Idaho state baseball: It will be a Homedale-Fruitland showdown for 4A title
Five Treasure Valley schools put themselves in the running to compete for state baseball titles on Saturday, with Owyhee (6A) and Homedale (4A) still unbeaten.
Homedale will face off against Treasure Valley foe Fruitland at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls for the 4A title, with the game set for 2 p.m. If Fruitland wins it will force a second game at 5 p.m.
Skyview is in the same boat in 5A, needing back-to-back wins over Sandpoint to claim the championship. The title game is set for 2 p.m. in Idaho Falls, with the if-necessary game at 5 p.m.
Here’s a recap of Friday’s developments outside of 6A, where the championship will come down to an Owyhee-Eagle matchup.
IDAHO 5A STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
SKYVIEW BATTLES BACK: The No. 4 seed in the four-team state tournament has decided to put together a bunch of thrilling games as it tries to surprise with a title.
After knocking off top-seeded Bonneville on Thursday, Skyview fell behind 12-0 to No. 2 seed Sandpoint through three innings Friday — only to rally furiously before losing 16-14. The Hawks then trailed Bonneville 7-1 in an elimination game before rallying for an 11-7 victory to send the Bees home.
Skyview gave itself a chance against Sandpoint with a six-run fourth and then a five-run fifth inning, suddenly trailing just 13-11 in a game that seemed out of reach. Five Skyview players recorded two RBIs each in the team effort, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Sandpoint infielder Mason Little’s hitting prowess. Little knocked in seven runs, including a two-run homer in the second inning.
The key to the comeback win over Bonneville was an eight-run fifth inning, part of 10 unanswered runs that stunned the Bees. Ledger Downs had two hits and three RBIs for the Hawks, and he pitched three innings in relief, allowing just three hits. His triple in the fifth inning tied the score at 7 before Skyview vaulted ahead, with Downs scoring what proved to be the winning run.
IDAHO 4A STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
HOMEDALE, FRUITLAND READY FOR REMATCH: Homedale scored a 6-3 win over Fruitland to start the day and knock the Grizzlies into the elimination game, where they easily handled Marsh Valley 11-1 to set up the title matchup.
Fruitland briefly led 2-1 after brothers Cameron and Blake McKinney combined to get two runs on the board in the second inning against Homedale, which responded with runs in three straight innings to take a commanding 6-2 lead into the final frame.
The Grizzlies scored four runs in the first inning to jump ahead of Marsh Valley and added six runs in the third to bring the mercy rule into sight. The game lasted just five innings.
IDAHO 3A STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
MELBA FALLS SHORT: After being shut out in its opening game Thursday, No. 3 Melba returned the favor on Friday morning by shutting out No. 2 Salmon 3-0 in a win-or-go-home game.
The Mustangs led by a run on an RBI single from left fielder Bradyn Albers, and then got breathing room in the fifth inning when third baseman Cooper Brooks and center fielder Aden Harrington batted in a pair of two-out runs.
Pitcher Colter Bodily threw the shutout, allowing just four hits and one walk.
However, the Mustangs’ state run came to an end with a 13-5 loss to Malad. The score was 4-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, when Malad scored three runs to take control, before adding six runs in the sixth inning. Right fielder Jack Emery was the only Melba hitter to have multiple hits, with a single in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the sixth.
IDAHO 2A STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
KENDRICK 10, NORTH STAR 4: North Star’s season came to a close on Friday afternoon with a loss. After a tight 5-4 loss to No. 1 Potlatch on Thursday, the Huskies were unable to keep pace Friday with No. 2 Kendrick, which led the game from wire to wire.
North Star shortstop and relief pitcher Jace Irwin tied for a game-high three hits, including an RBI single in the fifth inning.
This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 10:58 PM.
