North Idaho Joins Fast Lane In State Aaa Softball

North Idaho’s entrants - Lake City, Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston - take part in their first State A-1 fastpitch tournament this weekend.

But it’s the second state tourney for Boise-area teams.

Capital won the first tournament last year (Boise-area teams only), and the Eagles return.

Before fastpitch came on the scene, Coeur d’Alene owned slowpitch (13 straight state titles).

Another CdA team, Lake City, hopes to start a streak of its own today when the state tourney begins in Caldwell.

LC (23-3 overall) takes on Caldwell (10-10), while CdA (13-14) meets Nampa (18-5). Both games begin at 5 p.m. PDT on adjoining diamonds at Gabiola Fields.

The Timberwolves and Capital are the favorites, and that’s just fine with LC coach Dwight Wilson.

“I like our attitude and the way we’re playing right now,” said Wilson, whose team handled CdA 12-1 in a run-rule-shortened regional title game Saturday.

CdA coach Larry Bieber’s team fell to Lewiston 7-6 in a regional seeding game, but he considers his team a state contender.

“We have the capability of being good,” Bieber said.

If the difference in the faster-paced game comes down to pitching, LC could have the advantage.

T-Wolves senior Kelly Nelson (14-1) has a .286 ERA and has allowed 36 hits and just one walk in 98 innings while striking out 120.