Tigers topple Bulldogs

SANDPOINT — Shelby Starr went 4 of 5 with a pair of doubles, and Becca Malloy tossed a complete game six hitter, leading Lakeland to a 6-3 win over Sandpoint in nonleague softball Monday at Sandpoint Middle School.

Malloy didn’t overpower the Bulldogs (4-8), but she pounded the zone and kept the Tigers (7-2) in a close game to pick up a huge road win.

“She throws a knuckle-change, it’s amazing. Sandpoint had a tough time laying off it, she was hitting her spots,” said Tigers head coach Casi Reisenauer, also lauding the play of Starr. “That kid is just automatic. I can always count on her to hit the ball hard.”

Ember Dewey, Brooklen Steiger and Bri Baldree all had diving catches to highlight a strong defensive showing, and Baldree and Bri Barlow each had two hits for the Bulldogs.

Sandpoint head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams liked what she saw from her team in defeat, including the pitching of starter Audrey Mattila and Baldree.

“We played more like a team today than we have all season. Today we meshed, we’re starting to come together,” claimed Hawkins-Williams. “I had two pitchers that pitched efficiently and had good command of the zone. Defensively, we made a lot of diving catches, really showed up.”

Sandpoint hosts Moscow in a doubleheader on Thursday, seeking the season sweep.

Timberlake 100 121 1 — 6 7 4

Sandpoint 000 210 0 — 3 6 4

Becca Malloy and Maddy Salois; Audrey Mattila, Bri Baldree (5) and Ember Dewey. W — Malloy. L — Mattila (0-1).

HITS: TL — Starr 4, Lindley, Jerome, Salois. Spt — Baldree 2, Davis, Petit, Barlow 2. 2B — Starr 2, Jerome, Baldree, Barlow.