5A SIC baseball preview: The league is loaded again. These are its top contenders
The 5A Southern Idaho Conference proved its mettle at the baseball state tournament a year ago, claiming all four spots in the semifinals for the second consecutive time.
Doing that again remains a tall task. But the Treasure Valley-based league enters the season with plenty of loaded contenders. And after a season in which two teams predicted to struggle challenged deep into May, don’t discount anyone.
These are the top teams and players to watch this spring, as detailed by coaches in the area.
THE FAVORITE
TIMBERLINE
Last season: 24-3, 14-1 5A SIC
Coach: Casey Coberly, fourth season
Players to watch: Kailer Saunders, sr., UTIL; Carter Walsh, jr., UTIL; Logan Miller, sr., INF/P; Garrett Miller, sr., INF/P
The reigning conference, district and state champs start the season with a wealth of talent as they seek to sweep all three titles again. That includes six players already committed to a college program headlined by Logan Miller, an Oregon State commit.
The Wolves return their top three pitchers in Walsh (6-1, 1.24 ERA), Saunders (6-0, 1.50 ERA) and Garrett Miller (7-0, 1.60 ERA). And if Logan Miller can return to the mound full time, opponents better get used to heading back to the dugout in quick order.
A potent lineup has a few question marks to open the spring. But Saunders (.438, 27 RBIs), Logan Miller (.422, 22 RBIs) and Walsh (.304) are an awfully potent trio to build around.
THE CONTENDERS
EAGLE
Last season: 21-7, 10-5 5A SIC
Coach: Brett Valley, first season
Players to watch: Vincent Massa, sr., P; Josiah Shubert, sr., P; Cohen Hoover, sr., OF; Hayden Chambers, jr., INF/P
The defending state runner-up doesn’t return a single first- or second-team all-conference pick. But the Mustangs have six returning starters and plenty of talent to contend again.
Eagle brings back two of its top three arms from a year ago in Massa (1.99 ERA) and Shubert (4.88 ERA). That luxury and a strong bullpen ensure the Mustangs have the pitching to make a deep postseason run.
Graduation losses pose a challenge in the lineup, though. Hoover (.311) returns as the veteran hand, and look for a breakout season from Chambers, who hit .571 in 11 games last spring.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Last season: 23-6, 12-3 5A SIC
Coach: Stephan Zanoni, first season
Players to watch: Conor Christiansen, sr., INF; Peyton Hines, jr., P/OF; Patrick Gaffney, jr., P/INF; Luke Hines, sr., P/OF
Graduation cost the Grizzlies five first-team all-conference members and left just three returning starters. But the state’s defending third-place finisher still has plenty of talent to contend deep into May.
Christiansen (.362, two home runs, 24 RBIs) remains one of the league’s most feared hitters. He started raking as a freshman and never stopped. And he’ll have plenty of base runners to drive in with Luke Hines (.322), Peyton Hines (.357) and Braden Lewis (.415) around him.
Zanoni said Rocky Mountain could be even better on the mound with a deep staff led by Dillon Schumacher (3.71 ERA), Peyton Hines (4.55 ERA) and Luke Hines (4.14 ERA).
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Last season: 19-12, 9-5 5A SIC
Coach: Matt Rasmussen, 19th season
Players to watch: Brody Rasmussen, sr., OF; Jack Barker, jr., OF; Will Grizzle, so., P/1B; Coy Clements, so., C
The loss of conference player of the year Brooks Rasmussen certainly leaves a hole. But the Mavericks ought to be even better offensively with six returning starters and a lineup with no breaks from top to bottom, Matt Rasmussen said.
Brody Rasmussen (.478, 34 runs) stands as one of the top reasons for that confidence after a first-team all-conference season. Look for Barker (.373), Grizzle (.500) and Clements (.286) to spend all spring bringing him across the plate.
Grizzle (5-1, 1.30 ERA) proved to be a revelation as a freshman pitcher last season. Blake Logsdon (2-4, 3.24 ERA) also returns after leading the team in innings. But varsity experience on the mound remains in short supply behind them.
THE DARK HORSES
SKYVIEW
Last season: 17-9-1, 9-6 5A SIC
Coach: Ryan Bobo, 18th season
Players to watch: TerRyck Pennington, sr., OF/P; Caden Tucker, jr., C; Caden Yesford, so., INF; Dylan Gonzalez, jr., P/OF
Picked to finish last in the 5A SIC a year ago, the Hawks surprised everyone with a young lineup. Now they return completely intact.
Pennington (.362, two home runs, 16 RBIs) and Yesford (.342, 21 RBIs) can change the game with a single swing. Tucker (.392) serves as another coach behind the dish. And Gonzalez (2-1, 4.06 ERA) returns at the head of a pitching staff that didn’t lose anyone who threw a single inning a year ago.
