Sandpoint Legion team gunning for league title

SANDPOINT — Featuring a stable of quality arms and a balanced lineup, the Sandpoint American Legion team is hoping to make a run at Lewiston and Orofino for an “A” league title in 2010.

Lefty Cole Tonnemacher and right hander Tevin Hamilton will provide a one-two punch to anchor a rotation that could run seven deep, a nice luxury during a 44 game season rife with doubleheaders. Also eating innings this season will be Joel Cramer, Scott Snow, Tyler Gordon, and a couple of young arms that head coach Mike Givens is counting on to step up in Ryan Schwartz and Sam Nitcy.

Nick Halpin will bat leadoff and set the table for a lineup without much weakness, anchored in the middle by the dangerous bats of Joel Cramer, Cole Tonnemacher and Eric Nikssarian. Scott Snow and Tyler Gordon each have shown home run power in the past, and will provide some punch as well.

“I expect some power and we’ll get a lot of extra base hits,” said Givens. “One through nine will be solid and we’ll work hard to improve all summer.”

Last year a much more inexperienced team took some lumps early in the season, before coming on strong before districts. With much more experience returning among the 15 players who turned out, Givens is hoping his team can challenge league powers Orofino and Lewiston at the top tier of the league.

“We’re shooting for the top two seeds. If we want to be successful, we need to sweep the teams we should and split with Lewiston and Orofino,” he explained. “Hopefully we can pick up where we left off last year and then peak at districts.”

Givens will be assisted by coaches Mike Peak and Curtiss Brown.

Sandpoint opens the season with a doubleheader today in Rathdrum, with first pitch slated for 11 a.m.