6A, 5A SIC softball preview: Picking the teams to beat, contenders and sleepers
Simply put, the road to a state softball championship runs through the Southern Idaho Conference.
A Treasure Valley team has won 11 straight titles in the state’s top high school classification. And a Boise-area team brought home a championship nine of the past 10 years in the second division.
So who will it be this year? We surveyed the coaches of both leagues to conduct a preseason coaches’ poll and analyzed their answers for the team-by-team previews below.
6A SIC SOFTBALL RANKINGS
1. OWYHEE
Last season: 28-1, 11-0 6A SIC
Coach: John Carpenter, second season
Players to watch: Hailey Brennan, jr., P; Hailey Bock, so., P; Grace Groulx, so., CF; Kendi Garrett, so., C
Outlook: The Storm lost 10 seniors off last year’s state championship team. But Owyhee still returns six starters from a young group that has set its eyes on a fifth straight trip to the state finals. The “Killer B’s” of Brennan and Bock give Owyhee a pair of ace pitchers, which led to 8-of-12 first-place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll. Both were first-team all-state picks last year as Brennan (10-0, 0.93 ERA), a Boise State commit, led all classifications in ERA for a second straight year. Graduation cost Owyhee most of its sluggers, but Groulx (.393 batting average), Bock (.356) and Garrett provided plenty of potent bats to keep the Storm atop the conference.
2. EAGLE
Last season: 19-7, 8-3 6A SIC
Coach: Tim Souza, first season
Players to watch: Peyton Bargen, sr., P/UTIL; Erin Thoreson, jr., 2B; Ellie McManigal, sr., SS/C; Alyssa Orchard, sr., OF
Outlook: The Mustangs were the only team to beat Owyhee last season. And with six returning starters and a new coach with four state titles under his belt, the reigning district champ stands as the top challenger again. Bargen, an Idaho State commit, returns as one of the state’s top two-way threats, earning a first-team All-Idaho spot last year by going 15-6 with a 2.39 ERA while hitting .543 with 15 home runs. She’ll have plenty of help in the lineup with McManigal (.341, 13 home runs), Thoreson (.366) and Orchard (.362) returning alongside her. Finding a second pitcher to take pressure off Bargen would go a long way toward another district title and a state tournament run.
3. MOUNTAIN VIEW
Last season: 19-8, 8-3 6A SIC
Coach: Kylie Orr, third season
Players to watch: Brooke Austin, jr., 1B; Aleynah Vega, sr., INF; Ali Knowles, sr., INF; Emersen Lukoic, sr., UTIL
Outlook: The Mavericks lost 11 seniors from last year’s state runner-up squad, leaving just two returning starters and fresh faces all around the diamond. But that doesn’t mean Mountain View lacks talent. Austin (.353, seven home runs) and Vega (.258, four home runs) provide a pair of sluggers in the middle of the lineup, and Knowles (.459, three home runs) was a 5A second-team all-state selection at Vallivue last year. Orr said a slick-fielding infield will keep the Mavericks in games all season long. How consistently Mountain View can score runs will determine how far it goes.
4. BOISE
Last season: 12-11, 4-7 6A SIC
Coach: Bryan Sweesy, second season
Players to watch: Kamryn Newbery, so., SS/C; Kate Walsh, jr., OF; Kira Anderson, so., P/1B; Lucy Hopstad, jr., OF
Outlook: The Brave haven’t qualified for the state tournament since 2018. But eight returning starters and a potent offense make Boise a trendy pick to make it back. Newbery (.456, 10 home runs), Walsh (.356) and Anderson (.338) all return as proven bats in a lineup that scored 9.8 runs per game last year, tied with Owyhee for the most in the league. Boise also gets Hopstad back as a three-year starter after a broken arm cut her sophomore season short. But contending late into the season requires pitching, and Boise issued 93 walks last season. Cleaning up those free passes remains a top priority.
5. ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Last season: 16-16, 6-5 6A SIC
Coach: Casey Higginbotham, third season
Players to watch: Tayler Kloczko, sr., CF; Megan McCormick, so., P; Aubrey Sorensen, sr., UTIL
Outlook: The Grizzlies went young last year and still made it to state. Now they get to reap the reward of all that experience with eight returning starters. The graduation of Danica Quinn, the state’s home run leader, leaves a hole in the lineup. But Rocky Mountain remains loaded with Kloczko (.365), McCormick (.351, five home runs) and Sorensen (.398, five home runs) topping a list of 11 returning players with varsity experience. McCormick (5.79 ERA) also returns as the staff ace. But the Grizzlies will need a young pitching staff to mature quickly to challenge the league’s powerhouses.
