Five Bulldogs earn 4A Inland Empire League all-conference softball awards
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW) Sandpoint senior Tanis Davis makes contact during an April 17 game at Lakeland.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW) Izzo Edwards snags a line drive in a game against Lakeland on April 17.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW) Senior catcher Ember Dewey heads towards the dugout in between innings against Moscow on April 12.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW) Sandpoint junior Brooklen Steiger rises to her feet after reaching third base against Moscow on April 12.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW) Sandpoint senior Natalie Petit dives to tag first base for an out in a game against Lakeland on April 17.
Two seniors, a school-record co-holder and two promising, do-it-all infielders from Sandpoint softball’s 2019 campaign made the 4A IEL All-League team, which was released on Thursday.
Of the five, senior first baseman Natalie Petit, junior infielder Brooklen Steiger and pitcher/third baseman Tanis Davis were repeat winners — the latter of whom embodied the quintessential Sandpoint softball career trajectory, according to head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams.
“Tanis has been a driving force behind the success of this program,” Hawkins-Williams said. “She has found success through work ethic, coachability, doggedness, and being a team player. Because of that, she has had a profound impact on this program and is the example of how we want players to develop. She always did what her team needed her to do when it mattered the most.”
Davis not only led the team with a .800 slugging percentage, but also tied a program record with four home runs. Her fourth and final home run during Sandpoint’s potential final out in the districts championship game was, in Hawkins-Williams’ eyes, the epitome of Davis’ career.
Speaking of big hitters, senior first baseman Petit went yard three times in four games during the 4A District 1 tournament. Although her aggressiveness at the plate and lock-down defense at first were her more evident characteristics, Hawkins-Williams believes the biggest impact Petit made on the season was when nobody was watching.
“Natalie has improved in the shortest amount of time of all of our players,” Hawkins-Williams said. “Natalie put everything into this season, which included getting to practice early every day to set up, working hard, staying focused during practices and games, and being helpful to her teammates and coaches in any way she could. She had a breakout season, and I can’t say enough about what she meant to this team this season.”
To her credit, Steiger also made getting on base look effortless. Boasting a .340 batting average and a .453 on-base percentage, Steiger had several multi-hit games throughout the district tournament.
“She was a spark for us on offense,” Hawkins-Williams said. “It seemed like she created chaos for the defense whenever she put the ball in play and created a lot of momentum for us. She is able to take advantage of the defense whenever they have a lapse in focus or coverage. It has been very exciting to watch Brooklen develop as a player; I’m looking forward to her continued development next season.”
Like Steiger, fellow junior utility infielder Izzo Edwards will return for the 2020 season. The lefty excelled in the outfield, but was arguably one of the Bulldogs’ most versatile players.
“I’m not surprised at all that she was an All-League player this year — or even that she was selected for two positions — because she is the type of player that will be her best self and work hard in any situation,” Hawkins-Williams said. “Of all our All-League players, I feel that Izzo has worked the hardest to learn new skills, do what’s right for the program and be everything she can for her team. When you have a player like that, they are destined to excel.”
But the player that endured the most to make it onto the All-League team was, in Hawkins-Williams’ opinion, senior catcher Ember Dewey, who battled injuries in her junior season but saw her work pay off as a senior.
“Ember is the best blocking catcher I have coached,” Hawkins-Williams said. “Honestly, she is one of the best blocking catchers I have ever seen in high school softball. Ember had to work through a lot of adversity to get to where she is now. She is a gritty player and is very deserving of this honor. Working through adversity has made her a stronger person and a player I have enjoyed coaching.”
Editor’s note: The full list of all-league selections are available in the online version of this article.
2019 4A IEL All-League Softball Team
Player of the Year: Taylor Woolley, Sr., Lakeland
Newcomer of the Year: Erika Gallus, Jr., Lakeland
Coach of the Year: Coleen Bevacqua, Lakeland
Pitchers: Tanis Davis, Sr., Sandpoint; Eliza Dreesmann, Sr., Moscow
Infielders: Natalie Petit, Sr., Sandpoint; Haley Smit, Fr., Lakeland; Harley See, Fr., Lakeland; Bella Fleischman, Fr., Moscow.
Outfielders: Alison Russum, So., Lakeland; Brooklen Steiger, Jr., Sandpoint; Sydnee Verlin, So., Moscow
Catcher (Co-catcher): Ember Dewey, Sr., Sandpoint; Mia O’Hara., Sr, Lakeland
DH/Utility: Izzo Edwards, Jr., Sandpoint