Ward, Tomazich go deep as Bulldogs bounce Bears

RATHDRUM — A power infusion from a couple of JV players, along with another strong start from ace Bri Baldree helped lead the No. 2 Bulldogs to a 10-5 win over No. 3 seed Moscow (5-17) in the opener of the 4A Region 1 softball tournament on Tuesday at Lakeland High School.

Kaitlin Ward hit a towering grand slam, and Danika Tomazich hit a two-run blast, powering the Bulldogs (10-13) to a pivotal seven run fifth inning. The pair of players were called up from JV for the district tournament, and wasted little time making their presence felt.

“Those JV players stepped up big for us, we couldn’t have asked for more of them,” said assistant coach Betsy Dalessio, noting Ward’s shot was a bomb. “The umpire estimated it went 300 feet. It was a huge inning. Two batter later, Danika hit another.”

Baldree struck out 10 in a complete game eight hitter, and the Bulldogs backed her with solid defense, committing just one error in the game. Lily Martin banged out three more hits, continuing to swing a torrid bat of late.

“It was a great offensive and defensive game,” said Dalessio. “Everyone put their best effort forward, played with a lot of heart out there.”

The Bulldogs struggled to get the bats going in the second game, falling 12-1 to No. 1 seed Lakeland (8-14). Sandpoint managed only three hits, and the Hawks plated 11 runs in a game that was called after the fifth inning for the 10-run rule.

The Bulldogs will host Moscow in a loser-out game on Thursday, with first pitch slated for 4 p.m. at Sandpoint Middle School.

Moscow    220 010 0 — 5   8   2

Sandpoint 120 070 0 — 10   9  1

Bri Baldree and Sam Holland. W — Baldree.

HITS: Spt — Martin 2, Elsfelder, B. Baldree , Kaitlin Ward 2, Bluemer, Tomazich, Calvert. 2B — Baldree and Calvert. HR — Tomazich and Ward.

Sandpoint 010 00 — 1   3    1

Lakeland  320 33 — 11  10  1

B. Baldree, Kaitlin Ward (5) and Holland; Kari Prockish and MeRynda Pehrson. W — Prockish. L — Baldree.

HITS: Spt — Martin, Elsfelder, Tomazich. LL — Kastning 3, Vanderhoof 2, Wooley, Prockish, Litzko, Pruitt, Levelt. 2B — Elsfelder, Kastning 2, Prockish. HR — Pruitt (2).