Baldree, Davis, Mattila lead Bulldogs to pair of wins at district tourney
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Bri Baldree, pictured earlier in the season, had a big day offensively for the Bulldogs, tagging six hits and picking up a win to lead her team to a pair of big victories.
RATHDRUM — Seniors Bri Baldree and Audrey Mattila came up huge, leading the No. 2 seed Bulldogs to a 13-3 win over Moscow and a 14-6 win over Lakeland during the first day of the 4A Region 1 softball tournament Tuesday at Lakeland High School.
Baldree ripped two doubles among her three hits, also scoring five runs and driving in three, and Tanis Davis smacked a home run and drove in three, as the No. 2 seed Bulldogs (8-9) put up crooked numbers early and often against the No. 3 seed Bears. Kaitlan Ward scored four runs, as the Bulldogs pounded out 13 hits.
Audrey Mattila picked up her first win of the season at the most opportune time, going the distance against the Bears in a complete game five-hitter, allowing just one earned run.
“Audrey pitched an outstanding game,” lauded Bulldogs head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams. “She pitched to contact and the defense got a lot of ground ball outs.”
In the second game, Baldree took to the circle and struck out eight in a complete game five-hitter. Mattila laced two doubles and drove in three runs, Baldree had another two doubles, and Emma Loutzenhiser had two hits and two RBIs to the hot-hitting Bulldogs.
“We smoked the ball in this game. A lot of line drives hit the fence, we absolutely crushed the ball,” praised Hawkins-Williams. “These girls were driven to earn that state bid. Overall it was an outstanding performance by the Bulldogs.”
Sandpoint will wait until Saturday, to face the winner of Thursday’s loser-out game between the Bears and the Hawks in the true double elimination tournament.
Moscow 001 200 — 3 5 0
Sandpoint 331 023 — 13 13 4
Audrey Mattila and Ember Dewey. W — Mattila (1-1).
HITS: Spt — Barlow, Ka. Ward, Baldree 3, Davis 3, Mattila, Petit, Ki. Ward 2, Steiger. 2B — Baldree 2. 3B — Barlow. HR — Davis.
Sandpoint 006 350 0 — 14 13 2
Lakeland 000 420 0 — 6 5 1
Bri Baldree and Ember Dewey. W — Baldree (5-6).
HITS: LL — Wooley, Leon, Rivera, O’Hara 2. Spt — Barlow 2, Baldree 3, Mattila 2, Loutzenhiser 2, Steiger 2, Irish, Edwards. 2B — O’Hara, Baldree 2, Mattila 2. HR — Rivera.