State baseball recap: 5A SIC dominates first round (again), sweeping into the semis
It took only one day to ensure that the 5A state baseball championship will remain in the greater Boise area.
The Southern Idaho Conference swept the first round of the 5A state tournament, placing four teams from the Treasure Valley into the semifinals for the second tournament in a row.
Mountain View (19-10) takes on Timberline (22-3) in the first semifinal at 4 p.m. Friday at the College of Idaho’s Wolfe Field. Rocky Mountain (22-5) and Eagle (20-6) follow at 7 p.m.
But the Treasure Valley’s dominance wasn’t just limited to the 5A level. Columbia (4A), Bishop Kelly (4A), Fruitland (3A), Weiser (3A) and Nampa Christian (2A) all advanced to their respective semifinals as well.
[Related: 5A to 1A state tournament scores, brackets]
5A BASEBALL STATE TOURNAMENT
Mountain View 7, Idaho Falls 5 (12 innings): Brody Rasmussen kept the reigning state champs’ repeat chances alive in dramatic fashion.
The junior ripped a triple down the left-field line in the top of the 12th inning to finally break a 5-5 tie. He then scored on Coy Clement’s double for the final run in a marathon victory for the Mavericks.
“The kid has been clutch all year,” Mountain View assistant coach Eric Smitchger said. “It’s been absolutely phenomenal to see. He’s come up with so many key hits. It’s almost like he’s got ice in his veins. He doesn’t miss a whole lot.”
Rasmussen drove in three of the Mavericks’ seven runs. He also lined an RBI double to the same spot in left field in the fifth inning and finished 3-for-6.
The late win capped a back-and-forth battle and stretched both teams’ pitching rotations early in the three-day tournament. Mountain View took a 4-1 lead in the top of the sixth, then squandered it in the bottom of the inning when it allowed Idaho Falls (24-5) to score three unearned runs, including two on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt.
The teams traded runs in the seventh before settling into an extended extra-inning affair Rasmussen finally ended in the 12th.
“We just kept fighting and didn’t give up,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen’s blast extended an underdog run for the Mavericks. Mountain View mounted one of the most dominant seasons in Idaho history to win the 2019 state title. But it entered this spring with limited expectations with one returning starter from that title team.
That convinced the 5A SIC’s coaches to pick Mountain View to finish fourth in the 11-team league in a preseason poll. The Mavericks finished fourth at last week’s district tournament. But the they proved Thursday the road to a state title still runs through them by upsetting the East Idaho champ.
“It’s something we kind of embraced,” Rasmussen said. “A lot of people came into this one doubting us this year. We just had to push extra hard to get everyone going.”
Mountain View also entered the state tournament without its veteran head coach. Matt Rasmussen was suspended after the Mavericks exceeded the maximum number of games allowed under state rules, West Ada School District Athletic Director Jason Warr said.
Timberline 12, Kuna 5: Timberline (22-3) had to scratch out a 1-0 win over the Kavemen the last time they faced each other in April. But the Wolves had no such troubles Thursday.
The Wolves batted around in the bottom of the first inning, plating eight runs to take a commanding lead they never surrendered.
“Once one guy hits, the other guys keep going,” Timberline senior Greyson Shafer said. “And I think we did a great job putting quality ABs together and just kept scoring.”
Shafer led the way, going 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Junior Garcia, Logan Miller and Cooper Sloan all doubled as Timberline racked up 12 hits, including four extra-base hits.
Kuna (13-14) didn’t go down easily though. The Kavemen scored two runs in the second and again in the third, cutting the deficit to 8-4 and forcing Timberline to bring starting pitcher Garrett Miller back to the mound.
Timberline pulled him in the second inning, trying to limit his pitches. But the Wolves needed him as Kuna threatened to rally.
Miller shut the door, earning the win in relief while combining for 3 ⅓ innings and allowing two runs on three hits.
“He rolled with the punches and did just fine,” Timberline coach Casey Coberly said. “He still can pitch on Saturday as well.”
Rocky Mountain 5, Coeur d’Alene 4: Whenever the Grizzlies need a big-time performance, they turn to Jacob Hughes. And the Oregon signee delivered again Thursday.
The right-handed pitcher struck out 12 and held Coeur d’Alene to three runs on eight hits, leading Rocky Mountain back into the state semifinals.
“You can always count on him to be in the zone and compete for his team,” Rocky Mountain coach Stephan Zanoni said. “That’s what he does.
