Home run cuts Sandpoint's rally short

COEUR d'ALENE — Sandpoint battled back from a 6-2 deficit and tied the game in the sixth inning, but Seth Anderson hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning to make sure Boise went home with the championship trophy at the Cranston Memorial AA American Legion Tournament at McEuen Field on Sunday.

Sandpoint had a two-out rally going in the sixth inning with runners on first and second and Justin Watson at the plate. He ripped a shot to deep center field that scored one runner and moved the other to third. Watson tried to stretch his hit into a double but was tagged out at second to end the inning and the threat.

"He was aggressive, I'm happy about that," Sandpoint coach Rick Klontz said. "But we made a few other mistakes out there on the basepaths that cost us."

Sandpoint again had a two-out rally in the seventh after Tyler Crabb singled to left field. Brent Scott hit a deep fly to center field but was caught at the wall to end the game.

"I'm really pleased with how well we played, really throughout the whole tournament," Klontz said. "I didn't expect us to do this well. I don't know why I thought that, though."

Sandpoint (9-7) heads to the Dwight Church tournament in Lewiston beginning Thursday.

Sandpoint 101 3010 — 6 8 2

Boise 330 001 x — 7 5 0

Mike Peak, Noah Hawkins (3) and Chris Karle; Spencer Lopez, John Jensen (4), Dane McGrady and Austin Jones. W — McGrady. L — Hawkins.

HITS: Spt — Peak, Walkington, Watson 2, Hodges 2, Crabb, Lichty. Boi — Champ, Blanc, Zubizaretta, Anderson, Weaver.

EARLY GAME

Sandpoint 5

Cranbrook 1

COEUR d'ALENE — Sandpoint took control of the game in the fourth inning as the Lakers beat Cranbrook to qualify for the championship game at the Cranston Memorial AA American Legion Tournament at McEuen Field.

After Tyler Crabb and Glenn Poelstra both reached on singles in the fourth, Eric Lichty hit a two-run double to put Sandpoint up 4-0. The lead was enough as Lichty got the job done on the defensive side as well.

Lichty struck out four in his seven innings, twice getting out of jams with runners on third base.

"Lichty really did great on the mound," Klontz said. "We weren't sure who our fourth starter was going to be, but he came out here and did a great job. We're not worried about that anymore."

Sandpoint 002 200 1 — 5 6 1

Cranbrook 000 100 0 — 1 1 5

Eric Lichty and Chris Karle; Brady Janzen and B.J. Heisler.

HITS: Spt — Walkington, Karle, Hodges, Crabb, Poelstra, Lichty. Cra — Torgerson. 2B — Karle, Lichty.