Flint, Brackett lead six Bulldogs on all-league team

SANDPOINT — Junior Trey Flint had a monster year at the plate, mashing at a .440 clip with a whopping 25 RBIs in just 18 games this season, earning him Co-Most Valuable Player honors on the 4A All-Inland Empire League baseball team, as voted on recently by the league’s coaches.

Flint also hit two home runs, six doubles and a triple, anchoring the lineup while punishing pitchers with runners on base. He also stole five bases.

“Trey put together an incredible year at the plate. We had a ton of confidence in Trey every time he stepped up to the plate. We knew with runners in scoring position, he would be able to get the job done,” said first year coach Chase Tigert. “Trey also had a streak where he laced balls right at people. His offensive numbers, as high as they are, still do not portray how well he truly hit the ball this year. It was a lot of fun to watch him play.”

Sophomore Billy Brackett wasn’t a starter early in the year, but eventually worked his way into the starting lineup and earned Newcomer of the Year honors. He finished the season hitting .388, with 10 runs, six RBIs and an 11 game hit streak.

“He continued to work hard, progress, and ultimately he fought his way into the starting lineup and never looked back. He played short and third and excelled at both positions,” described Tigert. “It was amazing to see him grow this year into the player he has become. I look forward to seeing Billy’s continued growth over the next two years.”

Senior Sydney Bottomely was one of two pitchers honored, leading the Bulldogs in innings pitched while going 3-2 with a 3.80 ERA. He was especially strong in league play, posting a tidy 2.09 ERA in 16 plus innings of work.

“Sydney had an amazing year on the bump. He didn’t give up a run in his first two starts of the year. He was lights out the majority of the year,” praised Tigert. “He had tremendous tilt on the ball and went after guys every opportunity he had. One of the reasons why he was successful this year was his confidence in his off speed pitches and his ability to keep the ball down in the zone.”

Senior Wes Holland emerged as a weapon out of the bullpen, using a side-winding left-handed delivery to earn two wins and post a 1.75 ERA on the year. In 16 innings pitched, he gave up just 13 hits and one walk, earning a couple of big saves during the year.

“We had complete confidence in him every time he entered the game. It didn’t matter if we were up by one with bases loaded or if we were down by two, we knew Wes was going to battle and keep guys off base,” said Tigert. “One of the keys to his success this year was the way he pounded the zone and attacked hitters. He went right after guys, kept the ball down, and was a ground ball machine.”

Senior Caleb Edlund, who plans to play in college next season at College of the Siskiyous, once again eclipsed .400 after heating up late in the year to finish at .422, with nine runs, seven RBIs, seven doubles and seven steals. A classic gap-to-gap line drive hitter, Tigert called him a complete player.

“He showed that throughout the entire year. Not only did he hit .422, but he didn’t make an error all season. Whether he was on the field, at the plate, or on the bases, we knew Caleb would be able to execute no matter the situation,” claimed Tigert. “I look forward to Caleb starting his college baseball career. He is going to be very successful at the next level.”

Junior Tyler Shaffer emerged as one of the most steady-Freddy bats on the team this season, finishing the season with a .423 average and 15 runs scored. His on-base percentage was a robust .500, and he posted eight multi-hit games.

“His bat was so hot, it took a few games to figure out the best spot for him in the batting order. He found himself leading off towards the middle of the season and he did a terrific job in that spot,” said Tigert. “He led multiple games off with a base hit and got the momentum started for us early in the game. He started the season hot and ended the season hot.”

Despite the rainy season, Tigert felt the foundation was laid for future success. He said there was a buy-in from day one, and despite having less than 10 practices on a field, the team managed a respectable 9-9 record and outscored the opposition by 10 runs.

“The kids worked hard every day, regardless of the weather. It didn’t matter if we were in the gym or in a parking lot, they were on a mission to get better, and that’s what they did,” said Tigert. “This year was a success and I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with these kids again next year as we continue to build and grow.”

4A All-Inland Empire League Baseball

Co-MVPs — Trey Flint, Spt, Jr.; Andrew Nielson, LL, Sr.

Newcomer of the Year — Billy Brackett, Spt, So.

Pitchers — Dylan Bradbury, LL, Jr.; Sydney Bottomley, Spt, Sr.; Wes Holland, Spt, Sr.

Outfielders — Ryan Pote, LL, Sr.; Max Baxter, LL, Jr.; Cooper Larson, Mos, Sr.

Infielders — Caleb Edlund, Spt, Sr.; Tyler Shaffer, Spt, Jr.; Joe Strietzel, LL, Sr.; Kobe Reyes, Mos, Sr.

Catcher — Jared McDaniel, LL, Sr.

DH/Utility — Tucker Price, LL, Sr.