Bulldogs' bullpen shuts down Badgers, offense takes care of business in sweep

Several days before the Bulldogs took the field against Bonners Ferry, head coach Chase Tigert expressed how he wanted his team to play to their abilities in every game.

If Saturday’s 18-2, 14-0 sweep is indicative of things to come, then the Bulldogs should be in good hands.

On a day in which seemingly the entire city celebrated the start of Little League season, Sandpoint baseball swept Bonners Ferry with a combined no-hitter in the first game, then a shutout in the second.

As a unit, the four-man rotation of Tyler Lehman, Darren Bailey, Tristan Authier and Aiden Ackerman combined for 11 strikeouts, two hits and three walks during the series — snapping the Badgers’ four-game winning streak in convincing fashion.

Sandpoint’s wins were complete efforts, though. Anthony Arroyo’s second-inning triple kicked off a three-hit, three-run performance in game one that culminated with a perfect 4-4, four-run, 2 RBI series for the junior. Kade MacDonald took over during the second game, in which he finished 2-3 with a game-high 3 RBI — including a fourth-inning single that was effectively the nail in the coffin for the hapless Badgers.

The Bulldogs (6-7, 2-2) will host Lakeland for a doubleheader today at 2 p.m.

Bonners Ferry 200 00 — 2 0 2

Sandpoint 740 7x — 18 13 4

Game called in the 6th due to run rule.

W — T. Lehman, 5 (2-0), Bailey, 1. L — See, 1.

HITS: Bonners Ferry — None. Sandpoint — A. Lehman 2, T. Lehman 2, Bailey, Stockton, MacDonald, Edlund, Becker 2. 2B — Arroyo. 3B — Arroyo 2.

Bonners Ferry 000 00 — 0 2 2

Sandpoint 641 3x — 14 11 2

Game called in the 5th due to run rule.

W — Authier, 4 (1-4), Ackerman, 1. L — T. Bateman, 4.

HITS: Bonners Ferry — T. Bateman. 2B — Newell. Sandpoint — T. Brackett, Garcia, T. Lehman 2, Arroyo, Davis, MacDonald, Authier. 2B — MacDonald, Stockton.