Sandpoint rallies, will play for state title

NAMPA, Idaho – For six innings of Friday’s State 4A semifinal baseball game, the Sandpoint Bulldogs couldn’t find their swing.

Held to just two runs on three hits by Madison pitcher Brantley Shattuck, the Bulldogs were staring the consolation bracket square in the eye as they came to bat in the top of the seventh.

What happened next will long be remembered as one of the great comebacks in tournament history.

The Bulldogs scored eight runs on five hits to turn a 4-2 deficit into a six-run lead.

Vinny D’Orazi finished things off in the bottom of the inning, limiting the Bobcats to a single run as the Bulldogs advanced to today’s state championship game with a 10-5 victory.

Sandpoint faces Bishop Kelley at 4 p.m. at Rodeo Park for the title.

“I am so proud of my team,” said Sandpoint coach Mike Givens. “They never say die.

“Games like this are hard on us coaches and the fans, but it sure was fun to be a part of.”

The Bulldogs got off to a slow start, putting up goose eggs the first four innings. Trailing 4-0 in the top of the fifth, Clay Montgomery finally put Sandpoint on the board with a two-run single that cut the deficit in half.

Sandpoint loaded the bases in the sixth, but couldn’t get a run home against Shattuck and the Bobcats looked comfortable.

Nothing could have prepared the teams for what happened next.

Montgomery was the catalyst again for the Bulldogs, drawing a leadoff walk. As he sprinted to first base, Montgomery clapped his hands and yelled at the Sandpoint dugout, urging his teammates to bring him home.

“Clay is one of our senior leaders,” Givens said. “He has made big plays for us all year, and his attitude in the seventh epitomizes what this team is about.”

Richie Klontz followed with a single, and Noah Hawkins hit a sacrifice fly to score Montgomery, cutting the margin to 4-3.

With the Bulldogs applying constant pressure, Shattuck fell apart, surrendering the lead as the next five batters reached base and eventually scored.

Madison coach Randy Lords brought in Cade Capser to stop the bleeding, but it proved to be too little, too late.

The Bobcats made things interesting, loading the bases in the seventh after cutting the deficit to 10-5, but D’Orazi was able to close things out.

Preston 6, Post Falls 5: Post Falls took an early 5-0 lead, but Preston tied the contest in the top of the third inning and scored one in the sixth to hold on in the loser-out contest. Justin Johnson hit a three-run double in the first, and later scored on a single from Mike Aune, who finished 2 for 4 with one RBI. Brandon Haas batted in the final Trojans (15-12) run in the second. Brandon Parker struck out eight in the loss.