Sandpoint freshmen shine on All-American baseball stage

The Baseball Factory Rookie Pre-Season All-America Tournament brings together a selection of the nation’s top 8th and 9th grade players from across the country. Every player is handpicked to train and compete against other top talent and prepare for the spring season.

Dallen Williams, Mason Little and Parker Reichart, all freshmen at Sandpoint High School, were invited to play in the 2023 Baseball Factory Rookie Pre-Season All-America Tournament in St. Lucie, Fla.

The players were selected from a Baseball Factory National Showcase, where they were evaluated on a number of criteria. The team was narrowed to 150 of the best rookies in the country, Williams, Little and Reichart included.

Williams, an outfielder, pitcher and first baseman, spoke highly of the coaches and other rookies at the tournament.

“It really felt like we'd already been playing together for a while,” Williams said. “The atmosphere in the games was just amazing. You can trust everyone on the field to make the play because you know everyone was there for a reason.”

Reichart, a second baseman and pitcher, agreed.

“I enjoyed the great and even competition at the tournament and all the coaches were super helpful,” Reichart said.

Little, a shortstop, second baseman and pitcher, was excited about competing with talented players from all across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The threes have been playing since primary school.

“Since I started playing at 7 years old, I have always loved it,” Williams said. “Once you're in between the lines, nothing else matters. Hitting a baseball is the greatest feeling in the world and the intensity of sprinting for a fly ball is next to none.”

Little and Reichart both started with T-ball at the ripe age of 4.

“It has shown me the importance of hard work and dedication,” Little said. “If you don't consistently work at it you won't get any better.”

“I have never felt passionate about any other sport I've played,” Reichart said.

All three boys will be trying out for Sandpoint High School's baseball team this year.

“I don't know what level I will be playing,” Williams said. “I’ve been practicing with the high school team and I feel really good about the upcoming season.”

Little responded similarly. “I most definitely hope to represent Sandpoint High School on the baseball diamond this year. As to what level, we will have to wait and see.”

They were also selected to play in another tournament this summer in Omaha, Neb., during the College World Series.

If it sounds like there’s a lot of traveling with this sport, there is. The boys have traveled all over the U.S. for tournaments and camps; Montana, Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico, Nevada and New York, to name a few.

“The most memorable would have to be playing in the 2021 13U Babe Ruth World Series in Jamestown, N.Y., where I was selected as an All-World Series Player,” Little said.

Reichart and Williams said a major highlight was traveling to Washington last year for the state tournament for American Legion. The team he was on placed second in the 16U AA Division.

All of the boys expressed gratitude to their parents for supporting them in their endeavors, along with many other coaches. The likes of Dustin Reichart, American Legion coaches Ken Oler and Bill Connolly, Tyler Connolly, Matt Williams, Buddy Low and Joe Dinelt were mentioned.

“They've played a part in shaping me into the player/person I am today,” Little said.

When asked if there was anything else they would like to add, Williams said, “Come support the high school whenever you can in any sport. Anybody supporting us always makes the games just that more fun.”

The Bulldogs' baseball season throws out its first pitch in mid-March.