Bulldogs unable to breakthrough for victory against rival Lakeland

RATHDRUM — Sandpoint softball hung around with Lakeland in both games on Thursday, but a couple high-scoring innings allowed the Hawks to pull away and secure an Inland Empire League doubleheader sweep.

"At the end of the day, we just didn't play like the better team and that's what showed up on the scoreboard," head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams said.

In the first game, the Bulldogs jumped out and scored two runs in the top of the first. However, the Hawks responded with two of their own in the bottom of the inning.

SHS trailed 6-3 after three innings, but in the fourth Lakeland broke through for six runs to take control.

"We were absolutely in it until that inning," Hawkins-Williams said.

The Bulldogs just gave up too many free bags in that inning, Hawkins-Williams said.

Lakeland added three runs in the sixth to wrap up a 15-5 win.

Lily Gammon and Jaidyn Inman each had two hits in the game.

Hawkins-Williams said her team wasn't aggressive enough at the plate in the first game.

"We definitely struck out looking too much and we didn't take advantage of those strikes when they were thrown," she said. "If you don't make contact or swing the bat, you're not going to have enough offense to beat a team with as much firepower as Lakeland has."

Madi Garman started on the mound and lasted all six innings.

"Our pitching was not as tight or consistent as I would like to see it, but it wasn't bad either," Hawkins-Williams said. "For the most part, Madi was hitting her spots most of the game."

In the second game, Sandpoint was able to build a 5-2 lead after three innings. But the Hawks scored two runs in the fourth and fifth to grab a 6-5 advantage.

In the top of the sixth, Gammon helped SHS retake the lead. She hit a double to score Kinzie Ward and tie the game at 6-6. Then she reached third base on a passed ball and continued her aggressive base running by stealing home to give Sandpoint a 7-6 advantage.

Unfortunately, the Bulldogs couldn't contain the Hawks offense in the bottom of the sixth. Lakeland scored five runs to secure an 11-7 victory.

Despite the sweep, Hawkins-Williams said Gammon was a force to be reckon with and she did everything she could to push her team to a win.

In the second game, Gammon went 3 for 4 at the plate.

"She is so clutch," Hawkins-Williams said about the senior. "She is one of those players that whenever we need something big to happen, I feel like it will be her. She is playing so bigger than she is. I'm really proud of the way her season has gone."

Ward and Kaylee Brackett each recorded two hits in the second game, and Cresanna Authier started on the bump.

Across the doubleheader, Hawkins-Williams felt the Bulldogs played solid defense, but moving forward they need to button up their pitching.

It was the first meeting of the season between the two 4A IEL rivals, who have divvied up the league and regional titles the last five years — Lakeland winning regional titles in 2015 and ’19, and Sandpoint from 2016-18.

The two will meet again on May 6 at War Memorial Field in the regular season finale for both teams.

The Bulldogs (6-10, 2-6 IEL) head to Lewiston at noon Saturday for a doubleheader.

FIRST GAME

Sandpoint 201 011 — 5 7 2

Lakeland 231 603 — 15 14 4

Madi Garman and Jaidyn Inman; Kathryn Wardak and Payton Sterling.

HITS: Spt — Inman 2, Cessna, Ward, Gammon 2, Brackett. LL — See, H. Gosch 2, Smit 2, Walls 2, Sterling 2, Byrne 3, Wardak 2. 2B — Inman, Gammon. HR — Smit, Sterling.

SECOND GAME

Sandpoint 023 002 0 — 7 11 1

Lakeland 200 225 X — 11 16 3

Cresanna Authier and Lily Gammon; Hailey Gosch, Kathryn Wardak (4) and Payton Sterling.

HITS: LL — See 2, Dyer 3, Gosch 3, Smit, Walls, Staudinger 2, Byrne 2, Sterling. Spt — Inman, Cessna, Ward 2, Gammon 3, Authier, Brackett 2, Lanie. 2B — Ward, Gammon 2, Dyer, Sterling. 3B — Dyer. HR — Staudinger.