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PREP SOFTBALL: Lancaster hits grand slam as Bulldogs fall to Lakeland

MAX OSWALD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 7 months AGO
by MAX OSWALD
I grew up in the small town of Orwigsburg, Pa., where I resided all of my life before moving to Sandpoint. I attended Blue Mountain High School, where I participated in cross country and track and field, a sport that I ended up falling in love with. I went on to attend and run for DeSales University (with other brief stints at Susquehanna University and Elizabethtown College) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport communication with a minor in sport management. I remember just how great it made me feel when I was mentioned in my hometown newspaper. I want to be able to give that feeling to every athlete in Bonner County, no matter how big or small their accomplishments are. As an athlete myself, I know how many hours of work are put in on a daily basis, and that hard work deserves to be recognized. It is my goal to cover as much of the Bulldogs, Spartans and Wampus Cats as I can. I want to work with every athlete, parent, coach, administrator and the community to ensure the best stories are published. | May 4, 2024 7:30 PM

RATHDRUM — Junior Bailey Lancaster hit a grand slam and four other Bulldogs homered as Sandpoint fell to Lakeland 17-2 and 25-12 on Saturday.

In the first game, Cadence Skibitsky hit a two-run home run to right field in the first inning, scoring Hali Smotherman, who singled to lead things off. The Hawks would respond with three big innings, eventually taking the victory. However, in the second game, head coach Leah Platt said the Bulldogs’ bats really started to come alive.

In game two, Sandpoint struck again in the first inning, this time, it was freshman Teagan Newsom who hit a deep three-run blast to center field. Later in the third, Peyton Cessna, who was a perfect 3-for-3 in the contest, hit an RBI single. Down 13-4 at this point, Sandpoint needed a boost to stay in the game, which they got a couple of at-bats later when Lancaster hit a grand slam to left field to bring the Bulldogs within five runs. Although unable to avoid the 10-run rule, Sandpoint would tack on more runs in the fourth and fifth when Cessna and Ainsley Hull both hit two-run home runs.

Sandpoint (3-21) will face off against Lakeland in a loser-out game at Moscow High on Tuesday as part of the 4A Inland Empire League district tournament.

GAME ONE

Sandpoint 200 00X X — 2 4 5

Lakeland 575 0XX X — 17 16 0

Game called after fifth due to 10-run rule.

W — Helmhok. L — Hull.

HITS: SPT — Smotherman 1, Skibitsky 1, Nesom 1. LAK — Sterling 3, Blakeore 2, Helmhok 2, Drake 2, Zimmerman 2, Hanna 2, Frank 1, Kesner 1. Dewey 1.

2B — Zimmerman. HR — Skibitsky, Blakeore, Frank, Zimmerman, Sterling.

RBI: SPT – Skibitsky 2. LAK — Zimmerman 2, Drake 2, Sterling 2, Blakeore 2, Dewey 1, Helmhok 1, Frank 1.

SB: SPT — Skibitsky 1. LAK — Frank 1, Zimmerman 2, Dewey 1, Holte 1.

GAME TWO 

Sandpoint 305 22X X — 12 11 8

Lakeland 765 7XX X — 25 13 0

Game called after fifth due to 10-run rule.

W — Williams. L — Newsom.

HITS: SPT — Skibitsky 3, Cessna 3, Lancaster 2, Newsom 1, Hindle 1, Hull 1. LAK — Hanna 3, Zimmerman 3, Sterling 2, Kesner 2, Frank 1, Drake 1, Dewey 1.

2B — Zimmerman 2, Sterling 2, Hindle, Skibitsky, Hanna, Dewey, Kesner.

RBI: SPT — Lancaster 4, Newsom 3, Cessna 3, Hull 2. LAK — Zimmerman 5, Kesner 4, Dewey 4, Hanna 3, Sterling 2, Drake 1, Briggs 1.

SB: SPT — Lancaster 1. LAK — Hanna 1, Banard 1, Drake 1, Byrne 1, Corbey 1, Sterling 1.

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