Baseball preview: Ranking the top teams, challengers and dark horses in 5A, 4A SIC
The weather may not be agreeable, but Idaho’s high school spring sports season kicked off this week.
We surveyed all of the baseball coaches in the 5A and 4A Southern Idaho Conferences, looking for the teams to beat and top players to watch.
See the full rankings and team-by-team previews in each league below.
5A SIC
1. OWYHEE
Last season: 23-4, 11-1 5A SIC
Coach: Russ Wright, third season
Players to watch: Ryder Cutlip, sr., OF/P; Gage Haws, jr., C/P; Lucas Skinner, sr., P/C; Keagan Kelly, jr., SS
Outlook: The two-time defending state champ returns loaded for another run, grabbing eight of the 13 first-place votes in the 5A SIC preseason coaches’ poll. Graduation may have cost the Storm three first-team All-Idaho selections, but six starters are back, including four college-bound prospects. Cutlip (.415, 20 RBIs) remains one of the state’s most dangerous hitters and has signed with Gonzaga. Haws (.386, 31 RBIs) committed to Utah Valley in December. And Kelly (.274) takes over at shortstop after filling a variety of roles. All three have started on both state championship teams. The only potential cracks come on the mound, where Owyhee lost its top two arms. But Skinner (4-0, 2.84 ERA) headlines a deep group that allows the Storm to dig into their bullpen with no hesitation.
2. MIDDLETON
Last season: 23-7, 11-1 5A SIC
Coach: Bryan Swygart, third season
Players to watch: Treyton Swygart, sr., SS/P; Brock Silvers, jr., CF/P; Ian Lenius, jr., P/OF; Drew Holman, so., C/3B
Outlook: The Vikings lost seven seniors to graduation. Don’t expect the defending district champ to take a step back with three Division I commits on the roster. Portland signee Treyton Swygart, a two-time, first-team All-Idaho selection, remains one of the most feared two-way players in the state. He went 7-0 with a 1.33 ERA on the mound a year ago, and hit .346 with three home runs. Lenius (4-2, 3.10 ERA), a Utah commit, provides another strikeout machine on the mound. And Silvers (.317, four home runs), a Kentucky commit, gives the Vikings a second monster bat to anchor the lineup. The only holes remain in the infield, where Middleton breaks in new faces all around the diamond. But a dominant pitching staff can cover up a lot of that inexperience.
3. MOUNTAIN VIEW
Last season: 17-12, 6-6 5A SIC
Coach: Justin Schneidt, second season
Players to watch: Will Grizzle, sr., P/1B; Conner Marshall, sr., P; Evan Perry, sr., P/3B; Cade Burnham, jr., SS/P
Outlook: The state tournament’s defending third-place finisher returns a boatload of talent and a league-high eight starters. That includes a stacked rotation that accounted for 84% of the Mavericks’ innings pitched last year. Grizzle, an Oregon signee, accounted for only 17 of those innings due to an injury. He’s still working his way back to full strength and will pair with Marshall (7-1, 1.89 ERA) to form a potent one-two duo atop the rotation, while Perry (3-3, 2.82 ERA) provides an enviable third option. Graduation losses left a few holes in the lineup. But the Mavericks’ pitching staff ought to keep them in every game.
4. ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Last season: 19-9, 9-3 5A SIC
Coach: Stephan Zanoni, third season
Players to watch: Colby Chambers, sr., P; Jordan Ellett, sr., OF; Jackson Wendt, jr., 1B
Outlook: The Grizzlies spent a rare May at home during last year’s state tournament. But Rocky Mountain returns six starters and one of the state’s top pitchers looking to make it back. Chambers, a Utah commit, posted a 2.10 ERA and struck out 69 in 39 ⅔ innings a year ago for first-team All-Idaho honors. But he’s not alone on a deep staff. If Rocky Mountain can cut down on strikeouts at the plate and scratch out more than the 5.1 runs it averaged a year ago, look for it to make a deep run into May.
5. TIMBERLINE
Last season: 16-11, 5-7 5A SIC
Coach: Casey Coberly, sixth season
Players to watch: Dean Woods, sr., OF/P; Haiden Delong, sr., P; Aidan Messerschmitt, jr., DH/1B
Outlook: The perennial power needed to win a play-in game just to qualify for the district tournament last spring. But the Wolves mounted a late-season run to make it to state and return three starters from that late-blooming team. Woods (6.42 ERA) and Delong (0.76 ERA) give Timberline two solid arms atop what Coberly called a deep rotation. Messerschmitt (.349, 15 RBIs) will anchor the lineup, which Coberly said fields more power and depth this year. But the Wolves will need several unproven players to step into new roles with so little varsity experience returning.