6. CAPITAL
Last season: 17-14, 4-7 6A SIC
Coach: Shane Alder, 20th season
Players to watch: McKenna Chavez, sr., SS; Olli Fuchs, jr., 3B
Outlook: The Eagles hit the reset button this season with just two returning starters from last year’s state qualifier. One of those returners is Chavez (.573, 10 home runs), a three-time all-state pick and BYU signee. She remains one of the state’s most feared hitters and provides a cornerstone to build around. Fuchs (.197) provides a familiar face alongside her at third base. But the rest of the team will need to prove it can contend at the varsity level quickly. That includes a pitching staff that didn’t throw a single varsity inning last season.
7. CENTENNIAL
Last season: 13-14, 4-7 6A SIC
Coach: Kirk Carpenter, fifth season
Players to watch: Cali Moorhouse, sr., 2B; Bailey Simpson, sr., OF; Josie Moorhouse, so., OF/SS
Outlook: The Patriots bring back a league-high 10 starters searching for their first state tournament berth since 2019. That experienced group includes first-team all-state pick Cali Moorhouse (.563, eight home runs) at the top of a potent lineup that put up nine runs per game last season. But scoring runs was never Centennial’s problem as the Patriots’ pitching staff finished 2025 with an 8.63 ERA. How much Centennial can slash that number will determine if it can end its five-year state tournament drought.
8. TIMBERLINE
Last season: 20-6, 9-2 6A SIC
Coach: Dave Craig, fourth season
Players to watch: Ivy Norskog, so., INF/OF; Breanne Duncan, jr., OF; Grace Catt, jr., C
Outlook: The Wolves graduated nine seniors after bringing home a second-place trophy from district and fourth-place hardware from state. That leaves Norskog (.458) as the only returning starter as Timberline tries to rebuild. She gives the Wolves a versatile piece it can plug and play all over the diamond after an impressive freshman campaign. But Timberline will need a new group to step up quickly to chase more trophies.
9. MERIDIAN
Last season: 11-11, 4-7 6A SIC
Coach: Hailee Ackerman, fourth season
The Warriors did not provide any information on their team.
10. BORAH
Last season: 4-19, 2-9 6A SIC
Coach: Steven Birkby, fourth season
Players to watch: Olyvia Chalifoux, sr., CF; Reese Naylor, sr., UTIL/SS/OF; Justice Pruitt, sr., UTIL/P
Outlook: Two years removed from a state title, the Lions bring back six starters looking to climb back up the standings. Chalifoux (.413, four home runs) leads that group as the last remaining member of that 2024 state championship squad. She’ll team with Naylor (.373) and Pruitt (.310) to anchor the Lions’ lineup. But the Lions still remain young and unproven around the diamond, especially in the pitcher’s circle after posting a 10.88 staff ERA last year.
11. KUNA
Last season: 13-13, 6-5 6A SIC
Coach: Ali Fleenor, fourth season
Players to watch: Ell Wemhoff, jr., SS; Paisley Wiedenfeld, jr., C; Natalee Thornton, so., P
Outlook: The Kavemen begin a youth movement this season with just four returning starters and a host of underclassmen. Wemhoff (.406), Wiedenfeld (.324) and Thornton (.309) return as proven hitters at the 6A level. But the rest of the Kuna lineup won’t have that confidence, leading the Kavemen to move to a small-ball strategy this season. With so many players set to return in 2027, Fleenor said Kuna plans to develop all its young talent and lay the groundwork for a future run.
12. RIDGEVUE
Last season: 0-22, 0-11 6A SIC
Coach: James Porter, first season
Players to watch: Ainhoa Bow, sr., SS/2B; Kendal Holloway, fr., P/INF; Easton Porter, fr., P/INF; Kali McKinzie, fr., OF
Outlook: The Warhawks took their lumps in their first season in Idaho’s top classification, losing every game by an average score of 16.3-3.5. But Ridgevue gets a fresh start with a new coach and two returning starters. Porter said the Warhawks will look to a loaded freshman class to make an immediate impact and build toward the future. Holloway takes over as the ace of the staff and a two-way force, while Porter and McKinzie add two more potent bats.
