Highland head coach Christian Colonel and his team look on from the dugout during Thursday's Class 5A State Tournament first-round game against Owyhee at Wolfe Field on the campus of the College of Idaho in Caldwell.
Malad catcher Carter Blaisdell tries to get the runner out at home during Thursday's Class 2A State Tournament game against Grangeville Thursday at Halliwell Park in Pocatello.
Highland pitcher Taylor Stringfellow throws from the mound during Thursday's first-round 5A State Tournament game against Owyhee at Wolfe Field on the campus of the College of Idaho in Caldwell.
The Malad baseball team huddles up during a break in the action in Thursday's Class 2A State Tournament game against Grangeville at Halliwell Park in Pocatello.
Highland's Kannon Kunz (2) and Colton Durham (4) have a miscommunication in the outfield during Thursday's Class 5A State Tournament game against Owyhee at Wolfe Field on the Campus of the College of Idaho in Caldwell.
CALDWELL — For three and a half innings, it looked like the Highland baseball team might finally get the monkey off its back and pull a pretty big upset in the process.
But the Rams gave up six runs in the fourth and fifth innings in a 7-4 loss to two-time reigning state champion Owyhee Thursday in the opening round of Class 5A State Tournament at Wolfe Field on the campus of the College of Idaho.
The Rams (21-7) will play Coeur d’Alene (17-11) at 12:30 p.m. Friday back at Wolfe Field in the consolation bracket.
“We’re a good team,” said Highland head coach Christian Colonel, whose team came in having won its last 15 games. “I hope my boys take away that they gave them a good battle. It’s just heartbreaking. But at the same time, we got to regroup tonight and play tomorrow.”
Colton Durham, Hudson John and Cannon Eddie all tallied two hits for Highland, which looked like it might win a first-round game for the first time since 2016. The Rams had the Storm (22-2) on the ropes up 3-1 going into the bottom of the third inning. So much so that they made a pitching change less than two innings in.
But it quickly got away from them after starter Taylor Stringfellow walked one batter and hit another with a pitch to start the fourth. That led to a four-run inning and Owyhee never looked back.
Highland did get the tying run to the plate in Preston Foltz. But he popped up in the infield with two runners on to end the game.
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GRANGEVILLE 8, MALAD 7, 9 INNINGS
The Dragons (14-9) had the game-winning run on.
But Easton Green struck out with two runners on to deny their attempt at the repeat in a gut-wrenching loss Thursday in the opening round of the Class 2A State Tournament at Halliwell Park in Pocatello.
Green, Brady Showell and Ryan Hubbard all logged two hits apiece for the reigning state champions, who erased a 3-1 deficit with four runs in the sixth inning.
Showell also had a nine-strikeout and four-hit showing in seven and one-thirds innings of work on the bump.
Malad will play Cole Valley Christian (21-7) in the consolation round at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
KIMBERLY 4, MARSH VALLEY 0
Tate Whitworth and Cooper Bowman had the only two hits of the day as the reigning Class 3A state champions were shutout in the opening round Thursday at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa.
The Eagles (18-7) will play Parma (7-19) at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the consolation round.
SOFTBALL
POCATELLO 16, WOOD RIVER 0, 5 INNINGS
Miah Lusk allowed just one hit and threw 11 strikeouts in just four innings of work, as the Thunder (22-3) cruised in their Class 4A State Tournament opener Thursday at Lake City High School in Coeur d'Alene.
They will now take on Hillcrest (23-5) at 11:15 a.m. Friday in the next round.
Kaylee Sullivan, Kirstine Kent and Oakley Hirschi all tallied two hits and three RBIs for last year’s state runners-up. Pocatello has now won 16 straight games.
MARSH VALLEY 10, PARMA 8
Lydia Howell recorded three hits, including a double, and a RBI, as the Eagles (15-8) survived a five-run sixth inning to move on to the next round of the Class 3A State Tournament Thursday in Moscow.
Marsh Valley will play top-seeded Kimberly (21-5) in the next round at 11:15 a.m. Friday.
Howell also came in and got the win in the circle by striking out two of the final three batters.
“We jumped out to a big lead early, and I think we let up a little,” Marsh Valley head coach Brandon Larsen said. “They got back into it late. The girls fought hard, and we were able to hold on for the win.”
MALAD 26, SALMON 2, 5 INNINGS
Adley Kimberling hit not one, but two home runs for a game-high six RBIs, as the Dragons (25-0-1) opened their Class 2A title defense in dominant fashion
The four-time reigning state champions will now take on Declo (13-7) in the next round at 11:15 a.m. Friday.
Bostyn Combs also went yard for Malad and drove in four runs.
Logan Maroney had three hits as well, while Liddia Gonzalez earned the win in the circle by giving up just three hits and fanning 10 batters.
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