Sandpoint softball dethrones Hawks, hosts Game 2 Thursday

RATHDRUM — Entering Game 1 of the 4A Region 1 championship series on Tuesday, Sandpoint softball was winless in four games against Lakeland this season.

Just this past Thursday, the Hawks walked onto War Memorial Field and swept the Bulldogs in a doubleheader to lock up the No. 1 seed to regionals. Lakeland beat SHS by a combined score of 25-3.

But once postseason play rolls around, records and regular season scores can be thrown out the window because it all comes down to who wants it more, and on Tuesday, Sandpoint possessed that desire.

The Bulldogs (9-16) took down Lakeland 8-5 in Rathdrum to earn the right to host Game 2 on Thursday at War Memorial Field. With a win, Sandpoint would punch its ticket to the state tournament.

Following the doubleheader defeat to the Hawks last week, head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams said her team needed to improve their self-belief — and they did.

"They were swinging the bat and making great plays and the pitchers were doing everything that they needed to do to win," she said. "They showed up with a lot more fight today."

With Game 1 tied at 5-5 entering the seventh, the Bulldogs were desperate for some offense, and the seniors delivered.

Shelby Lanie hit an RBI double to score Riley Cessna and give SHS a 6-5 lead. Then Kinzie Ward stepped in the batter's box and blasted a two-run homer.

The three-run cushion was just what Sandpoint needed as junior pitcher Via Barlow sealed the victory in the bottom of the inning.

Hawkins-Williams said Ward rose to the occasion.

"She was very calm in her approach at the plate," she said. "She knew that we really needed those runs and she did exactly what we knew she was capable of doing."

Lanie, Cessna, Ward and Barlow each tallied two hits in the game.

To earn a spot in the regional championship series, Sandpoint had to take care of No. 3 seed Moscow in the loser-out game, and they had no problem doing that.

Cresanna Authier pitched a three-hit shutout as the Bulldogs cruised to a 10-0 win over the Bears.

SHS scored six runs in the first inning and never looked back.

Authier, Barlow, Jaden Dickinson and Madi Garman all stepped on the mound for the Bulldogs on Tuesday, and they all impressed. Hawkins-Williams said her pitching staff is looking really strong.

"I'm so proud of my bullpen group and I'm so thrilled with how much they've improved this season," she said. "They've put us in a great position to be competitive in games."

With a win against the Hawks finally under their belt, the Bulldogs head into Thursday's game with plenty of confidence.

"Up to this point, I don't think they truly believed that they could [beat Lakeland]," Hawkins-Williams said, "and now they know they can, so having that in the back of their minds when we play Lakeland Thursday makes them more formidable."

First pitch for Game 2 is set for 3 p.m.

Sandpoint 030 020 3 — 8 9 3

Lakeland 010 130 0 — 5 6 3

Jaden Dickinson, Madi Garman (2), Via Barlow (5) and Jaidyn Inman; Devry Bursch, Kathryn Wardak (3) and Payton Sterling.

HITS: SHS — Lanie 2, Cessna 2, Ward 2, Barlow 2, Tuinstra. LL — See 2, D. Gosch 2, Wardak 2, H. Gosch. 2B — Cessna, Ward, D. Gosch. HR — Ward.

Moscow 000 00 — 0 3 2

Sandpoint 600 31 — 10 9 2

Game called after 5 innings due to 10-run rule

Kees, Pouchnik (1) and Highfill; Cresanna Authier and Lily Gammon.

HITS: M — S. Smith, J. Smith, Pouchnik, Branen. SHS — Gammon 2, Tuinstra 2, Cessna, Ward, Lanie, Barlow, Inman. 2B — Pouchnik. HR — Inman.