Bulldogs land three on All-IEL team

SANDPOINT — The Inland Empire League has the reputation as being the top softball league in the state, so it came as a pleasant surprise to Sandpoint head coach Derek Dickinson when three of his players were named to the team, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

Junior shortstop Rachel Hammack was named to the first team, not just for hitting .287 with three home runs, but for playing the game with an all-out hustle.

“Other coaches recognize her commitment to being a good ball player,” said Dickinson of Hammack, who broke her wrist and had to miss the last few games of the season. “She’s an overall threat as a hitter and base runner.”

Junior Molly Givens was named as a pitcher on the second team. As the Bulldogs’ ace and prime inning eater, she boasted an ERA in the threes and was able to shut teams down in stretches.

“Her pitching kept us in games,” said Dickinson. “She didn’t always have defense behind her or enough offense, but she put us in position to compete.”

Freshman C.J. Semones cracked the second team as a utility player. She hit .306, and was versatile enough to excel at short stop when needed, no easy task for a left-handed player.

“She was just solid as a hitter, and solid at defense,” said Dickinson of Semones, who is moving to Connecticut next year and should make her new coach very happy.

LEAGUE MVP — Lela Work, Lake City

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Katie Rowe

COACH OF THE YEAR — Laura Tolzman, Lake City

FIRST TEAM

Blake Meredith, P, Post Falls; Jessica Ulrich, P, Lewiston; Shawndee Garrett, OF, Lewiston; Jessica Kramer, OF, Lewiston; Katie Comack, OF, Cd’A; Jen Smith, OF, Moscow; Jessica Kraft, IF, Cd’A; Bri Joseph, IF, Post Falls; Jamie Hall, IF, Lake City; Rachel Hammack, IF, Sandpoint; Jessica Ross, C, Lake City; Richelle Ashburn, DH, Post Falls; Amber Coburn, Util, Cd’A.

SECOND TEAM

Molly Givens, P, Sandpoint; RaeLynn Gose, P, Moscow; Jen Robertson, OF, Lake City; Chrissie Hicks, OF, Moscow; Jordan Schoening, OF, Post Falls; Amanda Broulliard, IF, Cd’A; Kaci Baldwin, IF, Lewiston; Nicole Smith, IF, Moscow; Kallie Neal, IF, Lake City; Amy Westberg, C, Moscow; Amanda Hoffman, DH, Lewiston; C. J. Semones, Util, Sandpoint.