Bulldogs steal win over Bears
SANDPOINT — There’s an old saying in baseball: speed doesn’t slump. When Ben Fisher took off in a dead sprint attempting to steal home, with the game in the balance, there was only one thing that was going to get him there safely — speed.
Fisher had just enough of it as he narrowly slid in under the catcher’s tag, scoring the deciding run in the bottom of the sixth inning and leading Sandpoint to a huge 3-2 win in the nightcap of an Inland Empire League doubleheader Wednesday afternoon again Moscow.
The steal of home was a fitting way to end a crisp, well pitched game between two teams fighting for every win.
“That was a gutsy call stealing home there,” said Moscow coach Brent Belschner. “I should have had my pitcher throw from the stretch.”
Staked to a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh, starter Cole Tonnemacher came out and retired the Bears in order, putting the finishing touches on a three-hit, nine strikeout complete game gem.
“Right now he’s dominating,” said Bulldogs coach Chris Young of his ace. “When he gets defensive support he dominates.”
Young also had high praise for Joel Cramer, who came up with a clutch hit in the fifth inning to tie the game at 2-2 heading into the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Fisher made it to third with one out, and instantly asked Young about stealing home, something he had done once before earlier in the season. The two began timing the delivery of Hull, who was throwing from the windup.
After Hull retired Jordan Hammack for the second out, Young decided to roll the dice and sent Fisher on the first pitch to catcher Jonas Cafferty, who had the take sign. Fisher took off the moment Hull rocked into his delivery and beat a diving Bears catcher to home.
“With two outs he (Young) looked at me and said ‘you ready?’” explained Fisher of the play. “I said yes and got a huge jump. It was fun.”
It was also important, as the win keeps the Bulldogs chances of hosting districts alive. As big as Wednesday’s game was, today’s final regular season meeting between the 4A North rivals is equally important. If Moscow (10-6, 4-4 IEL) wins, they host districts. If Sandpoint (7-14, 2-6 IEL) wins, they will keep their chances alive via tie-breaker.
Sandpoint fell 8-2 in the first game, which was a continuation of an earlier meeting between the teams that was rained out. Play resumed in the top of the fifth inning, with Moscow leading 6-2. Cramer had a triple and Bryce Olin a double to lead the Bulldogs.
Sandpoint is at Moscow today, with first pitch slated for 4 p.m.
Game 1
Moscow 320 102 0 — 8 8 3
Sandpoint 000 200 0 — 2 3 1
Brian Sweeney and Nate Sanchez; David Dishong and Cory Neer. W — Sweeney. L — Dishong.
HITS: Mos — Washington, Helbling 2, Sweeney 2, Hull 2, Laven. Spt — Cramer, Olin, Hammack. 2B — Olin, Washington. 3B — Cramer.
Game 2
Moscow 002 000 0 — 2 3 3
Sandpoint 100 011 x — 3 5 1
Zach Hull and Sanchez; Cole Tonnemacher and Jonas Cafferty. W — Tonnemacher. L — Hull.
HITS: Mos — Helbling, Sweeney, Maxwell. Spt — Cramer, Semones, Fisher, Tonnemacher, Halpin.