“They might sprinkle in some hits, but he doesn’t let it bother him. He gets right back in attack mode. And every time it seems like there’s a big situation, he finds a way to pick himself out of it.”
All the strikeouts pushed up Hughes’ pitch count, forcing him to leave after five innings. But sophomore Peyton Hines threw the final two innings for the save, giving up just an unearned run while striking out four.
“He’s been really nasty this year,” Hughes said. “... It’s exciting to see him come out and dominate the way he did.”
Eagle 15, Highland 7: The Mustangs capped the SIC’s sweep of the first round, racking up 17 hits and scoring in every inning but the third to dispatch Highland (18-11).
Eagle (20-6) jumped out to a 6-2 lead after the second inning. And it never slowed down, continuing to attack pitches, steal bases and tack on runs.
“It’s been a model of ours — all gas, no brakes,” Eagle coach Nick Stelzner said. “When you have somebody against the ropes, you don’t want to give anybody a puncher’s chance.”
Senior Chase Hilde led the onslaught, going 3-for-5 with three doubles and two RBIs. Danny May went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Lance Pike finished 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
The win sets up a rematch with rival Rocky Mountain, which is 2-0 against the Mustangs this season.
4A STATE TOURNAMENT
Columbia 5, Pocatello 3: Cam Wirtz scored the winning run on a passed ball in the top of the seventh inning, and, moments later, Mateo Scott added an insurance run with an RBI single to lift Columbia into the state semifinals for the second time in program history.
Columbia trailed 3-1 after four innings before rallying for the win.
Ethan DiGiacomo threw 3 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief for the win, scattering three hits.
The Wildcats (14-11) advance to face Canyon Ridge at 4 p.m. Friday at the College of Southern of Idaho for a spot in Saturday’s state championship game.
Bishop Kelly 8, Sandpoint 5 (9 innings): The Knights (20-5) scored four runs in the top of the ninth to advance to the state semifinals.
Caden Casagrande hit a two-run double in the inning, one of his three doubles on the afternoon. Hadley Smith added another double to bring in Casagrande.
Bishop Kelly will face Twin Falls (21-6) at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals.
Canyon Ridge 7, Ridgevue 5 (8 innings): Ridgevue’s Easton Amundson ripped a three-run double in the bottom of the eighth. But that wasn’t enough to overcome the five runs Canyon Ridge scored in the top half of the inning.
Amundson added another double for Ridgevue (15-11), making its first appearance at state. The Warhawks fall into the consolation bracket, where they face Pocatello (13-11-2) at 10 a.m. Friday.
3A STATE TOURNAMENT
Fruitland 6, South Fremont 4: Dawson McGraw’s two-run triple in the top of the sixth broke a 4-4 tie and lifted the Grizzlies (18-9) into the semifinals on their home field.
McGraw finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Teammate Zane Bidwell went 2-for-4 with a double, and he threw two scoreless innings for the win.
Fruitland faces Snake River (13-12) in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Friday. Snake River beat Bonners Ferry 14-13.
Weiser 12, Marsh Valley 10 (8 innings): Beau Shields cranked a three-run, walk-off home run to lead the Wolverines to an upset of previously undefeated Marsh Valley (24-1), the defending state champ.
Weiser (22-7) racked up 16 hits to overcome five errors. Koda Coers doubled and drove in three runs. And Brett Spencer and Willy Shirts each tallied three hits.
Weiser advances to face Kimberly (19-3-1) in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday at Fruitland.
Kimberly 7, Homedale 5: Kimberly jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the fourth and held off a comeback from the Trojans (16-11).
Sigmund Goode went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs to lead Homedale.
2A STATE TOURNAMENT
Nampa Christian 12, Bear Lake 2 (5 innings): The Trojans (24-0) extended their perfect season and rolled into the semifinals.
Brent Clapier earned the win on the mound and went 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs. Landon Cheney and Carson Atwood each finished 3-for-3.
Nampa Christian will face Declo (15-4) at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Pocatello’s Halliwell Park in the semifinals. Declo beat Firth 4-0.
Grangeville 2, Melba 1 (8 innings): Jarod Lindsley’s walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the eighth inning eliminated Melba from championship contention.
Henry Clark took the loss for Melba (14-9), allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits while striking out nine. He also doubled and drove in a run.
This story was originally published May 20, 2021 at 3:16 PM.
