Lehman, Bottomley lead Bulldogs in sweep of Badgers

SANDPOINT — A handful of strong pitching performances, and the hot bats of Tyler Shaffer and Trey Flint, helped lead the Bulldogs to a doubleheader sweep of the Badgers in nonleague baseball on Friday at Bonners Ferry High School.

The Bulldogs (4-1) needed extra innings to win game one, as Talon Dewey started the game and struck out seven in three-plus innings of work to start the game, before getting in trouble in the fourth. The Bulldogs led 5-0 to start the bottom of the third, before the Badgers plated eight runs in the third and fourth, chasing Dewey from the game to take an 8-6 lead.

Enter freshman Tyler Lehman, making his varsity debut in long relief and tossing four plus innings of scoreless baseball to pick up the win and help his team come back and win.

“Talon was really on, impressive how he was going after guys,” said Tigert, who liked his team’s composure late in the game. “Tyler coming in, a freshman and he was very poised in stressful situations. He pounded the zone and did a phenomenal job.”

Trey Flint tallied three more hits and three RBIs to lead the offense, Tyler Shaffer added two more and Thomas Riley scored twice in the extra-inning, comeback win in the opener.

The nightcap of the makeup doubleheader packed far less drama, as Sydney Bottomley was dealing from the mound in a complete game, two-hit shutout, striking out three to lead the Bulldogs to a 12-0 win in the five inning affair.

The Bulldogs finished with just four hits, but 10 walks helped lead to an early 11-0 lead, and staked to a lead Bottomley went at hitters.

“He did a phenomenal job. He kept the ball down in the zone. A lot of confidence, a lot of poise,” praised Tigert. “Hook took control of the game from the first pitch, and the defense was working behind him. I’m really proud of him.”

Sandpoint is off during spring break, before resuming play with a key 4A IEL doubleheader in Moscow on Monday, April 10.

Game 1

Sandpoint 005 102 01 — 9 8 5

Bonners Ferry 003 500 00 — 8 9 4

Talon Dewey, Tyrone Larson (4), Tyler Lehman (4) and Nick Holland; Dunham and Bray. W — Lehman (1-0). L — Dunham.

HITS: Spt — Riley, Bottomley, Brackett, Flint 3, Shaffer 2. BF — Bateman 2, S. Bateman, Dunham, N. Sabin 2 (2B), B. Sabin, Stockton, Gray. 2B — N. Sabin, Riley.

Game 2

Sandpoint 605 10 — 12 4 0

Bonners Ferry 000 00 — 0 2 5

Sydney Bottomley and Holland. W — Bottomley (1-1).

HITS: Spt — Brackett, Flint, Stockton, Shaffer. 2B — Flint.