Holland, Calvert lead Bulldogs past Tigers

SANDPOINT — Lucinda Calvert went 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs and two doubles, and Sam Holland hit a towering game-winning home run to lead Sandpoint to a come from behind 10-9 win over Timberlake in nonleague softball on Friday at Sandpoint Middle School.

Holland, a freshman, picked a great time to hit her first varsity home run, a two-run shot that erased a 9-8 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning to score the winning runs.

“It was an absolute moon shot,” described Bulldogs head coach Derek Dickinson of the homer. “It was as high as it was far.”

Calvert went the distance on the mound for the Bulldogs (3-11), cutting down on walks and posting a few scoreless frames.

“It was one of her better pitching efforts as far as throwing strikes,” said Dickinson, praising the play of Morgan Bluemer at the hot corner. “She was outstanding, just a great game defensively at third base.”

After falling behind 3-0 early, the Bulldogs plated five second inning runs, as the lineup continues to put up crooked numbers. Dickinson called it a great game for both teams.

“There was lots of ebb and flow. We held onto the lead in the seventh, and got a groundout with the bases loaded,” he said. “It was a great all around win, we’ll see if we can keep it rolling against Moscow.”

Katie Malloy went 3 for 4 with six RBIs, including a three-run home run in the first inning for the Tigers (5-6).

Bluemer added two RBIs and Topi Elsfelder had a pair of base knocks for the balanced and productive Bulldogs, who have now scored 57 runs in the past six games.

Timberlake loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but could not cash in.

“It was a real good game,” Timberlake coach Mike Menti said. “Both pitchers threw the ball well and hit.”

Sandpoint hosts Moscow on Tuesday in a big 4A Inland Empire League doubleheader.

Timberlake 302 013 0 — 9  11  4

Sandpoint  050 212 x — 10  11  3

Brittany Hibdon and Matraca Rocheleau; Lucinda Calvert and Sam Holland. W — Calvert (3-8). L — Hibdon (1-4).

HITS: TL — Kalar 3, Owen 2, Malloy 3, Salois, Rocheleau, Hibdon. Spt — Buchmiller, L. Calvert 3, Bluemer, Holland 2, Elsfelder 2, Sundquist, A. Calvert. 2B — Malloy, L. Calvert 2, Sundquist. HR — Malloy (1), Holland.