Asha Abubakari, Sacramento State Track & Field 

The pride of Bonners Ferry, Asha Abubakari, was recently nominated as a Female Newcomer of the Year by Sacramento State. While Abubakari didn't win the award, it was the cherry on top of a stellar year for the Hornets. She joined the Big Sky school for the outdoor season and immediately put her name in the program's record books with a 162-04 in the discus at the Pacific Coast Invitational, the fifth best in Sac State's history.  

The former Badger found herself on the podium three times last season, placing second at the Fresno State Invitational and third at the Stanford Invitational and at the school's rival Causeway Classic Dual. She wrapped up her season with a seventh-place discus throw at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships, scoring for her team. 

Colin Roos, Matsu Miners  

After a successful season at Salt Lake Community College, Sandpoint High graduate Colin Roos is looking for a new home with two years of eligibility remaining. Roos pitched 36.2 innings for the Bruins last season, going 5-2 on the year. He walked only 11 batters compared to 28 strikeouts with a 6.14 ERA. 

While Roos is looking for a new collegiate home, he's found himself playing summer ball for the Mat-Su Miners, based in Palmer, Alaska, of the Alaska Baseball League. Roos recently got the start on the bump for the Miners' game against the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing just one run while striking out seven batters. 

An eighth-inning rally propelled the Chinooks past the Miners, but it was by far Roos' best outing for Mat-Su of the season.  

Austin Dillon, Yakima Valley Community College Baseball 

Another former Sandpoint pitcher is working on his craft over the summer, though Austin Dillon is doing so a bit closer to home. The Yakima Valley CC player is getting quality starts for the Yakima Valley Pippins of the West Coast League. In his most recent start on June 23, Dillion pitched 4.2 innings, giving up six runs and striking out four batters in a 9-4 loss to the Wenatchee AppleSox. 

Before that performance, Dillon was on a hot streak, boasting a 2.70 ERA and 10 strikeouts over his first three starts for the Pippins. His best start came on June 16 against the Bend Elks, where he threw a 6.2-inning gem. Dillon allowed just two runs across those innings, helping his team cruise to a 5-2 victory and earning him his own win of the season so far. 

Sandpoint's former star will look to get back on the right track this weekend, when the Pippins play a three-game home series against the Kelowna Falcons.  

    Colin Roos
  

    Asha Abubakari