Bluemer, Williams lead Bulldogs past Bears

SANDPOINT — A couple of hot bats in the middle of the order and another strong performance from their ace led the No. 2 seed Bulldogs to a 9-2 win over the No. 3 Bears on Thursday in the loser-out game of the 4A Region 1 softball tournament.

Morgan Bluemer laced two triples and drove in three runs to lead the Bulldogs’ offense, and Bre Williams continues to rake from the clean up spot, hitting the ball hard for a triple and double among her three hits, while scoring twice and driving in two runs. Cody Baldree scored three times and Jordan Speelmon had two hits as the Bulldogs (9-13) once again started fast.

“Morgan had a monster game,” said head coach Derek Dickinson. “It was fun to watch her break out with some big hits.”

Speelmon started the game by scalding a line drive to right field, and after a misplay by the fielder used her plus speed to round the bases and score the first run. After a Williams RBI double and Bluemer’s first triple, the Bulldogs put a five spot up in the bottom of the first, more than enough run support for their ace.

Casey Bottomley spun a five-hitter and struck out five, keeping the Bears (3-18) off balance all game, and Jessica Strickland anchored the defense behind the plate.

“Casey pitched a great game, she was sharp,” said Dickinson, whose team faces No. 1 seed Lakeland again on Saturday in the championship game. “We feel good. We’ll go down there in a good frame of mind and let it ride, that’s all we can do.”

The Bulldogs have faced Lakeland five times already this season, and despite a couple of close games, have yet to break through for the win. Bluemer hopes the Bulldogs can seize momentum and stay hot as they look to beat the Hawks not once, but twice if they’re to earn the lone state berth.

“We need to hit it hard and go for it. We’re totally capable of doing it,” said Bluemer. “We just need to know in our hearts we can.”

First pitch for the 4A Region 1 championship game is at noon in Lakeland, with a second game at 3 p.m. if the Bulldogs win.

Moscow    101 000 0 — 2   5   3

Sandpoint 500 022 x — 9   9   4

Chandler and Ogden; Casey Bottomley and Jessica Strickland. W — Bottomley (9-12). L — Chandler.

Hits: Mos — Bruce, Burnette, Adams, Chandler, Barnard. Spt — Speelmon 2, Baldree, Williams 3, Bluemer 3. 2B — Williams, Burnette. 3B — Williams, Bluemer 2.