SHS baseball drops sixth game in a row

RATHDRUM — Sandpoint dropped its sixth game in a row after getting swept by 4A Inland Empire League foe Lakeland in a doubleheader at Gorton Field on Thursday. 11-8, 6-7.

“We just didn’t play well,” Sandpoint baseball coach Chase Tigert said. “There’s not too much to divulge on that one. It was a bummer.”

In game one, Sam Pemberton drove in two runs for Lakeland in the bottom of the fifth to break an 8-8 tie to ultimately give the Hawks the victory.

In the second game, Garrett Love and Tanner Vandever drove in two runs for Lakeland (3-9, 2-6 IEL), which snapped a nine-game losing streak.

“I’m super proud of the way we competed today,” Lakeland coach Jason Bradbury said. “We gave up multiple runs in the first inning of both games, but my team never got down and kept battling the whole time. Cam Harris was huge for us at the plate today and had RBIs in timely spots to either put us ahead or tie the game. Both games were big team wins, with everyone contributing. And I love seeing that effort from everyone.”

Sandpoint committed three errors in the opener. Overcoming errors has been the Achilles heel for the Bulldogs this season, according to Tigert.

“It’s the errors and free bases,” Tigert said. “We don’t just walk one guy; we walk two guys. Everything happens in bunches and it’s hard when you’re constantly helping out the other team.”

The Bulldogs turned to six pitchers throughout the contest, the best performance coming from Austin Dillon in game one, who gave up four runs on four hits and struck out one.

“We could’ve played better,” Tigert said. “I have really high expectations because we have talent and I believe in these kids.”

Despite the six-game losing streak, Tigert is still confident in his players and their ability to bounce back from the skid.

“You believe in them and you see it and you can only do so much,” he said. “It’s hard for me because I love these kids and I’d do anything for them and to see the way they play is really hard for me.”

“I still believe in these kids and the talent is there. I still expect great things from them and the season is far from over. We have to come to the field and compete, then the sky's the limit from there.”

Sandpoint falls to 2-7 overall and 1-6 in Inland Empire League play and will next play Lewiston in a doubleheader at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Memorial Field.

FIRST GAME

Sandpoint 420 200 0 — 8 9 3

Lakeland 222 230 x — 11 9 4

Austin Dillon, Jack Ringer (3), Jesse Turner (4) and Kohlton Wagoner; Payden Wysong, Sean Tierney (6) and unknown.

HITS: Spt — Sherrill, A. Lehman 2, Roop 3, Butler 2, A. Lehman. LL — Wysong, Tierney 2, Harris 2, Love, Vandever, Pemberton, Schaffner. 2B — Butler, Harris.

SECOND GAME

Sandpoint 300 100 2 — 6 6 0

Lakeland 002 023 x — 7 9 4

Jack Zimmerman, Zeke Roop (6), Blake Sherrill (6) and Dillon Terry; Sean Tierney, Cameron Harris (4) and Jace Cooksey.

HITS: Spt — A. Lehman, Dillon, Barlow, Turner, A. Lehman, Mellander. LL — Wysong 2, Tierney, Harris, Day, Love, Vandever, Schaffner 2. 2B — Harris, Schaffner.