Goodnight, Seiner, Berry. HR – Lancaster, Fielder.
RBI: SPT – Newsom 2, Lancaster 2, Hull 1, Skibitsky 1, Cessna 1. KEN – Seiner 3, Fielder 1, Sparhawk 1.
SB: SPT – McCown 2, Hindle 1, Skibitsky 1, Cessna 1. KEN – Tovar 3, Serrano 1, Goodnight 1, Seiner 1.