COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: Williams tosses second career complete game shutout

Evan Williams

Jantzen Lucas

Jack Zimmerman

Emma Thielbahr

Austin Dillon

Cody Newhart

Kerry Johnson

Helena White

Jacob Ballard

by MAX OSWALD
Sports Reporter | February 24, 2025 5:30 PM

Evan Williams, Tabor College Baseball

A 2021 graduate of Sandpoint High, Evan threw a gem in a 12-0 win over Friends University (Wichita, Kan.) this past Monday, Feb. 24. The 6-foot 4-inch right-handed pitcher tossed seven innings, giving up just five hits and one walk while striking out eight batters to propel the Blue Jays to victory.

That's not all the former Walla Walla CC standout has done so far this season.

This past Saturday, Feb. 15, he struck out a career-high 10 batters across five innings and got the win in an 18-8 victory over McPherson College (McPherson, Kan.). In addition to the 10 strikeouts, he gave up seven hits, four walks and six earned runs. In a 6-0 loss to Central Methodist University (Fayette, Mo.) on Friday, Feb. 7, he threw five innings, giving up four hits, four walks and two earned runs to go along with a strikeout. In the Blue Jays' season-opening series against Wayland Baptist (Plainview, Tex.) that started on Friday, Jan. 24, Evan was credited with the win after pitching four innings, giving up six hits, two walks and one earned run while fanning four batters. On the season, he now holds a 3.86 ERA and has 23 strikeouts across 21 innings of work. Tabor College (8-5) will travel to York University (York, Neb.) for a three game series starting Saturday, Mar. 1 and ending Sunday, Mar. 2.

In addition to his efforts on the field, Evan has also received high honors and was named the Dean's List for the 2024 fall semester. To achieve this designation at Tabor College, students must be enrolled full-time and obtain a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.849.

Jantzen Lucas, Lewis-Clark State Baseball

A 2020 graduate of Priest River High, Jantzen pitched 3.2 innings, giving up six hits, three walks, and two earned runs while striking out two batters in a 7-6 loss to the College of Idaho this past Saturday, Feb. 22. The Warriors (4-5) will travel to No. 24-ranked British Columbia for a four game series starting Friday, Feb. 28 and ending Sunday, Mar. 2.

Jack Zimmerman, Lassen College Baseball

A 2023 graduate of Sandpoint High, Jack went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in a 15-3 win over Redwoods this past Friday, Feb. 21. He also went 1-for-2 with a single in a 13-4 loss to West Valley this past Monday, Feb. 17. On the year, the lefty now holds a .211 batting average and a .348 on-base percentage. The Cougars (9-5-1) will travel to Shasta this Friday, Feb. 28.

Emma Thielbahr, University of Denver Soccer

A 2022 graduate of IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) who also played soccer for Sandpoint High, Emma was recently named to the 2024 Summit League All-Newcomer Team for her efforts during this past season. A defender, starting in all 19 games at center back for the Lady Pioneers, she led the team in minutes played with 1,698 in her first season since transferring from the University of San Diego. Emma not only played a pivotal role in preventing multiple goals throughout the season, but she also scored her first ever collegiate goal in a 5-2 win over Southern Utah. She tallied 15 shots, six of which were on goal, on the season for Denver, which finished with an overall record of 11-6-2. The 5-foot 11-inch redshirt sophomore also picked up Summit League Defensive Peak Performer of the Week honors during the third week of the season. According to the University of Denver Sports Information Department, one of Emma's most notable moments of the 2024 season was when she cleared a shot from just off the line in 2-0 win over South Dakota in the Lady Pioneers' regular-season finale.

Austin Dillon, Yakima Valley College Baseball

A 2023 graduate of Sandpoint High, Austin got the start in the Yaks' season-opener, pitching 3.2 innings and giving up four hits, three walks and one earned run while striking out four batters. Yakima Valley (0-4) will travel to Walla Walla CC for a doubleheader Saturday, Mar. 1.

Cody Newhart, Lackawanna College Baseball

A 2023 graduate of Sandpoint High, Cody went 1-for-3 with an RBI single, a walk, and was hit by a pitch in 15-7 loss to Patrick & Henry CC. The Falcons (2-4) will travel to Harford CC (Bel Air, Md.) for a three game series starting Friday, Mar. 1 and ending Saturday, Mar. 2.

Kerry Johnson, U.S. Naval Academy Sprint Football

A 2019 graduate of Sandpoint High, Kerry was recently named to the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) 2024 All-Academic Team. To be eligible for the All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore (athletically and academically), have appeared in at least one contest during the season, and post a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher.

Kerry, now a two-year starter on the offensive line, starting in all eight contests in each of those seasons for the Midshipmen, also received 2024 All-CSFL First Team honors. He helped pave the way for 240 first downs, 1,688 rushing yards and 1,180 passing yards as Navy posted average of 26.13 points per game.

Navy finished the 2024 season with an overall record of 6-2, including a 3-0 mark in the CSFL South Division, which includes Chestnut Hill (Philadelphia, Pa.), the University of Pennsylvania and Caldwell University (Caldwell, N.J.). Under Kerry's leadership, the Midshipmen advanced to the CSFL Championship game for the sixth time (2018, '19, '21, '22, '23, '24) in program history since the league split into divisions in 2017. Despite falling to Army 21-16 this past season, the Midshipmen have beaten the Black Knights in four of the last six CFSL national championship matches.

*Sprint football, also known as lightweight football, is fast-paced version of the traditional game. Players must meet a weight limit of 178 pounds in order to be eligible to play*

Helena White, Napa Valley College Basketball

A 2024 graduate of Priest River High, Helena recorded two points (1-5 FG), two steals, an assist and a career-high 10 rebounds, eight of which were offensive, in an 82-61 win over Yuba this past Thursday, Feb. 20. She also got her first career start and tallied four rebounds and a steal in a 71-50 loss to Marin. The Storm (17-11, 13-3) will compete next in the first round of Nor Cal Regionals against Chabot College on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Jacob Ballard, BYU Swimming & Diving

A 2020 graduate of Central Valley High (Spokane) who swam for a handful of years for Sandpoint High and the Sandpoint Sharks, Jacob, who was an Idaho state champion in the 100 butterfly, has excelled for the Cougars over the past couple of seasons. This season, he set five new personal bests at the University of Texas Hall of Fame Invitational: 50-yard free in 20.35 seconds; 50-yard fly in 22.08 seconds; 100-yard fly in 47.46 seconds; 200-yard fly in 1 minute and 45.78 seconds and 200-yard IM in 1 minute and 47.6 seconds. His time in the 200 fly ranks as the second-fastest in BYU history and his 100 fly ranks as ninth. He's also ranked 10th in school history in the 100-yard breast (54.24 seconds). BYU will compete at the Big 12 Swim & Dive Championships from Tuesday, Feb. 25, through Saturday, Mar. 1, at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, Wash.