Eight area athletes receive all-league baseball/softball honors

Eight area athletes — seven from Sandpoint and one from Priest River — received all-league honors in baseball and softball recently.

Sandpoint baseball had five players receive honors in the 4A Inland Empire League, three of whom are seniors.

Austin Dillon and Jesse Turner both received pitching honors for the Bulldogs. Dillon posted a team best 3.43 ERA over 34 2/3 innings this season and limited opponents to a .246 batting average. Turner posted a 4.04 ERA over 26 innings on the mound; the sophomore had a team-high four wins this season.

Drew Lehman, Kody MacDonald and Jack Zimmerman also received honors for their work on the diamond. Lehman led the team with nine stolen bases this year; he also posted a team best 14 RBIs coupled with a .391 batting average. MacDonald hit nine doubles this season and recorded 11 of his 12 RBIs in conference play. The second baseman also led the team with 55 putouts. Rounding out the position players, Zimmerman had a team-high 27 hits this season to go along with a .360 batting average. The outfielder also posted an impressive .958 fielding percentage.

Sandpoint softball had two players receive honors in the 4A Inland Empire League, junior Peyton Cessna and freshman Cadence Skibitsky.

Cessna primarily played second base this season for the Bulldogs. She was a consistent source of offense, posting a plethora of multi-hit efforts. In the first conference game of the season against Lakeland, the junior went 3-for-4 with a double, a single, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Skibitsky has been praised for her amazing defense in center field this season after making multiple run-saving and diving catches. On top of her stellar defense, the lefty had one of the highest on base percentages for the Bulldogs this season.

Priest River softball’s Brodie Hansen received honors in the 2A Central Idaho League. The senior catcher did not only a great job behind the plate, but she was a constant threat on the base paths. Hansen got on base in every game she played in this season. In a 13-0 win over Newport, she went 2-for-3 at the plate recording a single, a three-run home run, four RBIs and two runs scored.

BASEBALL

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

MVP — Levi Anderson, jr., Moscow.

Newcomer of the Year — Jace Taylor, fr., Lakeland.

Coach of the Year — Griffin Rod, Moscow.

Pitchers — Austin Dillon, sr., Sandpoint; Butch Kiblen, so., Moscow; Jesse Turner, so., Sandpoint. Outfielders — Raiston Ellwood, jr., Lakeland; Connor Isakson, so., Moscow; Jack Zimmerman, sr., Sandpoint. Infielders — Blaze Day, sr., Lakeland; Mike Kiblen, sr., Moscow; Drew Lehman, so., Sandpoint; Kody MacDonald, sr., Sandpoint. Catcher — Tyson Izzo, so., Moscow. At-large — Jack Driskill, jr., Moscow.

2A CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE

MVP — Bodey Howell, jr., Orofino.

Sam Lindsley, jr., Grangeville; David Goicoa, so., Grangeville; Travis Eixenberger, jr., Kellogg; Logan Smith, so., Kellogg; Silas Naranjo, jr., Orofino; Drew Hanna, jr., Orofino; Dashel Barlow, jr., Orofino; Trace Wicks, sr., St. Maries; Wyatt Holmes, jr., St. Maries.

SOFTBALL

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

MVP — Megan Highfill, jr., Moscow.

Newcomer of the Year — Megan Poler, sr., Moscow.

Coach of the Year — Eric Kiblen, Moscow.

Pitchers — Mia Kesner, fr., Lakeland; Kelly Stodick, jr., Moscow. Outfielders — Bella Ristine, sr., Moscow; Addie Branen, jr., Moscow; Cadence Skibitsky, fr., Sandpoint; Alexis Hanna, so., Lakeland. Infielders — Emma Avalos, so., Lakeland; Kaci Kiblen, so., Moscow; Hannah Robertson, so., Moscow; Peyton Cessna, jr., Sandpoint. Catcher — Payton Sterling, jr., Lakeland. At-large — Amanda Pouchnik, sr., Moscow.

2A CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE

MVP — Taci Watkins, sr., St. Maries.

Mattie Thacker, jr., Grangeville; Allisun Hinklemann, sr., Kellogg; Rilee Diffin, so., Orofino; Hanna Johnson, jr., Orofino; Jaelyn Miller, jr., Orofino; Tatum Tilley, sr., Orofino; Brodie Hansen, sr., Priest River; Berkli McGreal, sr., St. Maries; Stacie Mitchell, sr., St. Maries.