6. EAGLE
Last season: 18-9, 8-4 5A SIC
Coach: Scott Deck, first season
Players to watch: Bryson Shea, sr., P/INF; Jimmy Flynn, sr., C/1B; Caleb Zawadzki, so., P/INF
Outlook: Deck is the defending state consolation champs’ fourth coach in the past five years. But he inherits plenty of tools with seven returning starters and four college commits. That veteran list includes Eagle’s top two hitters from a year ago, Flynn (.373) and Shea (.360). It also features Zawadzki, who led the Mustangs in wins (six) and ERA (2.04) as a freshman. Eagle will need to develop a few more arms after losing two of its top three pitchers to graduation. But the pieces remain in place for another state tournament run.
7. BORAH
Last season: 13-8, 7-5 5A SIC
Coach: Tony Zaragoza, first season
Players to watch: Brady Robinson, jr., INF/P; Tate Kubena, jr., C/P; Jacob Detwiler, sr., INF/P
Outlook: The Lions return just three starters and will field new faces all over the diamond. But they won’t have to worry about who eats up innings. Zaragoza said he starts the season with three quality arms, including Robinson (0.00 ERA) and Detwiler (3.59), who both threw key innings last season. Robinson (.353) will also hit leadoff and headline the infield, and Kubena (.308) provides a veteran presence behind the plate. But expect a young group to experience growing pains early in the schedule.
8. KUNA
Last season: 10-13, 6-6 5A SIC
Coach: Dominic Bouvier, third season
Players to watch: Jaden Estrada, sr., OF/P; Jackson Edwards, so., SS/P; Alex Whitt, jr., SS/P
Outlook: The Kavemen took a step forward last season, scoring a win at district. Now they bring back five starters looking to go even further. Estrada leads the group as a Yakima Valley CC commit, and Kuna returns several young veterans in Edwards (.299) and Whitt (.367) who’ve already proved themselves at the varsity level. But finding pitching remains the largest question mark after the Kavemen’s four leaders in innings pitched graduated.
9. CENTENNIAL
Last season: 7-16, 4-8 5A SIC
Coach: Brian Champion, 12th season
Players to watch: Tate Keddington, jr., P/OF; Jaden Belton, jr., P/OF; Cannon Haws, so., P/3B; Stryker Eldred, jr., P
Outlook: Youth remains the name of the game for the Patriots, who return just four starters. But that youth includes plenty of talent. Belton led the team in batting average (.327), wins (four), innings pitched (37 ⅓) and ERA (2.06) a year ago as a sophomore. He and Keddington (1-2, 3.99 ERA) give Centennial two bona fide arms to rely on. But finding consistent run production remains the largest hurdle.
10. MERIDIAN
Last season: 10-13, 4-8 5A SIC
Coach: Kurt Alderman, third season
Players to watch: Caleb Boydston, jr., UTIL; Mikkeal Orosco, sr., C; Mason Smith, sr., P/CF; Trey Allen, sr., 3B/P
Outlook: The Warriors went young two years ago, limping to a 2-19 record. But an eight-win improvement last season and seven returning starters has Meridian eyeing an underdog run this spring. All that experience breeds a sure-handed infield that Alderman called one of the best in the Treasure Valley. But Meridian will need more consistent at-bats and production up and down the lineup to play deep into May.
11. BOISE
Last season: 4-15, 2-10 5A SIC
Coach: Jeff Prihode, first season
Players to watch: Evan Brown, sr., SS; Pete Bacon, sr., C; Michael Myers, jr., P; Paul Zaragoza, sr., 1B
Outlook: The Brave stumbled to their fourth straight losing season last spring, finishing last in the 5A SIC. But Boise returns five starters as it seeks to climb out of the cellar. That includes a solid foundation with Brown (.321) at shortstop and Bacon (.273) at catcher. Prihode said the Brave have plenty of gap-to-gap power up and down the lineup. But Boise will need to shore up its defense and pitching staff to contend again.
12. CAPITAL
Last season: 8-15, 3-9 5A SIC
Coach: Trey Cochran, third season
Players to watch: Caden Werner, jr., INF/P; Cohen Souba, sr., OF/P; Adam Spiers, sr., OF/P
Outlook: Walks remain the ultimate killer. The Eagles issued 132 free passes in 136 innings last year, leading to a 5A SIC-high 8.5 runs allowed per game. Any return to contention starts with improved command. But Capital returns Werner, its leader in wins (five) and appearances, to top its pitching staff. And Cochran said Capital starts the year with a more cohesive group.
13. NAMPA
Last season: 5-16, 2-10 5A SIC
Coach: Kyler Wells, second season
Players to watch: Bryce Wallingford, sr., SS; Hayden Wade, sr., 1B; Jaxon Wade, so., INF/P; Ryan Wallingford, so., OF/P
Outlook: The Bulldogs took their lumps in their first season back at the 5A level last spring. Nampa remains in rebuilding mode after eight seniors graduated, leaving just four returning starters. Wells said a few young, but talented, players will set the program up for success in the long term. Meanwhile, senior leaders like Bryce Wallingford (.314) and Wade (.238) will show them the ropes and lead by example.
