Back on top: Bishop Kelly softball crushes Middleton for another district title
It may not have been the vintage type of season that Bishop Kelly’s softball team is accustomed to. But once again, the Knights are district champions.
Bishop Kelly defeated Middleton 15-5 in five innings at Skyview High on Thursday to clinch its fourth district title in the past five years. Both teams already clinched 5A state tournament berths, meaning the Vikings’ season still has life. Seeding and matchups for the state tournament will be released Sunday.
A six-run fifth inning gave Bishop Kelly (18-5) a 10-run lead, and with Middleton (23-4) unable to respond, the game was ended via the mercy rule after five innings.
“We’ve been working all year, and the games we’ve lost have been by really close,” Bishop Kelly coach Travis Ribordy told the Idaho Statesman. “And we know if we play our game and play sound defense like we have, we have Lauren (Fettic) in the circle.”
Fettic, a senior pitcher signed with UNLV, pitched all five innings, allowing five hits and seven walks while striking out nine. She was supported on offense by a game-high four hits from sophomore center fielder Olivia Watt, while three Knights, including Fettic, had three RBIs.
Middleton senior first baseman Ashlynn Pohl led the way for the Vikings with two RBIs.
Middleton entered the contest as the 5A Southern Idaho Conference regular-season champions and the No. 1 overall seed. But it’s tough to call Bishop Kelly’s victory an upset.
The Knights handed Middleton one of their regular-season losses, a 6-1 result in early April. A week before that game, the two teams went to extra innings, with Middleton winning 4-3 in eight frames.
It also helps that the Knights have plenty of experience winning tournaments.
“I think it’s the tradition at Bishop Kelly,” Ribordy said. “I think it’s said from the time they come in as freshmen, the sense of excellence and the sense of when you put on that jersey with the knight on it and the crucifix on it, it just means more.”
But for as dominant as the final scoreline was, Middleton had several chances to take control of the game.
Trailing 4-1 in the first inning, Middleton loaded the bases with just one out but could only score one run. The Vikings once again loaded the bases in the third inning with one out but could only score a single run.
“In my head, I’m thinking pitch hard, pitch fast, pitch with spin,” Fettic said about getting out of the two jams.
“Keeping everything in myself locked and not getting too overconfident or too down on myself,” she continued. “Just keeping locked in and making sure that I’m playing to my best ability and making sure that my team is fielding for me.”
The Bishop Kelly offense repaid Fettic’s efforts by putting together the six-run fifth inning that ended the game.
Both teams will return to Skyview next week for the state tournament, which runs from May 15-17. Both teams are also in search for their first 5A state title after dominating 4A for the past decade.
Between 2015 and 2022, Bishop Kelly won four state titles while Middleton won three.
SKYVIEW 6, NAMPA 5: A late-inning rally wasn’t enough for Nampa (18-9) to rally past Skyview (12-14) in the third-place game.
The Hawks opened the scoring in the third inning with a solo home run from sophomore shortstop Jayla Archuleta and built up a comfortable 6-0 lead midway through the sixth inning. Multi-hit games from sophomore Grace Chambers and juniors Kenna Bettencourt and Lily Bittinger paved the way for Skyview.
But a five-run sixth inning from Nampa gave the Bulldogs hope, highlighted by a two-run homer from senior Maddie Case. However, a seventh inning that didn’t see a single baserunner from either team was enough for the Hawks to claim victory on their home field.
Skyview advances to the state play-in game against Sandpoint at 2 p.m. Mountain time Saturday in Moscow.
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 8:20 PM.
