Errors prove costly against LC

SANDPOINT — Errors usually prove costly, especially against a solid baseball team. Sandpoint learned that lesson the hard way, committing six errors in a 9-5 loss to Lake City in IEL action Thursday at War Memorial Field.

Lake City (12-6, 8-5) first baseman Alex Capaul hit a home run, and Chris Combo threw six solid innings as the Timberwolves beat Sandpoint ace Tyler Lichty.

"We had some good at bats against Lichty," said Lake City coach Cory Bridges. "He's a quality pitcher and tough to get runs off; he was hurt with errors."

Cory Hawkins drove in all five Sandpoint (9-11, 6-7) runs with a double and a home run, his fifth bomb of the season to break the Sandpoint school record. Cody Reichart added three singles, but Sandpoint was never able to recover from the fourth inning, when Lake City scored three unearned runs off Lichty to break open a 3-3 tie.

"Tyler threw well enough to win us the game, but errors killed us, bottom line," said Bulldogs' hitting coach Rick Klontz.

A major league scout from the Kansas City Royals made the trip up to Sandpoint to watch Lichty pitch and was impressed with what he saw.

"He's a big, strong, athletic kid; you can tell he's a competitor," said Scott Ramsay, who had Lichty topping out in the mid-80s on his radar gun. "He's got the pro body and competes on the mound. He's got good control and a presence that I like. I think he'll be a good college pitcher."

Ramsay has discovered a host of big league players in his years as a scout, including Phillies' shortstop Jimmy Rollins and Brewers' catcher Jonny Estrada.

Sandpoint is at Post Falls on Saturday.

Lake City 102 321 0 — 9 11 2

Sandpoint 030 000 2 — 5 7 6

Chris Combo, Dalton Staggs (7) and Tobin Broesch; Tyler Lichty, Dustin Hawkins (5), Cory Hawkins (7) and Cody Reichart. W — Combo. L — Lichty.

HITS: LC — Johnson 2, Bridges, Capaul 2, Clanton, Collinson, Anderson 2, Combo 2. Spt — C. Hawkins 2, Semones, Reichart 3, Armbruster. 2B — Collinson, C. Hawkins. HR — Capaul, C. Hawkins.

? Brady and Ferguson lead Bulldogs past Bonners Ferry

SANDPOINT — Senior Macaela Brady went 5-5 with four RBIs, and third baseman and Stephanie Ferguson had two hits and five RBIs as the Bulldogs routed Bonners Ferry 22-0 Thursday afternoon at Travers Park.

Sandpoint (3-15) pounded out a season-high 21 base hits, and Sara Murphy, Kyra Crabb and Amber Murphy combined on a one-hit shutout.

"I was pleased to get some hits and rebound from Moscow," said coach Derek Dickinson, whose team was swept by Moscow on Tuesday. "We're trying to build some momentum and get our spirits up to battle with Lakeland."

Sandpoint hosts the Hawks on Saturday.

Bonners Ferry 000 00 — 0 1 3

Sandpoint 256 9X — 22 21 1

Sara Murphy, Kyra Crabb (4), Amber Murphy (5) and Hillary Nusbaum. W — S. Murphy. HITS: Spt — Adams 2, Brady 5, Rodriguez 2, Guercio 2, Ferguson 2, S. Murphy, Owens, Givens, Crabb, Nusbaum 2, Bunn 2. BF — Aitken. 2B — Adams 2, Givens, Bunn. 3B — Brady 2, Ferguson.

? Tennis — Sandpoint 5, Lakeland 0

SANDPOINT — Dustin Pierce and Jessie Novak played mixed doubles for the first time all season, winning a tight three set match as Sandpoint downed Lakeland 5-0 in tennis action Thursday at Travers Park.

"It was the first time Dustin has ever played doubles," said Bulldogs' coach Jane Rockwell. "It took them a set to figure out how to play with each other, then they finished it out."

Sandpoint hosts Post Falls tomorrow.

BOYS SINGLES — Mikka Nostdahl, Spt, d. Logan Jimmerson 6-1, 6-4. GIRLS SINGLES — Abby Helander, Spt, d. Katie Hoye 8-4. BOYS DOUBLES — Ryan Williams/Justin Vaughn, Spt, d. Winslow/Watson 6-0, 6-0. GIRLS DOUBLES — Jess Lindenberg/Victoria Johnson, Spt, d. Mitchell/Mitchell 6-0, 6-1. MIXED DOUBLES — Dustin Pierce/Jessie Novak, Spt, d. Goodall/Hoye 4-6, 7-5, (7-4).