Bulldogs in state title game
NAMPA — Sandpoint made a little history Friday in the 4A state baseball championships, advancing further than any Bulldog team ever, by beating Madison 10-5 in a game much closer than the score.
To call this the best team Sandpoint has ever had would not be much of a stretch, and once again, they waited until the final inning to put things away.
Down 4-2 heading into the seventh inning, Sandpoint (17-8) erupted for eight runs to blow the game open. All year their calling card has been their strength one through nine in the batting order, and that was how they hung an eight spot on Madison (14-10), getting contributions throughout the lineup.
"Everybody contributed big time in the seventh," said an ebullient head coach Mike Givens. "We were too anxious early in the game, we got a little more disciplined late and they got tired."
Vinnie D'Orazi had a huge game, coming in to work out of jam in the fourth inning, and then finishing the last three innings, surrendering one meaningless run in the bottom of the seventh. He also had a key two-run double to get the big rally started.
"Vinnie stepped up to the plate big time," said Givens of D'Orazi, who also laid down the game-winning squeeze bunt in the Bulldogs' first win.
Zac Manor started the game for Sandpoint, and put up three zeroes on the board before running into trouble in the fourth, when Madison scored four runs before D'Orazi relieved and put out the rally.
The Bulldogs responded by scoring their first two runs in their half of the fifth, when Givens preached patience at the plate and the players responded. They left the bases loaded in the sixth, failing to score key runs, but Givens said he was confident heading into the final inning.
"We knew we were right there ready to tear the door down," he said.
Ricky Klontz led the Bulldogs with three hits and two RBIs, and Clay Montgomery and D'Orazi both added two ribbies.
In a perfect illustration of how balanced and deep the Bulldogs lineup is, six different starters had hits. Two who didn't, Alex Wolfe and Luke Pearlstein, both scored two clutch runs by working walks.
Noah Hawkins gets the start today as Sandpoint takes on Bishop Kelly in the 4A state championship final. First pitch is 3 p.m.
Sandpoint 000 020 8 — 10 9 2
Madison 000 400 1 — 5 8 2
Zac Manor, Vinnie D'Orazi (4) and Jake Howell; Shattuck, Cook (7) and Rasmussen. W — D'Orazi. L — Shattuck. HITS: Spt — Montgomery, Klontz 3, C. Hawkins, Lichty, D'Orazi 2, N. Hawkins. Mad — Rasmussen, Shattuck 2, Snell, Oswald 2, Johnson 2. 2B — D'Orazi, Shattuck, Johnson.