Sandpoint 10U All Stars make noise at district tournament
(Photo by CODY MILLER) The Sandpoint U10 All Stars, pictured front row, from left to right: Devin Williams, Andrew Aexel, Parker Reichart, Coleman Inge and Bode Eacret. Back row: Sage Medeiros, Hayden Miller, Quin Mihin, Cruz Robertson, Dallen Williams and Carson Resso. Not pictured: Cooper Zimmerman.
(Photo by CODY MILLER) Sage Medeiros squares up a fastball in a 13-1 win against Post Falls at the recent district all-star tournament.
Finish All Star
season with a stellar 5-2 record
SANDPOINT — Strong pitching performances and a consistent offense led the Sandpoint 10U All-Star team to a 3-2 record in the recent Little League District 1 Tournament in Coeur d’Alene.
The team opened tournament play against perennial power Coeur d’Alene, falling 13-7 to the defending champions but showing toughness, outscoring their opponents over the last four innings. Sage Medeiros and Copper Zimmerman combined to strike out 10 in defeat, with Medeiros, Coleman Inge and Hayden Miller leading the offense by each going 2 for 3 at the plate.
Game two against Lewiston Purple went into extra innings, before Sandpoint fell 9-6 in eight innings to the eventual state champions. Inge, Dallen Williams, Parker Reichart and Bode Eacret combined for 13 strikeouts in a strong pitching display, backed by some incredible defensive plays in the field. The offense was led by Medeiros, who smacked two doubles, and Andrew Aexel, who went 3-4 from the plate.
“After the game the boys were upbeat and super excited that they had just played head to head with Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston, historically the strongest teams in the District,” described coach John Aexel, not knowing at the time they just took the eventual state champs to extra innings. “They were looking forward to the remainder of the tournament.”
Both the offense and defense were clicking in a 13-1 dispatching of Post Falls in game three, with Aexel and Reichart combining for eight strikeouts, while Inge, Miller, Quin Mihin and Aexel powered the offense with two hits apiece.
Sandpoint opened the second week of the tournament against Lewiston White, getting strong pitching from Inge, Reichart and Aexel in a 15-0 shutout win. Powering the offense was Inge, Medeiros, Reichart, Williams and Aexel, all of whom went 2 for 3 at the plate.
Sandpoint looked to stay hot and end the tourney on a three game win streak, and did just that in an 11-1 win over Hayden. Williams, Inge and Medeiros struck out 12, while Reichart and Zimmerman collected two hits each, as the team continued to gel as the tournament rolled along. All told, they scored 52 runs and allowed just 24.
“The team narrowly missed playing for the District Championship this year,” said Aexel. “But they all earned the respect of every team along with the tournament officials, who were very impressed with how hard the Sandpoint team played and competed.”
The All-Stars also competed in a season-ending International Friendly Doubleheader against Cranbrook, BC last week, making Sandpoint proud in the Border Battle by winning both games 13-7 and 19-7 to finish off the All-Star season with a rock-solid 5-2 record.