4A SIC
1. SKYVIEW
Last season: 24-5, 11-1 4A SIC
Coach: Ryan Bobo, 20th season
Players to watch: Grady Daniels, sr., 1B/P; Caden Yesford, sr., SS; Gradyen Lucas, sr., P
Outlook: The reigning state runner-up starts the season as the league’s heavy favorite, receiving 4-of-6 first-place votes. It’s not hard to see why with eight returning starters, five college commits and three first-team All-Idaho selections on the roster. Daniels, the reigning league player of the year, headlines a potent lineup that posted 10 runs per game a year ago. The Utah Tech signee hit .494 and returns alongside Noah Palomares (.447) and Yesford (.324). Lucas (3-1, 1.21 ERA) headlines a rotation that returns four of its top five arms ready to chase another trophy.
2. BISHOP KELLY
Last season: 19-8, 8-4 4A SIC
Coach: Jeff Cammann, ninth season
Players to watch: Cooper Cammann, sr., SS/P; Jacob Ricks, sr., INF/OF; Dean Herkenrath, sr., INF; Nathan Rapp, so., P/INF
Outlook: The Knights continued to rack up trophies last year, winning the district crown and finishing third at state. Now they return five starters and a deep pitching staff looking for more hardware. All those arms will allow the Knights to spread out their innings and not rely so heavily on Cooper Cammann (7-2, 2.20 ERA) and Luca Quilici (3-2, 2.40 ERA) again. The lineup remains built around speed with Cooper Cammann (.409, 27 stolen bases) and Herkenrath (.273, 11 stolen bases) terrorizing opponents at the top of the order. But BK will need to still play small ball again to push runs across the plate.
3. RIDGEVUE
Last season: 10-14, 6-6 4A SIC
Coach: Jason Wonderlich, fourth season
Players to watch: Keegan Randall, sr., SS/P; Izaiah Stewart-Kasper, sr., CF; Bryson Oswald, sr., UTIL/P; Jordan McIntyre, sr., P/OF
Outlook: The Warhawks return eight starters after making a run to the district finals last season. That includes five members of a pitching staff that struggled at times last year, but plans to turn that experience into hard-won lessons. McIntyre (4.51 ERA) leads the staff as its top arm, and Randall (.400) remains the heart of the team in the leadoff spot after first-team all-conference honors. He and Stewart-Kasper (.386) were Ridgevue’s top two hitters last year and return for one last run.
T-4. COLUMBIA
Last season: 18-7, 8-4 4A SIC
Coach: Skyler Penrod, first season
Players to watch: Ryan Foster, sr., OF/P; Hunter Christensen, sr., OF/P; Gavin Koslosky, sr., P/INF; Austin Cornell, sr., C/OF
Outlook: Graduation cost the Wildcats six seniors, including several members of the 2022 district championship squad. But Columbia still remains a threat. Koslosky (4-2, 2.40 ERA) will become the staff’s ace as the only returning all-conference selection. Look for Foster (.304) and Christensen (.270) to anchor the lineup, and for Cornell to post a breakout season after waiting behind a three-year starter at catcher. But with just four returning starters, it may take time to fit everyone into their roles.
T-4. EMMETT
Last season: 8-15, 6-6 4A SIC
Coach: Taylor Nicholson, first season
Players to watch: Jase Bade, sr., INF/P; Bryson Kellam, sr., SS/P; Isaac Brennan, sr., LF; Ryder Scheibe, jr., OF/INF/P
Outlook: A youth movement started two years ago results in eight returning starters, a stronger defense and a senior-heavy squad. Bade (.328) leads that group as one of the league’s most feared hitters. Kellam (.262) and Scheibe (.300) provide protection, and Kellam (1-2, 3.15 ERA) takes over as the ace of the pitching staff. But Emmett will need to develop more arms after a few key injuries.
6. CALDWELL
Last season: 6-16-1, 3-9 4A SIC
Coach: Andrew Groves, second season
Players to watch: Zaylor Bruegeman, sr., C/P; Ezyah Ruiz, sr., SS; Eduardo Sauceda, sr., 3B/P; Andreas Carrero, sr., 2B/P
Outlook: Bruegeman remains a bedrock of the Cougars. The four-year starting catcher hit .400 a year ago, led the team in innings pitched (44) and ERA (1.27), and was an all-conference pick at both positions. He’ll have plenty of protection around him in the lineup with Ruiz (.299) and Sauceda (.286). But the Cougars lost two starting pitchers and most of their bullpen to graduation. So Caldwell will need underclassmen to step up to break its six-year streak of losing records.
7. VALLIVUE
Last season: 4-20, 0-12 4A SIC
Coach: Todd Zucker, first season
Outlook: The Falcons did not respond to the Statesman’s preseason survey.
This story was originally published March 7, 2024 at 5:18 PM.
