Nikssarian pitches Bulldogs past Bears

SANDPOINT — Having already excelled at both short stop and catcher this season, Sandpoint’s Eric Nikssarian proved his worth on the mound, pitching the Bulldogs past Moscow 8-2 in the second game of a 4A North League doubleheader sweep over Moscow late Tuesday night at Moscow High School.

Nikssarian, who also had two hits, switched from catcher to pitcher in the second inning after starter Patrick Anthony and two Moscow players were ejected after a collision on the base paths. Nikssarian proceeded to hold the Bears offense in check, even assuring head coach Chris Young he could go the distance when Young came out to replace him late in the game.

“Before I could even get to the mound he sent me back, he said ‘I got this coach,’” recalled Young of his versatile junior, who picked up his second win of the season in long relief. “He’s a team player. It doesn’t matter what position, he just has a desire to win the game.”

The Bulldogs (10-7, 4-2 4A IEL) are now in the driver’s seat to host the district tournament, which was pushed back from Saturday to Monday after a week of inclement weather. One win against Moscow on Friday will ensure home field advantage for the 4A North playoffs, where one team will earn a berth to state.

“We now definitely control our own destiny,” said Young. “It should be a good couple of games Friday night at War Memorial Field.”

Young plans to start either Ben Fisher or Tevin Hamilton in the first game, and Patrick Anthony in the second game of a doubleheader, which starts Friday at 4 p.m. at War Memorial Field. Anthony will have to sit out the first game as part of a one-game suspension, coming after a play that Young simply called good-hard baseball, which unfortunately resulted in an injury to the Moscow base runner.

Sandpoint won the first game 10-6 Thursday night, as a brief snowstorm interrupted the game for nearly an hour.

Sandpoint 150 000 2 — 8   9   1

Moscow    000 200 0 — 2   6   4

Patrick Anthony and Eric Nikssarian; Nikssarian (2) and Corey Neer; Helbling, Snyder (4) and Papineau. W — Nikssarian (2-1). L — Helbling.

HITS: Spt — Halpin, Fisher, Charvoz, Cramer, Nikssarian 2, Gordon, Jacobs, Neer; Mos — Redinger 3, Helbling, Parkins. 2B — Nikssarian. HR — Parkins.