YOUTH SPORTS: Sandpoint Juniors softball off to 7-0 start
The 2024 Sandpoint Juniors softball team. Back row, from left, coach John Wilson, coach Ryan Ruff, and coach Julie Pierson. Middle row, from left, Heather Stumm, Avery Inge, Bailey Wilson, Hannah Frago, Kara Campbell, Mackenna Bender, Cayla Ruff, Ava Balch, Alieze Padilla, Bailey Pierson, Taylor Bannick, and Raelyn Olsen. Kneeling is Ariana Turnbull. Not pictured, Ryelle Short and Romy Lovin.
(Courtesy Photo)
SANDPOINT — The Sandpoint Juniors softball team, a 13- to 14-year-old team affiliated with Sandpoint Little League, is off to a dominant start this season, defeating their opponents by an average of 12 runs per game.
Sandpoint has defeated Bonners Ferry Juniors three times, Newport Juniors twice, and St. Maires Juniors and Silver Valley 2 Juniors once each en route to their seven-game winning streak. This past Saturday, Sandpoint won back-to-back-to-back home games over Silver Valley 2 (14-9), St. Maries (20-5), and Newport (15-4).
Some highlights from the weekend include Taylor Bannick’s 3-for-3 effort against St. Maries; she hit an inside the park grand slam and finished with four runs scored and six RBIs. Avery Inge was also 3-for-3 with a double, two singles, and four RBIs against St. Maries. Hannah Frago was 2-for-2 with a triple, a single, and five RBIs against Newport. Raelyn Olsen had a double and three RBIs, Ariana Turnbull a triple against Silver Valley 2. On the mound, Bailey Wilson had 18 strikeouts over seven innings of work across all three games.