Host of Bulldogs garner All-League honors
SANDPOINT — Six Sandpoint Bulldogs were recently named to the 4A All-Inland Empire League baseball team, as voted on by the league’s coaches.
Senior Joel Cramer, who hit .426 and scored a team high 31 runs, and junior Nick Halpin, who hit .333 and scored 17 runs, each made the team as an outfielder.
Senior Ben Fisher, who hit .469 with three home runs (two grand slams) and 20 runs scored, and senior Daniel Charvoz, who hit a robust .552 with 22 runs on the season, were each named as infielders.
Junior Eric Nikssarian, who hit .310 with 13 runs and provided stellar defense behind the dish, was the lone catcher selected, and Tevin Hamilton, who went 3-3 as a starter and hit .297 with 15 runs offensively, made the team as a pitcher.
Sandpoint head coach Chris Young shared his thoughts about why each player made the team:
n Eric Nikssarian — “He is more than a good catcher and leader behind the plate. Eric will do well at anything in life just due to the fact that he gives you everything he has everyday in practice and on game day. He also is an exceptional shortstop and good pitcher with great speed on the base path.”
n Daniel Charvoz — “A great young man with solid goals in life. Daniel was someone that you always knew was going to put the bat to the ball, usually finding a hole. Led our team in hitting at over .500.”
n Ben Fisher — “A player that coaches rarely get to see. He has a different gear that most players don’t have, allowing him to excel at a different level when he needs to in a game. Ben was solid for us at second base this year, coming on at the end of the year to pitch well. I was very happy to see him leave the yard a couple times this year. My favorite Ben Fisher moment would still have to be last year when he stole home against Moscow.”
n Joel Cramer — “All I can say about Joel is that he plays baseball like it should be played; he attacks and makes the other team make the mistakes. Joel has no regard for his own body when going horizontal for a fly ball or sliding into a base. He will be a player and young man that I will not soon forget.
n Nick Halpin — “Nick loves the game of baseball. He wants to play everywhere and anywhere a coach will place him. As an outfielder Nick has an uncanny ability to know right where the baseball is going to be when it is hit. He was also a solid hitter for us all year. I look to Nick to lead our offense next year.”
n Tevin Hamilton — “As no surprise to me, Tevin had a great year on the mound for us. Tevin has really come a long way when it comes to the mental part of baseball. His control and confidence in all of his pitches allowed him to control most of the games he pitched in this year. Tevin will lead the Bulldogs on the mound next year. He is a young man who is never satisfied with his game and that is the making of a great player.”
4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
MVP — Caleb Guerber, sr., Lakeland
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Eric Cooper, so., Lakeland
COACH OF THE YEAR — Jason Bradbury, Lakeland
ALL-LEAGUE
PITCHERS — Cody Vandever, jr., Lakeland; Tevin Hamilton, jr., Sandpoint; Jake Helbling, jr., Moscow. OUTFIELDERS — Kurt South, sr., Lakeland; Joel Cramer, sr., Sandpoint; Nick Halpin, jr., Sandpoint. INFIELDERS — Kyle Layen, jr., Moscow; Ben Fisher, sr., Sandpoint; Lane Brooks, so., Moscow; Daniel Charvoz, sr., Sandpoint. CATCHER — Eric Nikssarian, jr., Sandpoint. DH/UTILITY — Drew Papineau, jr., Moscow.