STATE 5A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Sandpoint uses another standout hitting display to claim first state championship since 2006

By MAX OSWALD

Bonner County Daily Bee

Sandpoint High first-year head baseball coach Jesse Dunham said his Bulldogs are the best-hitting team in the state of Idaho.

After Sandpoint's performance in the 5A state championship game against Skyview of Nampa at Melaleuca Field in Idaho Falls, it would be hard to bet against that statement.

Senior Sage Medeiros went 3 for 4 with a double, two home runs and five RBIs, senior Mason Little went 3 for 4 to go along with a double, a triple, three RBIs, and four runs scored, and the No. 2 seed Bulldogs recorded 16 hits and overcame seven errors to capture their second state title in school history on Saturday with an 18-13 victory.

So just how did Sandpoint amass 44 hits across three games during the state championship series to bring home its first first-place trophy since 2006? The answer is simple — 1983 Sandpoint High graduate and current assistant coach Rick Klontz.

Klontz, also an assistant coach during Sandpoint's '06 state title run, served as head coach of the Bulldogs in the title game 20 years ago after former head coach Mike Givens, who is currently the head coach of NCAA Division II Menlo College, was ejected.

"He's just the best guy to have your back," Dunham said of Klontz, whose approach at the plate involves attacking fastballs. "He works with our guys on hitting, and that's why our approaches are so good. He does a lot for us."

The bats were well and alive in the first as Little recorded an RBI triple to center and Medeiros sent a no-doubt two-run home run over the left field fence as Sandpoint put up a 4-spot in the inning. After Skyview tied the game 4-4, the Bulldogs added three more runs to their rally in third thanks to an RBI single by Soren Caprio and a two-run, inside-the-park home run by Medeiros — his third home run in as many days.

"After Sage's inside-the-park home run, it really sparked everything for us," said Dunham, who starred at Bonners Ferry High, graduating in 2017. "It was pretty awesome to see."

Skyview, the No. 4 seed which came back from a three-run deficit to beat Bonneville 11-7 on Friday, did respond with four-run fourth frame to take an 8-7 lead. The Hawks pushed that advantage to 10-8 by the time the fifth inning rolled around.

Although Sandpoint, which finished the season 25-2 and won its final 17 games, hasn't played from behind very often this season, the Bulldogs kept their composure.

Junior Brennan Shaw hit an RBI double and Little recorded a two-out, two-run single to give Sandpoint the lead back, 11-10, in the bottom half of the frame. The two-out rally lasted for three more at-bats as Caprio smashed a two-run triple, Medeiros registered an RBI double, and junior Jack Schriber belted an RBI single to cap off what was a seven-run inning.

Skyview pulled back to within two runs, 15-13, but senior Dallen Williams' two-run double and a sacrifice fly by Caprio put the game out of reach as the Hawks faced their final three outs. With Sandpoint's pitching staff running out of options due to the longevity of the three-day tournament, sophomore Blake Bogadi was tasked with shutting things down, and he delivered.

"It wasn't part of the original plan," Dunham said after taking out reliever Mason Little, who grabbed the win with five strikeouts over 3.1 innings of work. "Blake came in and threw strikes, and man did it pay off."

It was Sandpoint's first appearance at the state tournament since 2022, when the Bulldogs won the 4A consolation championship.

"I was filled with my emotions — I'm just so happy for these guys," Dunham said following the final out. "They deserve all the glory for grinding it out. This is the best hitting team in the state of Idaho — they showed it; they proved it — and everyone counted us out and came in here with a chip on their shoulder. It's so awesome to see all these guys come together. They play so well with each other. We couldn't have done this without our players and our assistant coaches."

Skyview 040 423 0 — 13 7 2

Sandpoint 403 173 x — 18 16 7

PITCHING

SPT — Reichart: 2.1IP, 3H, 4R (0ER), 3BB, 1K. Little (W): 3.1IP, 4H, 9R (6ER), 4BB, 5K. Bogadi: 1.1IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 1K. SKY — Darney (L): 2.2IP, 7H, 7R (5ER), 0BB, 1K. Tyson: 0.2IP, 1H, 1R (0ER), 3BB, 0K. Sullivan: 1.2IP, 7H, 7R (7ER), 1BB, 1K. Henry: 1IP, 1H, 3R (1ER), 4BB, 0K.

BATTING

HITS: SPT — Medeiros 3, Little 3, Reichart 2, Caprio 2, Schriber 2, Shaw 1, Williams 1, Resso 1, Holman 1. SKY — Strong 2, Downs 1, Tyson 1, Krahn 1, Russell 1, Vavold 1.

2B — Shaw, Williams, Little, Medeiros, Krahn. 3B — Little, Caprio. HR — Medeiros 2.

RBI: SPT — Medeiros 5, Caprio 4, Williams 3, Little 3, Shaw 1, Schriber 1. SKY — Strong 2, Russell 2, Phillips 2, Vavold 1, Downs 1.

    JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Sandpoint High senior Sage Medeiros slides safely into home past Skyview catcher Trevan Plew to complete a two-run inside-the-park home run during the third inning of Saturday's 5A state championship game at Melaleuca Field in Idaho Falls.