The 5A, 4A SIC rule Idaho softball. Previewing this year’s top players and contenders.
Treasure Valley teams have dominated the 5A and 4A state softball tournaments, sweeping the championships in Idaho’s largest classifications five years in a row.
Then the global coronavirus pandemic halted that streak as the 2020 season was postponed, and then canceled, just one week after it started.
Can the 5A and 4A Southern Idaho Conferences continue their reign over Idaho? And who will emerge from the state’s toughest conferences?
We surveyed the league’s coaches for the answers to those questions. Below are the results.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lolo Walker, Rocky Mountain
The two-time, first-team all-conference selection does it all for the Grizzlies. The shortstop can hit for average (.473 in 2019), power (seven home runs) and rarely strikes out (five times in two years). The New Mexico signee is also one of the state’s top defenders no matter where she lines up.
Sydney Groves, Eagle
The third baseman made quite an impression during her freshman debut, hitting .446 with nine home runs. But she’s not just a big stick. The junior’s soft hands and big arm have her verbally committed to Boise State.
Gracie Tentinger, Mountain View
The outfield fences are always in danger when the senior steps to the plate. She set a program record with 18 home runs in 2019, hitting .560 with 60 RBIs along the way. The dual outfielder and shortstop has signed with the College of Southern Idaho.
Gracie Smith, Rocky Mountain
The senior center fielder and Idaho State signee uses her speed to rob opponents of extra bases on defense. That speed makes the left-handed hitter a threat as a slap hitter. But she can also rip line drives past drawn-in infielders.
Riley McGrath, Mountain View
Another two-time all-conference selection, McGrath pairs with Tentinger to give the Mavericks a powerful heart of the lineup. The senior center fielder hit .400 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs as a sophomore.
Reiss McIntyre, Ridgevue
The senior pitcher was often overshadowed by teammate Gracie Walters, last year’s Gatorade all-class player of the year. Now the North Idaho College signee with power and pinpoint command has the stage to herself. She went 14-3 with a 2.96 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 97 innings as a freshman and sophomore.
5A SIC BREAKDOWN
THE FAVORITES: Rocky Mountain edged Eagle in the preseason coaches’ poll by just two points.
Rocky Mountain has loads of returning talent to turn to with seven starters back. And seven players have committed or signed with a college program, including three with a Division I future.
Walker and Smith headline a potent offense. But the Grizzlies also have plenty of weapons in the pitcher’s circle, where No. 1 pitcher Megan Dobrev returns with options and depth behind her.
Meanwhile, perennial power Eagle brings back eight starters. That includes the left side of the infield in Graves and senior shortstop Hillary Victor (.304 batting average in 2019). And sophomore pitcher and outfielder Lizzy Tommasini is a potential breakout player after COVID-19 canceled her freshman season.
THE CONTENDERS: Mountain View, the still reigning state champ, poses a threat as potentially the league’s top offense with Tentinger and McGrath leading the way. Add in Riley Price, Chloe Robinson and Kennedy Bagley, and opposing pitchers will find few spots in the lineup to breathe easily.
Kuna returns after two seasons in the 4A ranks, and the rest of the league knows what the Kavemen are capable of at the 5A level after they finished fourth at state in 2017 and went 36-19 in two years at the state’s top level. Kuna returns just one player with varsity experience, junior infielder Aliana Giddings. But it fields talented club players from around the Treasure Valley.
THE DARK HORSES: Timberline nipped at the heels of the conference’s blue bloods in recent years. Now it will try to take the next step behind an experienced pitcher, junior Amber Thornton, and a talented infield led by seniors Tara Dittman and Barber. Dittman will walk on at Boise State.
Skyview started a youth movement that showed signs of paying off last year with a 3-1 start. With nine returning starters and a loaded junior class featuring Summer Makinster, Taylor Brewer, Delaney Keith and Lily Justesen, the Hawks plan to show that was no fluke.
Centennial has several talented players to build around, including senior center fielder Brooklyn Champion (.479 batting average in 2019), junior shortstop Annie Stinar (.438, five home runs) and junior pitcher Grace Diffin. But the Patriots are breaking in a lot of new faces around them.
Capital went young two years ago. Now it will try to reap the rewards of that move with seven returning starters, including juniors Carly Turpen, Allie Laufenburger and Grace Wontorcik. And watch for sophomore Penny Lew Barnett to make an immediate impact.
THE UNDERDOGS: Youth and inexperience remains a common theme among Borah, Meridian and Boise. But that’s not always a hindrance. Borah was 4-0 in nonconference play entering Thursday behind three impact freshmen, most notably Megan Meracle.
4A SIC BREAKDOWN
THE FAVORITES: Bishop Kelly and Ridgevue tied for first place in the preseason coaches’ poll, and Middleton was just one point behind. That sets up another barnburner of a season, just like in 2019 when Ridgevue won the regular-season conference title, Middleton finished first at district and Bishop Kelly took home the state title.
Bishop Kelly has few players left from that state championship team and just two starters back from a year ago. But it received an injection of fresh talent with junior catcher Kayla Stoker transferring from Eagle and junior pitcher Pilar Cook transferring from Boise. They’ll team with junior shortstop Kaysie Jolley (.321 batting average in ‘19) to form the Knights’ core.
Ridgevue will have to replace Gracie Walters’ production. But the Warhawks bring back nine starters from a year ago and feature a lineup that can go 12 deep, Ridgevue coach Jodie Hoagland said. And with McIntyre holding court in the pitcher’s circle, expect Ridgevue to remain a factor well into May.
Meanwhile, Middleton returns just three starters. But two have signed with college programs — center fielder Logan Walker (Olympic CC) and infielder Grace Redding (Corban University). And the Vikings added a pair of Eagle transfers in Joely Crider and Jorja Crider who will make their presence known quickly.
THE DARK HORSES: Vallivue could lead the league in runs scored again with seven starters back, including three who hit .400 or better in 2019 (Yazmin Garcia, Megan Stacey and Gillian Venditti). But the largest improvement may come in the pitcher’s circle, with four options to keep teams guessing.
Nampa won’t have senior Alexis Tovar in the pitching circle after an offseason shoulder injury. But the Montana State-Billings commit will still man first base and headline a strong infield. Freshman Sophia Wills will fill her pitching role.
THE UNDERDOGS: Emmett, Caldwell and Columbia enter with little expectations outside of their own programs. But Caldwell and Columbia both return six starters, giving them a leg up on varsity experience from previous seasons.