But to take the next step, Bobo said Skyview will have to become more consistent at the plate.
CENTENNIAL
Last season: 7-16-1, 6-5 5A SIC
Coach: Brian Champion, ninth season
Players to watch: Kyle Schabot, sr., SS; Dryden Polski, jr., P; Luke Botts, sr., 3B/P; Korey Elias, sr., OF
The Patriots are still searching for their first state tournament berth since 2011. They only return four starters from a year ago but turn to a mix of slick-fielding infielders and pitching to make a push for that elusive postseason spot.
Schabot, a Saint Martin’s (NCAA Division II) signee, hit .350 last year and enters as the unquestioned field general. He and Botts (.300) lock down the left side of the infield. And the left-handed Polski (1-5, 3.50 ERA) impressed with his velocity and composure as a sophomore.
KUNA
Last season: 13-15, 5-9 5A SIC
Coach: Dominic Bouvier, first season
Players to watch: Kevin Brekke, sr., 3B/P; Nicholas Fontaine, sr., P/1B; Kason O’Neil, jr., 1B/P; Aiden Harrington, sr., INF
The Kavemen were picked 10th out of 11 teams last year before making a run to the state tournament. But with a new coach and just three returning starters, the Kavemen will have to earn respect all over again.
Bouvier said he can rely on a deep stable of arms that includes Brekke (1.29 ERA), Fontaine (9.06 ERA) and O’Neil (7.67 ERA). O’Neil also provides a big bat after hitting .391 as a sophomore. But a fresh-faced lineup will have to grow up on the fly.
OWYHEE
Last season: 0-0, 0-0 5A SIC
Coach: Russ Wright, first season
Players to watch: Ryder Cutlip, so., P/OF; Cole Rohlmeier, jr., SS/P; Jack Ryan, jr., CF/P; Nick McDaniel, jr., P
The first-year program made a splashy hire in Wright, who led Fruitland (3A) to eight state titles in 10 years and Minico (4A) to eight state tournament appearances in nine seasons.
He starts with a program full of youth and inexperience. Rohlmeier, who hit .324 at Rocky Mountain last season, is the only player with varsity starting experience. But he said the Storm should have a deep pitching staff, and the team has impressed him offensively so far.
THE UNDERDOGS
BORAH
Last season: 11-10, 7-7 5A SIC
Coach: Scott Freeman, first season
Players to watch: Ethan Gardner, sr., CF/P; Teagan Rogers, sr., P; Lance Anderson, jr., SS; Jake Robinson, jr., P
The Lions may only return five starters. But those five include their leading hitter, Gardner (.408, 13 RBIs), and their top three pitchers from a year ago. That’s not a bad place to begin a rebuild.
Rogers (2.50 ERA), Robinson (6.24 ERA) and Korbin McCarney (1.70 ERA) all proved they belong on a varsity mound a year ago. Freeman said Borah still has work to do defensively in the infield. But a deep and veteran pitching staff ought to create some easy ground balls.
CAPITAL
Last season: 10-16, 4-10 5A SIC
Coach: Trey Cochran, first season
Players to watch: Charlie Vega, jr., C; Cooper Layne, jr., P; Boomer Collins, fr., INF/P; TJ Collins, jr., OF/P
The perennial contender fell on hard times last year, going two-and-out at the district tournament. But the Eagles return six starters as they seek to climb back up the conference standings.
That includes plenty of potent bats with Vega (.302), TJ Collins (.324) and Josh Summers (.323, 21 RBIs) leading the way alongside a projected impact freshman, Boomer Collins. But proven pitching options remain in short supply behind Layne (3-1, 4.03 ERA).
MERIDIAN
Last season: 7-20-1, 3-12 5A SIC
Coach: Kurt Alderman, first season
Players to watch: Not available
The Warriors did not respond to multiple requests to participate in the Statesman’s preview.
BOISE
Last season: 4-19, 1-14 5A SIC
Coach: David Ruffing, third season
Players to watch: Hatcher Hild, sr., P/OF; Dax Coburn, jr., INF/P; Cosmo Lange, jr., INF/P; Cooper Nixon, sr., OF
Little went right for the Brave last year as they fell to the bottom of the conference in wins, runs scored (4.3 per game) and runs allowed (9.3). But Boise returns five starters, three of its top four pitchers and a Division I signee as it tries to mount a comeback.
Hild, a future Wofford pitcher, headlines the group as a two-way threat. Ruffing noted Boise has a long way to go to contend again. But he said it will no longer be an easy win on opponents’ schedules.
This story was originally published March 18, 2022 at 12:55 PM.
