Bulldogs bounce back in consolation round

BOISE — Cory Hawkins had a monster game Friday at the 4A state baseball tournament, helping extend the Bulldogs' season another day as they downed Bishop Kelly 6-4 in consolation action at Bishop Kelly High School.

Hawkins pounded out three hits — including two doubles — and pitched a complete game four-hitter, fanning 11 Knights while walking only two.

"He did an outstanding job for us," said Sandpoint coach Mike Givens of Hawkins. "He got ahead in the count, striking them out with fastball early in the game and breaking balls later."

Hawkins was backed by some stellar defense, including diving catches in the outfield by Ryan Armbruster and Ricky Stewart to rob the Knights (22-6) of extra base hits. Cole Tonnemacher had two hits and two RBIs, and Jake Semones added two hits as the Bulldogs (16-12) banged out 10 hits and did everything right that they were unable to do in the loss to Jerome on Thursday.

"Before the game we got together as a team and let the guys know to leave it all on the field if they want to keep playing," said Givens, who said the team was plenty fired up for Bishop Kelly, who has become a 4A rival of Sandpoint. "We did the opposite of yesterday — put the ball in play and executed."

The defense set the tone early behind Hawkins, who retired the first nine batters he faced as Sandpoint jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after three innings. Down in the count 2-0, Hawkins challenged a Bishop Kelly hitter who made him pay with a two-run homer in the fourth inning, Hawkins' only mistake of the game. Semones made a nice defensive play on a liner to end the game as the Knights had a runner on second.

Dustin Hawkins will get the start today when Sandpoint takes on Rigby (11-14) in the fourth place game, which starts at 1 p.m. Mountain time.

Bishop Kelly 000 301 0 — 4 4 2

Sandpoint 103 100 1 — 6 10 2

Cefelo, Graves (4) and Gamboa; Cory Hawkins and Cody Reichart. W — C. Hawkins. L — Cefelo.

HITS: BK — Hall, Osich, Gamboa, Mariscal. Spt — C. Hawkins 3, Semones 2, Reichart, Tonnemacher 2, W. Hawkins, Lichty. 2B — Hall, C. Hawkins 2. HR — Gamboa.