Bulldogs land three on All-IEL baseball team

| May 24, 2013 7:00 AM

SANDPOINT — It was a tough season for the Bulldog baseball team, but some individual performances were recognized as three Sandpoint players earned a spot on the 4A All-Inland Empire League baseball team, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

Freshman catcher Paul Sundquist was voted Newcomer of the Year after making only three errors all season behind the dish in 19 starts.

“No ifs, ands or buts, the coaches said ‘your catcher was awesome,’” said Bulldogs head coach Chris Young. “He was the backbone of the team defensively and started hitting the ball toward the end of the year.”

Senior Nik Feyen earned a spot on the team by hitting .256 with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs, and was also the Bulldogs’ top inning eater on the mound. The numbers don’t tell the whole story, as Feyen’s leadership was big during a trying and winless season.

“In the middle to end of the year, he was the glue that bound us together,” praised Young, whose very young team suffered some one-sided defeats in a rebuilding year. “You go 0-21 and things can fall apart on a coach easily. Nik helped keep the kids fighting, regardless of what the score was.”

Senior Zac Farrell led the Bulldogs with a .372 average and eight runs, and also stole seven bases while boasting a .518 on base percentage.

“He was definitely our player of the year,” said Young of his senior shortstop. “The other coaches wanted to recognize him for his three years of varsity.”

4A All-IEL baseball team

MVP — Troy Carr, sr., Lakeland.

Newcomer of the Year — Paul Sundquist, fr., Sandpoint.

Coach of the Year — Evan Hecker, Moscow.

Pitchers — Jesse Marks, sr., Lakeland; Patrick O’Sullivan, sr., Moscow; Joey Reintjes, jr., Moscow. Outfield — Nolan Johnson, sr., Moscow; Evan Johnson, sr., Lakeland; Hunter Redinger, sr., Moscow. Infield — Nik Feyen, sr., Sandpoint; Zac Farrell, sr., Sandpoint; Kris Jackson, jr., Lakeland; Connor Lindstrom, sr., Moscow. Catcher — James Prockish, sr., Lakeland. Designated hitter/utility — Jeremy McKinney, sr., Lakeland.