Sandpoint rallies to capture state crown

NAMPA, Idaho – In the sixth inning of Saturday’s State 4A baseball championship game, things looked pretty grim for the Sandpoint Bulldogs. Facing a heavily favored Bishop Kelly team, the Bulldogs had just lost a chance to score when a questionable call by the home-plate umpire negated a bases-loaded situation.

To make matters worse, head coach Mike Givens was ejected for arguing the call, leaving the team in the hands of assistant coach Rick Klontz with Sandpoint trailing 6-2 and down to its last three outs.

But even in the face of incredible adversity, the Bulldogs found a way to rally, scoring six runs in the top of the seventh to claim the championship with an 8-6 victory over the Knights.

“This is what we do,” Klontz said. “This is a team that never gives up, never stops believing. We have had so many comebacks this year, and I think it’s a testament to how tough these kids are. They never say die.”

Sandpoint’s win capped an incredible weekend during which the Bulldogs won all three games in the final inning.

“This is such a great feeling,” senior catcher Jake Howell said. “We have played together for so long, it’s just an awesome feeling to put it all together and win the title.”

Bishop Kelly lived up to the hype for six innings, dominating behind pitcher Kyle Wuestenfeld. Wuestenfeld kept the Bulldogs at bay while helping his cause with a towering three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning.

But in the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs found a chink in the Knights’ armor. Noah Hawkins and Tyler Lichty led off with back-to-back singles, and Howell’s sacrifice bunt appeared to have loaded the bases when Bishop Kelly muffed the throw to third base.

Though it appeared that the runner was safe at third, the home-plate umpire reversed the call, canceling Sandpoint’s best scoring chance of the game.

Givens was livid, screaming at the umpire for several minutes before being thrown out of the game.

Wuestenfeld closed out the inning, and the Knights appeared to deliver the knockout blow with two runs in the bottom of the inning for a 6-2 lead.

But the ejection of their coach appeared to ignite the Bulldogs, who came out swinging in the top of the seventh. Cory Hawkins started the rally with a leadoff single, and Wuestenfeld hit the next two batters with pitches, loading the bases with no outs for Ricky Klontz.

Klontz reached on an infield single to make it 6-3, and Noah Hawkins followed suit with another infield hit to make it a two-run game.

Tyler Lichty kept things going, tying the game with a two-out single.

That set the stage for Howell, who had struggled with his swing throughout the tournament. This time, Howell waited for a good pitch and got a fastball over the plate, which he sent deep to left-center for a two-run, game-winning double.

“I hadn’t been very patient all week,” Howell said. “I knew he was getting a little tired, so I just waited back for something to drive, and I got it.”

Bishop Kelly threatened to tie or even win the game in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with two outs.

But Lichty hung tough, forcing Cory Griffith into a groundout that ended the game as the Bulldogs stormed the field.

“You have to give them credit,” Bishop Kelly coach Bob Sutcliffe said. “They never gave up and they took it from us.”

Givens was allowed back in the stadium to join the celebration, having seen little of his team’s comeback from his spot in the parking lot.

“I couldn’t really see what was going on,” Givens said. “But I tell you what, it was the best game I ever saw!”