By Piper Banning
Badger Sports Reporter
The Badgers fell in the opening game of a doubleheader against the Sandpoint Bulldogs Thursday, but took advantage of errors in game two to achieve what they haven’t done in recent memory, eke out a one-run win over their 4A rivals in game two.
“The team took a huge step today with two well played games,” Badger Coach Tom Turpin said. “We were actually in a great position in game one until the seventh. I’m proud of these guys as we may have just turned the corner!”
Sandpoint had the bases loaded at the top of one in the opening game with a fly ball to centerfield that Badger Thomas Bateman caught, and Jesse Fess threw out at third for a double play.
Next the Bulldogs grounded out to third in the top of the inning.
Then Wyatt Smith delivered a base hit and an RBI, bringing Thomas Bateman home to tie the game at one. Bateman made a great catch in centerfield at the top of the fourth, leaving two Bulldogs stranded, but Sandpoint pulled out the win, 5-1.
It was three up, three down in the fourth inning of game two when Trey Bateman caught a grounder, took a runner out at second and the runner to first for a “Double Play Trey.”
Then the Bulldogs, with a 6-1 lead, embarked on a string of errors and the Badgers capitalized, tying it up at 6-6 before earning a final run in the sixth for the win.
The Badgers take the long road trip to Eureka, Montana, Saturday to take on the Lincoln County High School Lions on Saturday. JV action begins at 11 a.m. Pacific, varsity plays a double header beginning at 1 p.m. Pacific.