Sixth time proves charm for champion Buhl

When Buhl and Kimberly squared off for the 3A state softball championship Saturday at Ramsey Field, the teams were far from strangers.

Both teams play in the Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference and had played each other four times this season – twice in the regular season and twice in districts, with Kimberly winning all four.

The Bulldogs, who came into the tournament undefeated at 26-0 but lost in the opening round, did it to the Indians again, knocking off their SCIC foe 4-0 in the first championship-round game to force the if-necessary showdown for all the marbles.

But it was there that Buhl had the last laugh – and the championship trophy along with it – as the Indians got four RBIs from freshman left fielder Katherine Hunter in a 5-1 victory.

“It’s so awesome to make it to the state championship game in the first place,” said Hunter, whose team finished 20-10. “And then to have it be them that we’re facing, a team that has forced us to play better and be better all year long, makes it even more special.

“It’s just a great feeling.”

In the first championship-round game, Kimberly freshman ace Nellie Makings fanned 12 Buhl batters and the Bulldogs got all the offense they needed in the fourth on a two-run triple by sophomore shortstop Alex Pfefferle.

“We put ourselves in a hole on the first day,” Kimberly coach Rich Bishop said. “We gave ourselves a long road, and it caught up to us.

“We just seemed a little bit flat in this last game … not to take anything away from Buhl – they played a great tournament.”

Earlier in the day, Kimberly, which finished the season 30-2, eliminated Homedale 5-2. Homedale placed third.