PREP BASEBALL: Pitching fuels Sandpoint to sweep of Timberlake

SANDPOINT — Junior Jesse Turner and senior Lucas Hansen both pitched phenomenally, lifting the Bulldogs to 3-1 and 8-3 wins over the Tigers at War Memorial Field on Thursday.

In Game 1, after reaching on an error to score a run in the bottom of the second, Sandpoint sophomore Sage Medeiros knocked in another run, singling to left field in the fourth to put the Bulldogs ahead 2-0. Turner grounded into a double play with the bases loaded in the fifth to give Sandpoint their third and final run of the game.

On the mound, Turner threw a complete game, giving up just three hits, two walks, and one run while striking out two. After pitching 14 ⅓ innings so far this year, Turner boasts an Inland Empire League-low 0.98 ERA.

“He was on top of his game again, and that’s pretty much what we have come to expect with him,” head coach Ricky Klontz said. “He attacks the zone and has a good three-pitch mix and throws all three pitches for strikes. He does a good job keeping hitters off balance and always gives us a chance.”

In Game 2, Sandpoint put up a five-spot in the second frame, getting a clutch triple from Hansen, which started the rally, and a two-run double from Turner. In the top half of the sixth, the Bulldogs ran into some trouble, giving up three runs — which could have been a lot more. Senior Jacob Hansen made a diving catch down the first base line with runners at second and third base and no outs to keep the Bulldogs on top.

“That was a pivotal turning point in this game,” Klontz said. “That could have been a game-tying double but instead turned out to be an out. It was a phenomenal defensive play.”

Later in the sixth, the Bulldogs tacked on three more runs. Sophomore Mason Little hit a sacrifice fly and senior Finn Mellander hit a two-run single to lead the rally.

“That was a big knock for us; it’s good to see Finn swing the bat well,” Klontz said.

On the bump, senior Lucas Hansen got the call on senior night and answered. Hansen gave up four hits, two walks, and two earned runs while striking out three across five frames. In relief, Medeiros was also dealing, throwing two no-hit innings to help Sandpoint secure the victory.

“He’s thrown well all year and I felt good about it going in,” Klontz said of Hansen. “He was in the zone, attacking hitters; he did a great job. As for his triple in the second inning, he got good barrel on that one and he can fly — he’s probably the fastest guy on this squad. Once it was in the gap, he was off to the races.”

Klontz also noted that senior Greyson Johnson had great plate appearances in both games. Johnson singled in the third inning of Game 2 for the Bulldogs.

Sandpoint (5-6) will travel to Lakeland for a doubleheader on Thursday.

GAME ONE

Timberlake 000 001 0 – 1 3 2

Sandpoint 010 110 – 3 5 0

HITS: SPT – Little 1, Turner 1, Lehman 1, Williams 1, Medeiros 1. TL – Beardsall 1, Pecor 1, Lenz 1.

3B – Lenz.

RBI: SPT – Turner 1, Medeiros 1. TL – Moore 1.

SB: SPT – Williams 1. TL – None.

GAME TWO

Timberlake 000 003 0 – 3 4 4

Sandpoint 050 003 – 8 8 1

HITS: SPT – Williams 2, Turner 1, Reichart 1, Mellander 1, Johnson 1, L. Hansen 1, Day 1. TL – Allaway 2, Robinett 1, Pecor 1.

2B – Turner. 3B – L. Hansen.

RBI: SPT – Mellander 2, Turner 2, Little 1. TL – Robinett 2, Allaway 1.

SB: SPT – Turner 1, Tyler 1, Little 1. TL – None.