D’Orazi, Lichty lift Sandpoint

NAMPA, Idaho – Sandpoint baseball coach Mike Givens thought his team was prepared for a classic ending to Thursday’s State 4A baseball tournament opener.

The Bulldogs watched Rocky, Rocky II and Rocky III to occupy their time on the 9-hour bus ride the day before.

Something must have rubbed off as Sandpoint slipped past Mountain Home 1-0 on a walk-off squeeze bunt by Vinny D’Orazi at Rodeo Park.

“On the way down here we were watching all the Rocky movies, so that kind of epitomizes how our trip went down here,” Givens said. “It was a heavyweight fight. I love games like this. I’ll take a game like this any day over a 12-11 or 11-10 game.”

The Bulldogs (16-8) will take on Madison (14-9) in today’s semifinals at 3 p.m. PDT. Madison knocked off defending state champ Minico 7-5.

In another opener, Bishop Kelly edged Post Falls 6-5.

Sandpoint 1, Mountain Home 0: It was a pitching duel from the outset. While several hands were ultimately involved in the Bulldogs’ win, it was the right arm of junior pitcher Tyler Lichty that had the biggest effect.

Lichty allowed just one hit, and that came in the first inning when Chris Rau fought off a 0-2 fastball for an aluminum-bat aided opposite-field hit to right field. Rau was thrown out at second base trying to leg the single into a double.

After that, the lone Tigers to reach base came on walks.

Lichty issued two of the three walks in the second, but one was cleaned up on a double play and the other was wiped away when Lichty picked the Tiger off first base.

The last Tiger to reach by a walk was in the top of the seventh, but that runner was caught stealing by Sandpoint catcher Jake Howell.

In between, Lichty struck out eight.

“That was a masterpiece,” Givens said. “He was ahead of the count most of the day. He did a great job with his pitch selection.”

With Mountain Home pitcher Michael Despres matching Lichty’s effectiveness, it became a matter of which team would flinch first.

Lichty started things in the bottom of the seventh, working out of a 0-2 hole to draw a walk.

After a strikeout, Zac Manor worked the count to 3-2. With Lichty running on the next pitch, Manor lifted a single to right field, putting runners on first and third with one out and bringing D’Orazi to the plate.

Seconds earlier, Givens had whispered to D’Orazi to be prepared to lay down a squeeze bunt if the Bulldogs had runners at first and third.

D’Orazi took the first pitch, giving no hint of what was to come. He was cautious to not give it away too early on the next pitch. Despres brought a fastball and D’Orazi punched a perfect bunt 3 feet fair up the first-base side. Before it could be fielded, Lichty, who had broken on the pitch, scored.

“Not only is it important to know the situation, but to me it’s more important to know what your players are capable of doing,” Givens said of the squeeze play. “You could have that situation, but if they can’t execute anything it doesn’t come out very well. I was real comfortable with that situation because Vinny can bunt.”

The palatable humidity assisted Lichty.

“I wanted to sit on my fastball,” he said. “This warmth helps my arm. Whenever it’s warm out I throw gas. It’s as hard as I’ve thrown all year.”

Bishop Kelly 6, Post Falls 5: Dan Hamilton gave the Trojans a brief 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run double, but Bishop Kelly scored twice in the fifth for a comeback win.

Post Falls plays Preston in a consolation game today at 1 p.m. Bishop Kelly will meet Hillcrest in a semifinal.

•State 5A: Lewiston (22-3)blanked Borah 3-0 in its opening round game at Wigle Field at Borah High, and will face Highland today in a semifinal.

•State 3A: Dalton Baker struck out six while giving up only one hit and no earned runs, but was hindered by nine walks and seven errors in St. Maries’ 5-1 loss to American Falls at Ontario, Ore. The Lumberjacks (15-5) play the loser of South Fremont/Fruitland in a consolation game today at 1 p.m. … Bonners Ferry (14-7) fell to Bear Lake 6-0 in its opening-round game, and will face Middleton in a consolation game at 10 a.m.

Softball

•State 4A: Sean Topp struck out 10, but it wasn’t enough as Post Falls fell to Bishop Kelly 4-0 in the opening round at Ward Field in Pocatello. Britney Croner struck out 16, while giving up a pair of hits for the Knights (25-2). The Trojans (19-6) play in a consolation game today at 10 a.m. versus the Blackfoot/Wood River loser.