PREP SOFTBALL: Sandpoint extends winning streak to three with sweep of Priest River
Sandpoint's Abi Miller makes a play at second base during Game 2 against Priest River. Miller was able to celebrate the victories and her birthday on Thursday.
Photo by MAX OSWALD
SANDPOINT – Peyton Cessna went 5-for-9 with five RBIs to lead the Bulldogs to a win in both games of a doubleheader against Priest River at Colt Field on Thursday.
In Game 1, the Bulldogs started out hot, scoring nine runs in the first inning. Teagan Newsom, Ainsley Hull, and Haley Smotherman all hit RBI singles, Baylie Hindle an RBI triple during the rally.
Hull would hit another RBI single and an RBI double later in the contest to help the Bulldogs to a 19-9 win. She finished the contest 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Cessna would finish 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Smotherman, Newsom, and Sara Bryson also ended up with multi-hit efforts.
On the mound, Hull was excellent, giving up three hits and just one earned run while striking out seven batters.
Priest River was led by Cheyenne Thompson who went 3-for-4 with two singles, a double and three RBIs. Helena White was 2-for-4 with two triples and an RBI.
In Game 2, Sandpoint continued to put the bat on the ball, taking a 21-2 victory over the Spartans. In the bottom of the second, the Bulldogs, led by RBI singles from Abi Miller, Cessna, Bryson, and Jessica Wright, put up 13 runs. In the third, Emma Kohal ripped a line drive to deep left that cleared the bases and put the Bulldogs ahead 19-2.
“Emma struggled in that first game to get on base but came up with a big hit in the second game with the bases loaded and pressure on,” head coach Leah Platt said. “She needed that and was then even able to make a great catch in the outfield too.”
Cessna, Newsom, and Smotherman all had multi-hit efforts once again. Hull was solid on the mound and grabbed another win, throwing three innings and giving up three hits, two earned runs, three walks, and striking out three batters. Newsom also recorded a clean one-hit inning in relief.
Laney Rhine, Brodie Hansen and Kae Brown all had hits for the Spartans in Game 2.
“I think we played our game,” Platt said. “We waited for strikes and were aggressive on the bases. We were down Kaylee (McCown) and Bailey (Lancaster), so Jessica Wright stepped up as catcher along with some others. I thought our pitchers did well hitting their spots today. At the end [of Game 2] we were down to eight players, so I’m happy we pulled it out. We’re really coming together as a team.”
The last time Sandpoint had a 3-game win streak was during the 2021 season.
Sandpoint (3-3) hosts West Valley for senior night Wednesday. Priest River heads to Newport on Saturday.
GAME ONE
Priest River 102 51X X – 9 9 8
Sandpoint 922 42X X – 19 15 4
Game called in fifth inning due to 10-run rule.
W – Hull. L – Thompson
HITS: SPT – Hull 3, Cessna 3, Bryson 2, Smotherman 2, Newsom 2, Skibitsky 1, Miller 1, Hindle 1. PR – Thompson 3, White 2, R. Hansen 1, Brown 1, Halcomb 1, B. Hansen 1.
2B – Newsom, Hull, B. Hansen, Thompson. 3B – White 2, Smotherman, Bryson, Hindle.
RBI: SPT – Hull 3, Hindle 2, Cessna 2, Smotherman 2, Newsom 1, Skibitsky 1, Bryson 1, Kohal 1. PR – Thompson 3, White 1, R. Hansen 1.
SB: SPT – Skibitsky 3, Hull 3, Smotherman 2, Bryson 1, Cessna 1, Hindle 1, Miller 1. PR – None.
GAME TWO
Priest River 110 0XX X — 2 3 7
Sandpoint 2[13]6 XXX X — 21 10 0
W – Hull. L – Wardwell.
Game called in fourth inning due to 10-run rule.
HITS: SPT — Newsom 2, Cessna 2, Smotherman 2, Miller 1, Bryson 1, Wright 1, Kohal 1. PR — Brown 1, Rhine 1, B. Hansen 1.
2B – Kohal. 3B — Smotherman.
RBI: SPT — Miller 2, Cessna 2, Kohal 2, Newsom 1, Wright 1, Smotherman 1. PR — Rhine 1, Brown 1.
SB: SPT — Nesom 2, Skibitsky 2, Hull 1, Hindle 1, Cessna 1. PR — R. Hansen 1.