Bulldogs Dominate Idaho Falls Behind Inge Grand Slam
Sandpoint High School’s baseball team secured a decisive 12-2 victory over Idaho Falls on Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Field, claiming the 5A Super Regional North Qualifier Championship and punching their ticket to the state tournament.
Senior Coleman Inge delivered the game’s signature moment in the first inning, launching a grand slam home run to deep right field that capped an eight-run opening frame. The blast was Inge’s second career home run and gave the second-ranked Bulldogs an 8-0 lead before Idaho Falls recorded an out.
Senior Dallen Williams earned the win on the mound, striking out seven batters across four innings while allowing just two earned runs. Williams threw 51 of his 82 pitches for strikes and reached a career milestone during the outing, recording his 100th strikeout. At the plate, Williams went 3-for-4 with three singles.
First Inning Explosion Sets Tone
The Bulldogs wasted no time establishing control. Senior Mason Little contributed an RBI single, while junior Jack Schriber delivered a two-run double. Medeiros reached base on an error that scored another run before Inge cleared the bases with his grand slam.
Sandpoint added insurance runs in the second and third innings. Senior Soren Caprio drove in a run with a single in the second, and the Bulldogs plated two more in the third via an error and an RBI groundout.
The game ended via run rule in the fifth inning when Schriber hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Little and triggering a celebration at home plate as teammates mobbed Schriber.
Williams Dominates, Shaw Closes Out
Williams limited the Tigers to five hits and two walks through four innings before Shaw entered for relief work. Shaw struck out two batters during his one-inning appearance, allowing two hits but no runs.
Idaho Falls managed seven hits in the contest, with Treygan Riedle and Hudson Palmer each collecting two hits including a double apiece. The Tigers, who entered the regional tournament as the 11th seed, finished their season with a 14-13-1 record after upsetting seventh-seeded Hillcrest 8-4 earlier Saturday.
What Comes Next
Sandpoint, now 22-2 on the season and riding a 14-game winning streak, will face third-ranked Twin Falls in the opening round of the 5A State Championship tournament on Thursday at Melaleuca Field in Idaho Falls. The four-team, double-elimination tournament also includes top-seeded Bonneville and fourth-seeded Skyview, with championship play running through Saturday.
The state tournament appearance marks Sandpoint’s first since 2022. The Bulldogs will be seeking their first state title since 2006 when they take the field Thursday. With their potent offense and strong pitching, the Bulldogs enter the tournament as one of the favorites to cut down the nets.
The Bulldogs’ eight hits Saturday included extra-base knocks from Schriber and Inge. Inge drove in four runs, while Schriber finished with three RBI. Williams, Little, Shaw, and Caprio each contributed one hit in the victory.
Regional Tournament Results
In 3A Super Regional action at Salmon, Priest River fell 17-7 to Wendell in a loser-out game Saturday morning. Juniors Brayden Elder and Dave Findley each recorded two singles for the fifth-seeded Spartans. Junior Colton Kuprienko hit a two-run triple in the third inning to give Priest River a brief 3-2 lead, but the Trojans responded with 13 unanswered runs to end the Spartans’ season via run rule.