SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: Sandpoint Baseball to embrace underdog mentality despite veteran lineup

Last season: 7-17 (2-14 6A/5A IEL); 2nd at 4A (now 5A) IEL District Championships.

Coaches: Ricky Klontz (06'), head coach, third season; Donald Little, assistant coach; Rick Klontz, Sr. (83'), assistant coach; Jason Shaw, assistant coach.

Key Returners: Drew Lehman (SS/RHP), sr.; Mason Little (2B/SS/RHP), jr.; Dallen Williams (OF/RHP), jr.; Jesse Turner (INF/RHP), sr.; Sage Medeiors (OF/RHP), jr.; Parker Reichart (2B/RHP), jr.; Soren Caprio (3B/OF), jr.

Key Newcomers: Brennan Shaw (UTIL), so.; Tommy Ott (RHP/3B/1B), sr.

Key Losses: Finn Mellander (1B/3B); Lucas Hansen (OF/RHP).

Outlook: With defending 4A (now 5A) state champions Moscow returning a strong lineup and Lewiston dropping down into the 5A Inland Empire League, things are going to be tough for the Bulldogs, but third-year Sandpoint High head coach Ricky Klontz likes his chances with this year's veteran roster.

Senior Jesse Turner, a 4A (now 5A) All-IEL selection in 2023 and 2024, returns to the bump. Last season, the right-hander managed a 2.03 ERA across 31 innings and struck out 23 batters compared to walking just 10. He also improved his batting average to .233, up from .179 his sophomore year. All-in-all, he contributed 14 hits, four of which were doubles, and nine RBI during his junior campaign. In the team's annual intersquad scrimmage, Turner's pitching was efficient and he exceeded early season expectations.

"He looks really good — the big thing is that he's healthy," coach Klontz said. "Last year, he had some back issues that limited him early on and we had to work into things a little more. I'm excited to see what he'll do with a full season of getting after it."

Senior Drew Lehman, a 4A (now 5A) All-IEL selection in 2023 and 2024 and the league Newcomer of the Year in 2022, is primed for another great year. At the plate last season, he held a team-best .514 on-base percentage and a .379 batting average, knocking 22 hits, three for extra bases, to go along with nine RBI. He'll see some more time on the mound this upcoming season as well.

Junior Mason Little, the 4A (now 5A) IEL Newcomer of the Year in 2024, will be another Bulldog that fans will see on base often. He led the team in plate appearances (83), hits (23), and tied for a team-high four doubles while holding a .333 batting average and a .434 on-base percentage a year ago. Like Lehman, he'll also see more time on the rubber.

Juniors Dallen Williams and Sage Medeiros also excel at the plate and at the mound and both make returns this season. Medeiros batted .239 and held a .386 on-base percentage and had two saves for the Bulldogs in relief last year. Williams posted 17 hits, a team-best 12 RBI, and a .266 batting average at the plate and a 3.54 ERA across 29.2 innings on the mound, striking out a team-best 30 batters in the process.

"I've been impressed with Dallen. He'll be somewhere near the top of the order with Mason and Drew," coach Klontz said. "He'll be a guy that we expect to do big things this year all-around. "

Look out for juniors Soren Caprio and Parker Reichart to post breakthrough years and for sophomore utility player Brennan Shaw, the only sophomore who made the true varsity squad, to see his first appearances at a plethora of different positions.

"He's going to bring a lot of versatility and adds another dynamic bat to our lineup," coach Klontz said of Shaw. "He runs really well too. I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can do."

Senior Tommy Ott, who recently made the move to Sandpoint from Wisconsin, will also see some considerable time.

"He's going to get some innings on the mound and play some third base; we're working him into some first base as well," coach Klontz said of Ott. "He's been a bright spot with the attitude and energy he brings and the whole team feeds off of it. I think he's going to make a big impact."

As for the schedule, the team's budget allowed them to take a trip to the Bucks Bags Invite this year, one of the oldest and most competitive tournaments in Idaho. Sandpoint will face 4A's Parma and Homedale as well as 5A Blackfoot and 6A Ridegvue at the invite, which will be held at Rodeo Park in Nampa. The last time the Bulldogs attended the tournament, which has existed for over three decades, was in 2019.

"We're looking forward to it," coach Klontz said about heading down to Bucks Bags. "We're going to bring some JV guys down for pitching since our schedule is so heavy up front. It's going to be a good experience."

Due to a new format with how the league postseason tournament operates, there is potential to garner an at-large bid to state based off MaxPreps rankings. So if you think the Bulldogs' schedule looks tough... there's a reason for that.

"We're playing a really tough schedule this year. It's going to be a challenge," Klontz said. "Our goal is to win districts so we don't have to worry about that (securing an at-large bid). The nice part about all of this is that we are considered the underdogs in this situation, and I don't think we should be at all... I think we can come in and surprise some people."

When asked if there was something special about this year's squad, Klontz said the team is very close-knit in comparison to some of the team's he's coached in the past.

"There's a different feeling and we've talked about it a couple of times during the first couple weeks of practice," coach Klontz said. "There's a lot of excitement and a bond that's forming that I haven't seen in awhile. I'm really looking forward to see how the boys gel together and compete on the field day in and day out."

Sandpoint Baseball Schedule

3/15 — @ Post Falls, 12 p.m. PPD

3/18 — @ Lewiston, 2 p.m. 

3/20-22 — @ Bucks Bags Invite (Boise) 

3/25 — @ Lakeland, 2 p.m. 

3/27 — @ Coeur d’Alene, 2 p.m. 

4/8 — @ Lake City, 2 p.m. 

4/10 — vs. Lakeland, 4 p.m. 

4/12 — vs. Lakeland, 12 p.m. 

4/15 — vs. Bonners Ferry, 4 p.m. 

4/19 — vs. Moscow, 12 p.m. 

4/22 — @ Moscow, 3 p.m. 

4/25-5/3 — 5A IEL Regionals @ War Memorial Field 

5/15-17 — 5A State Championship 

*All matchups are doubleheaders* 

Sandpoint High senior Drew Lehman fires in a pitch during a home game last year against Post Falls.