4A state baseball: Middleton rebounds after 19-game winning streak ended, BK advances
Playing on the same field where it saw its 19-game winning streak snapped a week ago, the Middleton baseball team looked like a No. 1 seed in the 4A state tournament Thursday.
The top-seeded Vikings scored seven runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 14-1 win over No. 8 Jerome that was called after the fifth inning at Bishop Kelly High School.
Middleton coach Bryan Swygart said having to overcome a 5-1 loss to Columbia in the District Three championship game last Thursday may have been the best thing for his team, which will move to the 5A classification in the fall.
“That just created a new hunger for our guys,” Swygart said on Thursday. “We’ve had four unbelievable practices since then and the guys have completely bought in. It was great to come back, face our demons and get after it.”
Despite their loss to Columbia, the Vikings (25-3) earned the No. 1 seed in the state tournament based on MaxPreps rankings. But that was Middleton’s first defeat since March 19, and it stuck with the players.
“I feel like losing that game lit a fire under us, and we were just ready to take it out on somebody,” Middleton catcher Caden Recia said.
Recia brought the final three runs of the first inning across the plate with a double to right field. He finished the game 2-for-2, and Treyton Swygart went 3-for-3 with two RBIs.
“Getting an early lead is a big motivator, and it helps the rest of the game go a lot more smooth,” Treyton Swygart said. “It’s a big confidence boost.”
The Vikings tacked on seven more runs in the third inning, including a three-run double by Micah Mendiola.
The Vikings posted 14 hits Thursday, but they didn’t head into the game focused solely on making contact. Staying disciplined at the plate was a major point of focus, coach Swygart said.
The effort paid off, as Middleton drew five walks on Thursday.
“You don’t want to be swinging at pitches that aren’t your pitch this time of year,” Treyton Swygart said. “Taking those pitches that are borderline can make or break a game.”
Jerome’s lone run was scored thanks to an RBI single by Johnny Ramsey in the top of the third inning. Ramsey also started the game on the mound for the Tigers, but was replaced by Hayden Gilmore in the bottom of the third.
Middleton and Jerome will both be back in action at Bishop Kelly on Friday. The Vikings will take the field at 4 p.m. against No. 4 Twin Falls. Jerome will face Pocatello at 10 a.m. in the consolation bracket.
Bishop Kelly 10, Sandpoint 0: Colin Dempsey and Cooper Cammann combined to pitch a no-hitter, and No. 2 Bishop Kelly shut out No. 7 Sandpoint to earn a spot in the semifinals. The Knights will face Columbia at 7 p.m. on Friday. Sandpoint will face Bonneville at 1 p.m.
Bishop Kelly carried a 2-0 lead into the fifth inning on Thursday before scoring eight runs in the frame. Cammann, Caden Casagrande, AJ Jones and Jackson Hatch all posted two base hits for the Knights. Cammann finished 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBI. Casagrande and Carter Vandenberg also finished with two RBI.
Columbia 9, Bonneville 6: No. 6 Bonneville put five runs across in the first inning and went into the second with a 6-0 lead, but No. 3 Columbia came roaring back with seven runs in its half of the inning, including a grand slam by Caden Campa. Pitcher Mario DeLeon started for Columbia and struck out nine while giving up six hits in 6.2 innings.
Bonneville was led at the plate by Davin Luce, who finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI. Crew Howell knocked in two runs.
Twin Falls 7, Pocatello 1: Nolan Hardesty pitched a complete game, striking out 13 and giving up just three hits to lead Twin Falls into the state semifinals. Pocatello scored a run in the first inning and held a 1-0 lead until Twin Falls plated a pair of runs in the fifth. The Bruins tacked on five more runs in the seventh thanks to hits by Bryce Mahlke, Gary Ford, Drew Thompson and Luke Moon.
This story was originally published May 19, 2022 at 2:19 PM.
