Sandpoint U16 American Legion team headed to state

| July 24, 2015 7:00 AM

SANDPOINT — After a phenominal 16-3 regular season full of steller play in non-Legion tournaments throughout the summer, the U16 Dawgs advanced to the American Legion Baseball 2015 Single A State Championships in Walla Walla, Wash. on July 24-30.

The Dawgs advance to state as the Region’s No. 2 seed after suffering a tough 12-9 loss against Coeur d’Alene in 8 innings last Saturday.

The Dawgs jumped out to an early lead after losing the first in a best-of-three series. Thomas Riley started the game on the mound, retiring the first three hitters on only 11 pitches. As the Dawgs’ leadoff hitter, Riley continued putting pressure on Coeur d’Alene by hitting a double in the first inning, advancing to third on a fielder’s choice knock by Billy Brackett and catching the defense off-guard by stealing home on the play to score the first run of the game.

The Dawgs led 4-3 until Coeur d’Alene plated four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead. Trailing 8-4 in the 6th inning, Caleb Edlund hit a single to left field scoring Austin Greene, followed by Walker Jacobson’s base clearing double deep down the left field line, tying the game at 8-8 and forcing extra innings.

After Coeur d’Alene scored three runs in the top of the eighth, Sandpoint had a runner on first and nobody out before Tyrone Larson was robbed of extra bases by the Cd’A first baseman, who made a spectacular catch on a laser down the line for the big double play.

The Dawgs would like to sponsors and members of the Dawg Pound for their support this season: American Legion Post 15; Idaho Forest Group; Travel America Park; D.J. Eich Timber Services; Consolidated Supply Company; Joel’s Mexican Resteraunt; Sandpoint Super Drug; North Idaho Spas; Sandpoint Furniture Carpet One; Les Schwab; Idaho Carpenters Union; Three Amigos Plumbing; VeriFunds.net; Tom and Cindy Albertson; Chris and Audra Jacobs; Jeff and Kelly Strauss; Linda Casey; Lori Albright; Logan Sanborn; Marvin and Cindy Chapman; John and Sandi Edlund; Tracey Karst; and Mikey and April Glisson.

The Woods Meats raffle drawing has been pushed to mid-August due to competing at state, so there is still time to show your support by either entering the drawing by calling Barbara Oler at 208-946-3274 or making a donation on GoFundMe.com/DawgsBaseball.

The Dawgs kick of state against Arlington 76ers from Arlington, Wash., on Saturday, July 25 at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla. First pitch is slated for 9 a.m.