State baseball
5A
When: Today through Saturday
Where: Borah High School, Boise
2006 state champ: Lewiston
Schedule: Game 1 – Twin Falls (19-6) vs. Lewiston (23-5); G2 – Mountain View (20-8) vs. Boise (19-6); G3 – Timberline (20-6) vs. Idaho Falls (15-12); G4 – Lake City (19-6) vs. Caldwell (12-15).
Noteworthy: Lake City, Lewiston, Twin Falls and Timberline are in the mix for the state title. … If LC and Idaho Falls win their openers, it would be a semifinal showdown between coaching brothers – Cory Bridges at LC and John Bridges at IF. … The Bridges and Timberline coach Larry Price are Coeur d’Alene High graduates.
4A
When: Today through Saturday
Where: Bishop Kelly High School, Boise
2006 state champ: Sandpoint
Schedule: Game 1 – Rigby (11-14) vs. Columbia (16-12); G2 – Nampa (14-12) vs. Century (11-10); G3 – Sandpoint (15-11) vs. Jerome (25-4); G4 – Minico (22-7) vs. Bishop Kelly (22-4).
Noteworthy: Sandpoint, Bishop Kelly, Jerome and Nampa are considered state title contenders. … A rematch of last year’s state final should occur in the semifinals between Sandpoint and BK. The Bulldogs rallied from a 6-2 deficit to knock off the Knights 8-6.
3A
When: Today through Saturday
Where: Treasure Valley Community College at Ontario, Ore.
2006 state champ: Bear Lake
Schedule: Game 1 – Priest River (12-10) vs. Bear Lake (21-2); G2 – Filer (9-17) vs. Payette (17-10); G3 – Kimberly (16-8-1) vs. Bonners Ferry (19-7); G4 – Sugar-Salem (9-8) vs. Fruitland (23-3).
Noteworthy: Bear Lake and Fruitland, last year’s finalists, are the favorites. … Priest River is making its second trip to state in school history. Former coach Lou Musso took the Spartans to state for the first time in 2005. … Bonners Ferry’s strength is its pitching. Right-handers Ross Patterson (7-2) and Josh Gatchell (7-2) and lefty Chris James (5-2) will all see time.