Boise Blasts Cda To Win State Title Defending Champs Too Much

For a third straight game at the State A-1 baseball tournament, Coeur d’Alene High was involved in a hitting exhibition.

It was defending champion Boise putting on the clinic, though, as the Braves sent the Vikings home early with an 11-1 victory via the 10-run rule Saturday evening to win another state title.

After scoring 27 runs in their two wins, the Vikings managed just one against Boise’s top starter, Dave Schultz (10-1), who carries a 4.3 grade-point average and is headed to Harvard to play baseball.

Not every starter got a hit for Boise; it only seemed like they all did.

Three Braves had three hits each, but no hits were bigger than Casey Macomb’s. In Boise’s eight-run, seven-hit outburst in the third, Macomb came up twice and twice took balls out of Boise’s home park at Les Bois Junior High School.

Macomb’s first, a leadoff homer, didn’t hurt the Viks too badly. The last one, a grand slam, gave the Braves the 10-run margin.

Boise, which collected its fourth state title in the 1990s under CdA native and coach Larry Price, finished the season at 28-2. The Viks stop at 19-6.

Vik sophomore pitcher Kirk Gosch was pulled after Macomb’s grand slam. But Gosch actually had the best start of CdA’s three games.

“He (Gosch) threw strikes and they just hit the snot out of it,” CdA coach Brian Holgate said.

The Viks were stunned when the Braves ran onto the field after CdA’s at bats in the top of the fifth. Holgate didn’t know that the game was being played with the 10-run rule.

But CdA’s players were mostly still rattled by a foul ball in their final at-bat that struck Jim Rupp just above his left lip and below the cheek bone.

The ball screamed off the bat and dropped Rupp instantly. He was motionless for about 30 seconds before jumping up and throwing his helmet down and running to the dugout.

Rupp’s parents were sure their son hadn’t suffered any dental damage, but took his to an emergency care center as a precaution.

Boise proved it was clearly the best team in the state.

And Holgate hopes his program can reach the Braves’ level. “We know where we have to get,” he said. “I feel bad for the seniors because it hurts to lose. But that’s a very good team. They rolled through us. It happens. We ran into a buzz saw.”

Vik shortstop Nick Rook, a starter on CdA’s state runner-up team two years ago, expected to win this time.

“Obviously you can’t be satisfied with second,” Rook said. “You feel fortunate to get here, but I’m not satisfied with this.”

To an extent, Holgate agreed.

“At this moment, I’m not sure (if I’m satisfied),” Holgate said. “Ask me in a week and maybe I’ll appreciate it more.”

The Braves won by the run-rule over Lake City, 12-0, in the semifinals.

Boise 11, Coeur d’Alene 1

Coeur d’Alene 001 00 - 1 4 3

Boise 218 0x - 11 12 1

Gosch, Johnston (3) and Ross; Schultz and Kurtz. W-Schultz (10- 1). L-Gosch (2-1). HITS: Coeur d’Alene- Rook 2, Gosch, Gore. Boise-Macomb 3, Wong 3, Zaragosa 3, Robinson 2, Yanke. HR-Macomb 2 (9). 3B-Wong. 2B: Gosch, Zaragosa, Macomb.

Skyline 7, Lake City 2

In the game for third and fifth places, the Grizzlies of Idaho Falls prevailed.

Skyline came back with its ace, J.J. Newman (12-0), who tossed a one-hitter and struck out 11. And he helped his own cause with a solo homer in the third to put the Grizzlies up 2-0.

LC actually tied it at 2 in the fifth. Scott Moglia knocked in a run to account for the T-Wolves’ lone hit.

Skyline ended at 26-1, its one loss coming to CdA in the semifinals Friday. LC finishes 14-12.

LC outfielder Rex Anderson had praise for Newman.

“He mixed a good curveball with his fastball, which made him even tougher,” Anderson said. “Not to mention the guy could hit.”

LC won a game at state, something many thought wasn’t possible before the tourney.

“We showed a lot of class down here,” LC outfielder/pitcher Tyson Harlin said. “We had one heck of a season.”

Skyline 7, Lake City 2

Lake City 000 110 0 - 2 1 1

Skyline 101 023 x - 7 11 1

Harlin, Sc. Moglia (5), Moering (6) and Merk; Newman and Gernant. W-Newman (12-0). L-Harlin (1-4). HITS: Lake City-Sc. Moglia. Skyline-Davis 3, Gernant 3, Baird, Stosich, Newman, White, Miller. HR-Newman, Davis. 3B-Baird. 2B-Gernant 2. , DataTimes