Ethan Butler shines on senior day win
Ethan Butler makes the play at first base in a game against Lake City on April 12 at Memorial Field.
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Sandpoint senior Ethan Butler went up to head coach Chase Tigert two days before the Bulldogs senior night matchup against Timberlake on Thursday and told him that he wanted to start and go the distance.
Butler only pitched six innings, but still managed to put together a complete game in Sandpoint’s 13-3 senior night victory against Timberlake.
“I’m so proud of that kid,” Tigert said. “He’s such an amazing person and player. To see him go out and do so well on senior night is an emotional thing. I was on cloud nine from his performance.”
He finished the game giving up three runs on four hits, striking out four and only walking two.
Butler had some early game struggles. In the bottom of the first, the Bulldogs scored three runs to give them a 3-0 edge over the Tigers.
During the top of the second, Timberlake began to rally. The Tigers hit back-to-back RBI singles, starting with a Kenny Wells RBI single to cut Sandpoint’s lead to 3-1.
Wells reached first base after an error by shortstop Auggie Lehman, scoring Joseph Borges.
After that, Cooper Lenz smacked a two-run RBI single into right field, which drove in Wells and Wyatt Kitchin to tie the game.
From there, Butler along with the rest of Sandpoint’s defense held Timberlake scoreless for the remainder of the game.
“This was my first start of the year, so I was a little rusty during the first two innings,” Butler said. “After the second inning, I felt perfect. Everything was starting to work.”
Sophomore Finn Mellander came out of his shell during this game. He went 2-for-3 at the plate, including a double.
He also drove home the game-sealing run in the bottom of the sixth on a line-drive single to left field that scored Collin Roos to put the Bulldogs up 10.
The Bulldogs honored seven seniors following the game. This is always an emotional time for Tigert.
“They’ve all contributed a lot and it’s always an emotional day,” Tigert said. “Being around these kids for the last four years has been amazing and days like today are a huge deal for them.”
The Bulldogs have now strung together three wins in a row, its longest win streak of the season, to improve to 6-8.
“We had high intensity from the start,” Tigert said. “This is what we’re capable of doing and it’s nice that we’re demonstrating everything we can do.”
The Bulldogs will be in action again at 12 p.m. against Coeur d’Alene on Saturday at Memorial Field.
TIMBERLAKE 030 000 — 3 4 3
SANDPOINT 311 314 — 13 8 2
Wyatt Kitchin, Grant Allaway (3), and Joseph Borges. Ethan Butler and Kohlton Wagoner.
HITS: TL — Wells, Lenz, Horn, Kitchin. SPT — Roop, A. Lehman, Butler, Zimmerman, Wagoner, Mellander 2, Barlow. 2B — Barlow, A. Lehman, Mellander, Zimmerman.