SHS baseball writes its own story, earns state berth

SANDPOINT — This Sandpoint baseball team never gives in.

They showed that on Monday when they overcame a seven-run deficit in the loser-out game against Lakeland and, on Wednesday, the Bulldogs finished off the ultimate redemption story.

SHS (18-8) toppled top-seeded Moscow 6-4 in Game 2 of the best-of-3 4A Region 1 championship series to punch its ticket to state for the third time in the last 14 years.

"It feels amazing," head coach Chase Tigert said about being crowned regional champs. "I'm just so happy for the kids, it's all about them."

What's remarkable about this run by the Bulldogs is they were just three outs away from seeing their season end in heartbreaking fashion on Monday — maybe even one play. Now Sandpoint is planning its trip down to Twin Falls for the 4A state tournament that starts next Thursday.

The Bulldogs have been on an emotional roller coaster since May 4 when they were swept by Moscow at home, and Tigert said this group has a special ability to never let doubt creep into their minds.

"Last week was a rough week," he said. "That could have had a determining effect on the season and they didn't bury their heads, they just were resilient and they bounced back."

Sandpoint also never let the pressure or stakes get to them. In fact, this team tends to thrive when the odds are stacked against them.

"Their back was against the wall and they were like, 'OK, time to shine,'" Tigert said.

Leading 6-4 entering the sixth inning, the Bulldogs handed the ball off to senior Max Thielbahr to close out the regional championship victory over the Bears.

The lefty stifled Moscow at the plate, holding them hitless in the final two innings.

Thielbahr admitted he felt some nerves when he headed out to the mound for the final inning, but Tigert made sure to let him know this was his game to win. He stuck to his stuff and got the job done.

"I'm glad I got the opportunity to close it for my team," Thielbahr said. "I'm glad that Tigert trusts me enough to come up here and close our most important game of the year and do it for my brothers. I know they wanted to go to state just as bad as I did and I stepped up in the moment and made it happen."

After Auggie Lehman secured a fly ball hit to right field to record the final out, the team stormed the field to celebrate the victory. When the regional trophy was brought on the field, Thielbahr was the first one to raise it.

Tigert said Thielbahr earned the right to hoist the trophy first after such a dominant pitching performance.

"He has absolutely flourished in our fireman role this year," Tigert said. "We know when Max gets on the bump, he's going to take it home."

Thielbahr said it felt great to get revenge on Moscow.

"Moscow came here last week and swept us, which was really hard on us and we were pretty down," he said, "but all week we talked about the journey and how we write our own story ... and to come out here and get a win to go to state, it was an adrenaline rush."

The Bulldogs grabbed an early 1-0 lead over Moscow on an RBI double by Ethan Butler in the first inning. Sandpoint held onto that advantage until the top of the fourth. Moscow tied the game with an RBI single and then starting pitcher Evan Williams walked a batter with the bases loaded to give the Bears their first lead at 2-1.

The bases were still loaded after that and there were no outs, but Williams got out of the jam with a fielder's choice and a pair of strikeouts. The senior rose to the occasion and limited the damage.

The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs to take a 4-2 lead. Jack Zimmerman and Avery Bocksch each had an RBI single in the frame.

The Bears came right back and scored two runs in the top of the fifth to tie the ballgame at 4-4. Sandpoint gained the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth when Cameron Garcia scored on a passed ball and Zimmerman hit a sac fly to bring home Blake Sherrill.

Williams was pulled in the fifth inning. He allowed three hits and three earned runs over four innings while fanning five.

Williams joined the team this year after moving from California, and Tigert said he has been a great addition.

"He absolutely shoved today," he said about Williams. "I'm so impressed with him. That kid has played such a huge role on our team and I'm so happy that he made it out here and I got to meet him and I've got to work with him over the past year because I'm going to miss that kid next year."

Bocksch went for 3 for 3 in the game and Zimmerman finished with two RBIs.

Two years ago, the Bulldogs were 90 feet away from tying a winner-take-all regional championship game. That loss stung and last spring the team was determined to wipe away that pain and write a new chapter, but the COVID-19 pandemic took that opportunity away from them.

Thielbahr was a sophomore on that 2019 team and he said it meant everything to him to finally get redemption, especially after having the 2020 season ripped away. This win couldn't get much sweeter, he said.

"This is a great team," he said. "We have a lot of potential to go do some damage down at state."

The Bulldogs will face the District 3 runner-up in the first round of the 4A state tournament next Thursday at the College of Southern Idaho.

Moscow 000 220 0 — 4 4 2

Sandpoint 100 320 — 6 8 2

Barrett Abendroth, Ryan Delusa (4) and Jack Bales; Evan Williams, Zeke Roop (5), Max Thielbahr (6) and Trevor Brackett.

HITS: M — Isakson 2, Delusa, Abendroth. SHS — Bocksch 3, Zimmerman 2, Butler, Newhart, Lehman. 2B — Delusa, Bocksch, Butler.