SANDPOINT — It was the best season in years for the Sandpoint softball team, and the success was rewarded with five players earning a spot on the 4A All-Inland Empire League team, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

Senior Jordan Speelmon was named Newcomer of the Year, batting .419 from the leadoff spot and setting the table for the offense. She led the Bulldogs with 22 runs, a .506 on-base percentange, 12 steals and 10 doubles, and also hit a home run and drove in 10 runs. The 10 doubles broke the school record of eight, and the second year player will continue in college.

“She hits with no fear, doesn’t over think it, sees the ball and swings hard,” said Sandpoint head coach Derek Dickinson. “She was our lightning rod at the top of the lineup. Her ceiling in softball is very high. She will be scary good when she gets more experience and knowledge of the game.”  

Senior Casey Bottomley was one of two pitchers named to the team, taking the hill for all but one game this season. Mixing speeds and locations with precision, she went 9-13, striking out 125 in 132 innings of work while walking just 32 and posting a respectable 4.25 ERA. Dickenson praised the work of pitching coach Gary Circo for helping Bottomley get to where she is, and called his ace a workhorse and team leader.

“She showed excellent durability and was consistent all year long, and gave very little away,” described Dickinson. “She just wants to win, which is all you can ask for from a player. I respect her so much because she committed her heart and soul into her pitching, with steady improvement all four years of her high school career.”  

The other half of a successful battery was senior catcher Jessica Strickland, who was a standout defensive presence and shut down the running game of opponents. The left-handed catcher did a lot of the things that don’t show up in the stat sheet, namely providing heart and leadership while battling through injury the past couple of years.

“She was the anchor of our defense, and her development through the years was tremendous,” said Dickinson. “She put it all together behind the plate. She held runners very well and the other league coaches really respected her behind the dish.”

Sophomore Topi Elsfelder batted .286 with one home run, and also led the team with 13 RBIs as the designated hitter. She was called up to varsity mid-season, and wasted little time making an impact.

“She’s always positive and having fun. Another player who is aggressive at the plate,” said Dickinson. I plugged her in the middle of the order as the DP and she was dangerous. Her home run at Lakeland in districts was an absolute bomb.”  

Rounding out the Bulldogs on the all-league team was freshman outfielder Cody Baldree, who anchored the middle of the batting order by hitting .355 with six doubles, two triples and a home run. She led the team with 22 runs to go with 10 RBIs, played four different positions defensively and will be a key building block for the future.

“She’s the best base runner on the team,” claimed Dickinson. “She just does what you ask with no questions asked. She should be one of the top players in the 4A league ranks for the next three years.”  

4A ALL-IEL SOFTBALL

MVP — Bekah Kastning, sr., Lakeland.

Newcomer of the Year — Jordan Speelmon, sr., Sandpoint.

Coach of the Year — Colleen Bevacqua, Lakeland.

Pitchers — Kristin Klopatek, sr., Lakeland; Casey Bottomley, sr., Sandpoint. Outfielders — Monica Burnette, jr., Moscow; Cody Baldree, fr., Sandpoint; Kari Prockish, fr., Lakeland. Infielders — Erin Ogden, sr., Lakeland; Haley Adams, jr., Moscow; Lauren Schwalbach, sr., Lakeland; Jessica Strickland, sr., Sandpoint; Deven Chandler, jr., Moscow. Catcher — Tifani Schorzman, jr., Lakeland. Designated hitter/utility — Topi Elsfelder, so., Sandpoint.