The Sandpoint Bulldogs baseball team averaged 8.5 runs in 2023 against the Lakeland Hawks. The Hawks held them to four runs and five hits in two games on April 25.
The Hawks (9-11, 4-2) swept the Bulldogs (6-13, 1-5) at War Memorial Field in Sandpoint after splitting the first series at home. The Hawks won the first game 9-3 and the second game 16-1.
Tadhg Ellwood started pitching the first game and rang up ten strikeouts and only surrendered two hits and one run over six innings.
“Going into the game, the coaches put the expectation that we need to win, and our team needs to have the pitchers back,” Tadhg Ellwood said. “I think we need to focus on not hitting pop-ups and making smoother transitions in the infield. Overall, we just need to trust each other.”
The Hawks got on the board with two runs in the first inning while keeping the Bulldogs at zero.
The Lakeland Hawks continued to extend their lead with two more runs in the fourth inning.
Jesse Turner started on the mound for the Bulldogs, allowing eleven hits and four earned runs.
The Hawks have improved their offense skills an exponential amount throughout their season. They tallied up 17 hits in the first game.
Roan Reilly went two for three at the plate and batted in three runs.
The Hawks did not commit a single error.
Jace Taylor pitched against the Bulldogs on April 19 and gave up one run. Taylor started game two of the second series, looking to put the dogs in the pound again. Taylor only surrendered three hits and one run over five innings.
“I have been able to be so successful against standpoint because I got ahead in the count early. I can also locate any pitch I throw very well,” Taylor said. “As a team, we have been able to adjust to pitching, and work counts in our favor.”
Brent Campbell took the mound for the Bulldogs, and he gave up nine hits and eight runs.
The Hawks picked up a lead in the third inning, getting six runs. The Hawks had a strong eye at the plate and picked up eleven walks and eleven hits. Caleb Mason and Jake Larcher each drove in three runs for the Hawks throughout the game.
The Hawks committed no errors and had four stolen bases.
The Lakeland Hawks have secured at least second seed in districts. Their next game is May 2 at Lakeland High School against the Moscow Bears. The game against the Bears will determine if the Hawks will be the number one or two seed at districts.
