LOCAL WATCH: Dillon pitches Drifters to another win

BEND, Ore. — Austin Dillon, a 2023 Sandpoint High graduate and a rising redshirt sophomore at Yakima Valley College, recently picked up his second win of the summer season during the Springfield Drifters' 15-7 victory over the Bend Elks in West Coast League play Thursday, June 19, at Vince Genna Stadium.

Dillon, a 6-foot 4-inch right-handed pitcher, struck out three batters across two innings in relief, allowing just two hits and an earned run while throwing 22 of his 34 pitches for strikes. In the Drifters' most recent outing, which was a 4-3 home loss to the Cowlitz Black Bears on Sunday in the opener of a doubleheader, the former two-time All-Inland Empire League selection tossed 15 of 21 pitches for strikes across two innings in relief, allowing a hit and an earned run while striking out one batter.

So far this season, he's struck out 13 batters over 13 innings in seven appearances for Springfield, which is 7-11 and started a six-game road trip Tuesday with three games against the Ridgefield Raptors and three against the Marion Berries spanning from Friday to Sunday.