ALL-LEAGUE BASEBALL, SOFTBALL: Six Bulldogs receive honors

by MAX OSWALD
Sports Reporter | May 22, 2024 2:30 PM

BASEBALL

Jesse Turner

A junior, Turner finished the season with an impressive 2.03 ERA and 3-2 win-loss record. He held opponents to just four extra-base hits and a .213 batting average. Across 31 innings, Turner struck out 23 batters and walked just 10. His most notable outing was during a 3-1 win over Timberlake, where the hard-throwing righty pitched a complete game (seven innings), giving up just three hits, two walks, and one run while striking out two. He struck out a season-high six batters against Post Falls and Lewiston. At the plate, he batted .233 and contributed 14 hits, nine RBIs, and tied for a team-high four doubles this season.

Drew Lehman

Lehman, also a junior, led the Bulldogs at the plate this year with a team-high .379 batting average and .514 on-base percentage. He had multi-hit efforts in eight games this season and 19 of his 22 hits went for singles. Primarily batting at the lead-off spot, Lehman’s most notable outing was during a 6-9 loss to the eventual 4A state champions, Moscow, where he went 3-for-5 with three singles. In two games against Coeur d’Alene this season, Lehman went a combined 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, a triple, and five RBIs.

Mason Little

A sophomore, Mason led the Bulldogs in runs scored (15), hits (23), and was second in batting average (.333) and on-base percentage (.434) this season. Of his 23 hits, he had 19 singles, four doubles, and knocked in five RBIs. In the Bulldogs’ season-opening 13-5 win over Coeur d’Alene, Little went 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, an RBI, and three runs scored. He also went 3-for-4 against Moscow during their first meeting in the 4A Inland Empire League district tournament. Overall, Little had seven multi-hit efforts this season.

4A Inland Empire League

MVP — Levi Anderson, sr., Moscow.

Newcomer of the Year — Mason Little, sr., Sandpoint.

Coach of the Year — Griffin Rod, Moscow.

All-league

Pitchers — Butch Kiblen, jr., Moscow; Jesse Turner, jr., Sandpoint; Connor Isakson, jr., Moscow. Outfielders — Jamison Green, sr., Moscow; Raiston Ellwood, sr., Lakeland; Roan Reilly, sr., Lakeland. Infielders — Jace Taylor, so., Lakeland; JP Breese, jr., Moscow; Drew Lehman, jr., Sandpoint; Caleb Mason, sr., Lakeland. Catcher — Tyson Izzo, jr., Moscow. At-large (DH/utility) — Ethan McLaughlin, sr., Moscow.

SOFTBALL

Cadence Skibitsky

Sibistky, a sophomore, batted an impressive .446 this season and had a team-high .557 on-base percentage. Across 25 hits, she knocked 16 singles, seven doubles, and two home runs. She led the Bulldogs in runs scored (24), stolen bases (11) and was third in RBIs (13). Skibitsky had seven multi-hit efforts this year, including three 3-hit efforts. Her most notable outing came against Post Falls, where she went 3-for-4 with two singles, a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored.

Peyton Cessna

Cessna, a senior, dominated at the plate this year, leading Sandpoint in batting average (.468), hits (29), and RBIs (23). In addition, she also had a .500 on-base percentage and led the team in extra-base hits with 10 (five doubles, three triples, and two home runs). Cessna had nine multi-hit efforts this year, including three 3-hit efforts. Her most notable outing came against Post Falls, where she went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, four RBIs and two runs scored. She also had three other games where she batted in three or more runs.

Teagan Newsom

A freshman, Newsom made quite the impact this year for the Bulldogs, batting .357 to go along with seven doubles and a home run. Across 20 hits, Newsom tallied 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored; she also was tied for second on the team in stolen bases (5). Overall, Newsom had six multi-hit efforts. Most notably, she went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored in a game against Lakeland. Later in the season, Newsom also had a three-run home run against the Hawks.

4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

MVP — Kaci Kiblen, jr., Moscow.

Newcomer of the Year — Abigail Helmholz, fr., Lakeland.

Coach of the Year — Eric Kiblen, Moscow.

All-league

Pitchers — Kelly Stodick, sr., Moscow. Outfielders — Addie Branen, sr., Moscow; Cadence Skibitsky, so., Sandpoint; Alexis Hanna, jr., Lakeland. Infielders — Hannah Robertson, jr., Moscow; Ella McCallie, fr., Moscow; Peyton Cessna, sr., Sandpoint; Dizzy Zimmerman, so., Lakeland. Catcher — Megan Highfill, sr., Moscow. At-large (DH/utility) — Payton Sterling, sr., Lakeland; Teagan Newsom, fr., Sandpoint.