SHS softball picks up first win, secures sweep of Moscow
Teammates swarm Riley Cessna after she makes a stellar play to record an out and end an inning during the second game of a doubleheader against Moscow on Saturday at War Memorial Field.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Cresanna Authier makes a throw to first base during the second game Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Lily Gammon throws the ball back to the pitcher during the second game Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Madi Garman prepares to throw a pitch against Moscow on March 27 at War Memorial Field.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Jaidyn Inman crosses home plate on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Kaylee Brackett stares down a pitch on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Cresanna Authier winds up to throw a pitch Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Jaidyn Inman stands in the batters box on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Jaden Dickinson pitches during Saturday's doubleheader against Moscow.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Kaylee Brackett bunts on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Riley Cessna stands in the batters box on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Jaidyn Inman slides headfirst into third base on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Riley Cessna makes a throw to first on Saturday to record an out.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Kinzie Ward prepares to take a swing on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Via Barlow stretches out to secure a ball at third base on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
The team waves goodbye to Moscow after completing a doubleheader sweep of the Bears on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
SANDPOINT — The Sandpoint softball team desperately wanted a victory Saturday at War Memorial Field.
And they got one, and another by completing a doubleheader sweep of Inland Empire League rival Moscow.
The Bulldogs lost their first three games this season by 12 or more runs and didn't make it past the fifth inning in any of them. But the young team has grown with every rep they've gotten and they showed the Bears just how much they've improved.
"Getting the wins today, it's really what this team deserves," head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams said. "They've been working very hard to catch up and to learn how to play softball at a varsity level."
The first game of the doubleheader was a thriller. The Bulldogs trailed by as many as five runs, but they never stopped battling and in the bottom of the seventh inning, that commitment paid off.
With no outs and runners on second and third, junior Via Barlow hit a single to score Lily Gammon and Jaden Dickinson and give Sandpoint a 10-8 walk-off win.
Hawkins-Williams said a victory like that was exactly what the Bulldogs needed to build their confidence, and she was glad Barlow was the one that came through in the clutch.
"I'm super happy that it was Via that got that hit because she's new to varsity," she said, "and trying to find her role on the team ... and so for her to get that was a big deal."
Dickinson started on the mound for Sandpoint in the first game and struck out a pair in two innings of work. Cresanna Authier took over for her in the third inning and remained on the bump the rest of the way. Authier struck out four batters across five innings.
After the top of the third inning, the Bulldogs trailed 5-0. But senior Kinzie Ward sparked the team in the bottom of the inning by hitting a double to score Jaidyn Inman and Kaylee Brackett, and then she scored on the play thanks to an error by Moscow to make it 5-3.
The Bears extended their lead to 7-3 in the top of the fourth, but the Bulldogs continued to find a way to stay in it. SHS trailed 8-7 entering the final inning and Dickinson drove in Shelby Lanie on a single to tie things up before Barlow's walk-off hit.
Sandpoint dominated Moscow in the second game and scored seven runs in the fifth inning to 10-run rule the Bears and sail to a 13-2 win.
Madi Garman started on the bump for the Bulldogs and secured the victory by striking out two over 4 1/3 innings of work.
Sandpoint scored five runs in the second inning and nine players recorded a hit in the game. Across the two games, Inman racked up six hits and as a team, SHS had 23 hits.
Hawkins-Williams said she really enjoyed watching the bats go to work against the Bears.
"We've had a lot of strikeouts to start the season and it started to get better against Timberlake," she said, "but just to see them swinging the bats today was really nice to see ... and when you do that, you find success because you put the ball in play and put pressure on the defense."
The Bulldog pitchers also shined and maintained their command on the mound, which is something they have struggled doing at times so far this season, Hawkins-Williams said.
Even when things weren't going their way Saturday, the Bulldogs stayed positive and continued to lift each other up, and that's what Hawkins-Williams was most proud of.
"They had so much fun playing today," she said. "They had smiles on their faces all day long and that's what we really want to see."
Sandpoint (2-3, 2-2 IEL) hosts Bonners Ferry in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
FIRST GAME
Moscow 203 201 0 — 8 6 7
Sandpoint 003 121 2 — 10 11 3
Jaden Dickinson, Cresanna Authier (3) and Jaidyn Inman. Maya Kees and Megan Highfill. W — Dickinson. L — Kees.
HITS: Mos — Branen 3, Smith 2, Highfill. Spt — Inman 3, Cessna, Brackett, Authier 2, Gammon, Dickinson, Barlow, Ward. 2B — Smith, Ward, Authier. 3B — Highfill.
SECOND GAME
Moscow 100 10 — 2 3 4
Sandpoint 150 07 — 13 12 1
Game called in fifth inning due to 10-run rule.
Madi Garman, Cresanna Authier (5) and Lily Gammon. Sophia Elliss, Megan Highfill. W — Garman. L — Elliss.
HITS: Mos — Branen, Smith, Highfill. Spt — Inman 3, Tuinstra 2, Barlow, Cash, Brackett, Authier, Lanie, Ward, Cessna. 2B — Smith, Inman 2, Ward, Cessna. 3B — Branen, Highfill.
