Bulldogs fall 12-4 to Hawks

RATHDRUM — Eric Cooper went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored as the Hawks beat the visiting Bulldogs 12-4 in a 4A Inland Empire League baseball game Thursday at Lakeland High School.

Sandpoint senior Caleb Nishimoto had a big day at the plate to lead the Bulldogs (1-5, 0-4 4A IEL), lashing three singles and driving in three runs. Ryan Schwartz added two singles, as the Bulldogs outhit Lakeland (8-3, 3-1 4A IEL) 10-9 in the game.

With two out in the fourth and leading 3-2, John Galbraith hit a three-run double off starter Nishimoto down the right field line to break the game open for Lakeland.

“We had a lot of timely hitting,” Lakeland coach Jason Bradbury said. “We stayed patient at the plate. It took a while to get adjusted to their pitching, but finally got our timing down.”

Sandpoint will host red-hot hitting Coeur d’Alene, which scored a whopping 19 runs in one inning in a 27-2 drubbing of cross town rival Lake City recently, in a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.

Sandpoint 110 020 0 — 4 10   2

Lakeland  300 540 x — 12  9   0

Caleb Nishimoto, Nik Feyen (5), Ryan Schwartz (6) and Justin Orr; James Prockish, Joe Schwalbach and A.J. Walls. W — Prockish (2-0). L — Nishimoto (1-2).

HITS: Spt — Nitcy, Ferrell, Schwartz 2, Nishimoto 3, Olin, Feyen, Rodriguez. LL — Carr, Schwalbach, Cooper 2, Johnson, Prockish 3, Galbreath. 2B — Prockish, Galbreath.