5A SIC SOFTBALL RANKINGS
1. MIDDLETON
Last season: 25-6, 12-2 5A SIC
Coach: Scott Robertson, first season
Players to watch: Kenadi Whitlow, jr., C/1B; Libby Garcia, so., P; Sydney Qualls, jr., CF; Mekenna Trimmer, jr., P
Outlook: The Vikings start the year as the clear favorites in the 5A SIC, receiving 5-of-6 first-place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll. Middleton brings back a pair of all-state selections and six starters from a squad that finished second at district and fourth at state a year ago. Whitlow (.467, 12 home runs) remains a brick wall behind the plate and a force in the middle of the lineup. And the Vikings return all three pitchers who threw every inning last season, including Garcia (8-0, 1.62 ERA) and Trimmer (5-1, 4.77 ERA). Lefty Sammy Miller also joins the rotation, giving Middleton four viable options and making its depth the envy of the league.
2. SKYVIEW
Last season: 16-16, 8-6 5A SIC
Coach: Bobby Wright, first season
The Hawks did not respond to the Statesman’s preseason survey.
3. VALLIVUE
Last season: 18-7, 10-4 5A SIC
Coach: Kevin Schimmelpfennig, 15th season
Players to watch: Maris Farner, sr., P; Abbie Eggleston, jr., 2B; Sophia Kassotis, so., CF; Kenley Leuthold, jr., OF
Outlook: The league’s top lineup (10.4 runs per game) remains loaded as the Falcons bring back seven starters, and get outfielder Journey Engle (.452) back from injury. Eggleston (.570) leads the murderer’s row lineup after first-team all-state honors last season, with Kassotis (.539, 23 stolen bases) and Leuthold (.442, 19 stolen bases) providing backup and more speed on the basepaths. Farner (3.89 ERA) also returns as a four-year starting pitcher. But the Falcons could start three freshmen in key positions.
4. BISHOP KELLY
Last season: 24-6, 10-4 5A SIC
Coach: Travis Ribordy, third season
Players to watch: Olivia Watt, jr., CF; Gracie Cammann, jr., 1B
Outlook: The Knights only lost one senior from last year’s district and state championship squad. Yet the perennial power finds itself looking up in the preseason rankings with nine returning starters. Watt (.545, 37 stolen bases) headlines that group after earning second-team all-state honors, while Cammann (.435, eight home runs) and sophomores Jaynie Burke (.413) and Kingsley Shea (.398, nine home runs) provide several more experienced bats. But that lone graduated senior, Lauren Fettic, leaves a massive hole as the Knights’ leader, their ace and the reigning 5A state player of the year.
5. NAMPA
Last season: 19-9, 9-5 5A SIC
Coach: Tim Mathson, fourth season
Players to watch: Kaylee Mathson, sr., P; Sarah Reveles, sr., CF; Payten Hutsell, jr., 3B
Outlook: The list of veteran lineups continues as the Bulldogs bring back eight starters. Nampa coach Tim Mathson said that should translate into another strong offense as the Bulldogs averaged 7.6 runs per game last year. Hutsell (.378) anchors that lineup as a three-year starter coming off a first-team all-conference season, while Kaylee Mathson (.373) and Reveles (.321, 23 stolen bases) provide protection. But the Bulldogs don’t feature a lot of depth, and Kaylee Mathson (6.15 ERA) must fill the shoes of Nampa’s graduated ace.
6. CALDWELL
Last season: 9-16, 4-10 5A SIC
Coach: Anissa Godina, second season
Players to watch: Bristol Runnels, jr., P/INF; Rylie Felton, jr., P/OF; Ruby Balderaz, jr., C
Outlook: A returning ace pitcher and a host of dangerous hitters has the Cougars eyeing an underdog run in the loaded 5A SIC. Runnels returns inside the pitcher’s circle after posting a 2.83 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 91 ⅔ innings last year. She’ll give Caldwell a chance day in and day out, and serves as one of the team’s most feared hitters (.384). But she’s just one of six returning starters as Felton (.356) and Balderaz (.290) provide veterans at key positions.
7. EMMETT
Last season: 4-15, 3-11 5A SIC
Coach: Taylor James, first season
Players to watch: Oakley Schiebe, jr., P; Kaycee Pinto, sr., C/1B; Avery Reynolds, jr., C; Cassidy Ford, jr., 3B
Outlook: The Huskies start the season as underdogs. But they bring back one of the league’s top two-way players and add an impact transfer from California. Scheibe (.452, 5.58 ERA) led Emmett in nearly every category last season and headlines a group of five returning starters. Meanwhile, Pinto (.303) adds a big bat to the team after starting the past three seasons at the Coastal Academy in Oceanside, California. But to improve upon last year’s two-and-out performance at district, Emmett will need to prove it can hit top-level pitchers consistently.
8. COLUMBIA
Last season: 0-22, 0-14 5A SIC
Coach: Kerk Larson, first season
The Wildcats did not respond to the Statesman’s preseason survey.
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 4:00 PM.
