Sandpoint earns spot in 4A semifinals
NAMPA, Idaho – Sandpoint High School starting pitcher Noah Hawkins had a case of the state tournament jitters Thursday afternoon.
Thank goodness his teammates found the perfect remedy – run support.
The Bulldogs backed their nervous pitcher with 12 runs and 11 hits to help Sandpoint defeat Kuna 12-6 and advance to today’s state 4A semifinal against Madison/Century winner.
Hawkins, a sophomore, fell behind hitters and gave up four first-inning runs to Kuna.
“Nerves really got a hold of me,” Hawkins said. “But my teammates just told me not to worry and keep firing.”
If the words didn’t do it, the eight runs the Bulldogs (14-10) scored in the first three innings sent the message to Hawkins that things were going to be OK.
“When we rallied and got those hits and runs, it definitely picked him up,” Sandpoint coach Dave Siemsen said. “He’s a great pitcher who pitched us to win the district. He was fine once he got his nerves under control.”
Hawkins threw 38 pitches in the nightmare first inning, then retired 10 of the next 11 hitters he faced. In all, he pitched five innings, allowing five runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out four.
Offensively, he had a ton of help. Every player in the Sandpoint lineup either had a hit or scored a run – except for Hawkins, who went 0 for 3.
Shortstop Quinn Walkington and first baseman Brent Scott had three hits apiece. Walkington’s two-run triple in the third tied the score at 4, while Scott’s two-run single in the sixth blew open what still was a competitive game.
Walkington said there was a sense of urgency in his team’s dugout after falling behind 4-0.
“We all talked to each other and said, ‘Don’t let up,’ ” he said. “We were trying to bury them, and we did just that.”
Adam Hodges hit a two-run single in the first, while Chris Karle had a two-run single in the third when Sandpoint took an 8-4 lead. Right-fielder Tyler Crabb went 2 for 2 and scored a pair of runs.
Sandpoint’s defense also was solid. The Bulldogs made only one error and turned in several quality defensive plays, none bigger than a fifth-inning double play.
Trailing 8-4 in the fifth, Kuna used two infield singles that didn’t roll past the pitcher’s mound to put runners on first and second for No. 3 hitter Nick Harris. Harris hit a smash at third baseman Jake Howell, who scooped it up, stepped on third and fired to first for the twin killing.
“I feel safe no matter what out there,” Hawkins said. “They always back me up, even if it’s a hard play.”
The victory keeps alive an impressive run this season for the Bulldogs, who last month looked nothing like a state-tournament caliber club.
“We definitely belong,” Walkington said. “We started out 5-10, now we’ve won like nine or 10 straight.”
Siemsen agreed.
“The bottom line is the momentum for this win started back when we won districts,” he said.
3A
Kelly Rawlings pitched a two-hitter and homered to guide Preston to a 10-0 win over Timberlake to open the State 3A tournament at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore. Starter Josh Lander of the Tigers (20-4) struck out five in 2 2/3 innings but absorbed the loss. Scott Frintz doubled for Timberlake. The Tigers will play Middleton this afternoon in a loser-out game. … Also at the tourney, Bear Lake notched a 4-3 win over Lakeland (16-12). No details were reported.