Austin Dillon, Western Illinois University Baseball 

After two years at Yakima Valley Community College, former Sandpoint High star Austin Dillon is going to the top level of collegiate baseball. The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher announced his commitment to Western Illinois University on Wednesday, becoming the second Sandpoint High star to make the jump to Division 1 baseball this summer.  

The Western Illinois Leathernecks compete in the Ohio Valley Conference, which stretches far past its Ohio namesake. The OVC is made up of WIU, Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, Morehead State, Little Rock, Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Southern Indiana, Tennessee State and the University of Tennessee Martin. 

The Leathernecks struggled last season, going 17-36 on the season and missing the OVC tournament. Dillon will provide a solid arm that WIU desperately lacked a season ago, as the team had an average ERA of 7.51. 

Before Dillon headed out to Macomb, Ill, his summer ball team, the Yakima Valley Pippins, wrapped up their season being swept in three games by the Portland Pickles. Dillon did not see any action in those final games, ending his West Coast League season with a 2-3 record and a 6.43 ERA in nine appearances.  

The Leathernecks' newest pitcher excelled at fanning batters, averaging five strikeouts per game, totaling 25 across the season. Dillon only gave up six extra-base hits and zero home runs, a statistic he'll hope to carry over into his first season at Western Illinois. 

Colin Roos, Lamar University Baseball 

The pride of Sandpoint High, Roos polished off his summer season with the Matsu Miners over the weekend, helping the team win their second Alaskan Baseball League Championship in a row. The Miners cruised past the Anchorage Bucs in two games to earn the trophy last weekend. 

Though Roos did not see the mound in the team's final two games, he was an instrumental piece in their 24-13 season. In seven appearances, Roos had a 2-1 record, throwing 27 innings and ending the year with a 5.00 ERA. Roos struck out 28 batters in that time frame, averaging nine per game while only walking 13. He ends the season with a .224 batting average against him. 

Roos is also heading to the Division 1 level to play for the Lamar University Cardinals in the Southland Conference. 

    Colin Roos