Timberwolves have state-title ingredients
The Lake City High baseball team has the ingredients to have a successful trip to the State 5A tournament this week.
How successful? State-title successful.
Pitching? The Timberwolves have the equivalent of two aces and as many as nine healthy arms in the event they play deep into the tourney.
Hitting? How does outscoring opponents 126-51 in their last 14 games, 13 of which were wins.
Defense? The T-Wolves have been more than adequate behind their pitchers.
Confidence? How does going 5-0 against perennial power Lewiston sound.
Expectations? The only expectations they go into state with are what they’ve placed on themselves. As far as the state field is concerned, there’s no reason for any fingers to be pointed at LC. This is just the second trip to state in the school’s 10-year history.
LC (19-7) will meet Capital of Boise (18-7), the third-place finisher from District III, in a state opener today at noon PDT at Borah High School.
In other openers, Borah (22-5) meets Highland (21-5), Twin Falls (23-5) faces Lewiston (20-7) and Timberline (22-5) goes against Meridian (13-15).
LC goes to state riding a seven-game winning streak. The T-Wolves have outscored their last six opponents 66-14.
As far as LC senior pitcher/outfielder Dan Lau is concerned, the T-Wolves have accomplished much by winning league and regional titles.
“This means we’re a contender and we finally proved that to everybody,” Lau said. “People have had their doubts. A lot of people picked us to finish third out of the three teams.”
Lewiston coach Tom Grunenfelder needs no more proof. He’s seen first hand how well LC has played as his team lost all five games against the T-Wolves.
“They’ve got two good pitchers and pitching is what it’s all about when you get down there (to state),” Grunenfelder said. “And you need a little luck. Teams from the North have always done pretty well down there.”
And the T-Wolves head to state feeling well about themselves.
“We have plenty of talent to win it (state),” said K.C. McDonald, who leads LC in hitting at .418.
Senior pitcher Adam Capaul, who takes a 6-0 record to state, agrees.
“It’s hard to beat us when we’re doing everything right,” Capaul said.
3A
First-year Timberlake coach Tracy Turrell knows the theory.
The one that says a team can’t experience success at state until it’s been there a few times. Well, here’s what Turrell thinks about that theory as he takes the Tigers to state for the first time: That’s a bunch of malarkey.
“All I know is we’re planning on coming back with a (state title),” Turrell said matter of factly. “As far as I’m concerned we’re one of the teams to beat.”
Timberlake (20-3) cruised to Intermountain League and District I titles. The Tigers will take on Preston this afternoon at 2:30 at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore.
Lakeland (16-11), which earned a state berth with a play-in win, meets Bear Lake in another opener at noon. In the other openers, Filer takes on South Fremont and defending state champ Wood River plays Middleton.
Timberlake takes a lineup that’s proven, from top to bottom, it can hit. And if the Tigers play three games, they’ll trot out three undefeated pitchers – Bobby Miller (8-0), Josh Lander (7-0) and Matt Barnhouse (4-0).
“These seniors have great maturity,” Turrell said. “Pressure’s not a big deal to us. They’re used to pressure. All this is is a different setting and another day. I don’t see us backing down to anybody.”
4A
Sandpoint didn’t finish third in the Inland Empire League by accident.
The Bulldogs struggled initially under first-year coach Dave Siemsen. But slowly things came together, capped by a regulsr-season doubleheader sweep of Post Falls and followed by a victory over Post Falls in the regional final.
Sandpoint also had quality wins over State 5A tourney-bound Lake City and Lewiston.
The Bulldogs (12-12) open state today against Kuna (16-10) at Rodeo Park in Nampa at noon PDT. In other openers, Century meets Madison, Hillcrest takes on Caldwell and Mountain Home meets defending state champ Jerome.