T-Wolves begin defense of 5A championship

The Lake City High baseball team knows what it will take to defend its State 5A championship.

“We have everybody back but one starter pretty much,” said Washington State University-bound center fielder Kyle Johnson, who leads LC in hitting with a .432 average. “We have the experience from last year. We know what it’s like at state. We know what the atmosphere will be like and we know what the big stage will be like. We’re going to do some good things.”

LC (17-6) will take on District IV-V-VI champ Twin Falls (22-4) this afternoon at 3:30 PDT at Borah High School’s Wigle Field in Boise. In other state openers, 2007 runner-up Lewiston (20-1) takes on Eagle (16-11), Boise (25-2) faces Madison (11-10) and Timberline (23-4) meets Borah (12-15).

Winning a state title was a difficult task for LC last year. The Timberwolves won their opener 4-3 in eight innings and rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the semifinal before topping Lewiston 7-1 in the final.

“Last year we were fortunate in some of our games,” Johnson said. “We edged out some close ones. This year I hope we can go out and prove a point that we’re the best team in the state.”

LC coach Cory Bridges said it will take his team’s best to repeat.

“We’re going to have to play better,” Bridges said. “We have some aspects of our game that have to be better. They know they’re capable. We can play with anybody, there’s no doubt in my mind. They’ll have their state faces on. They’ll have a different level of intensity.”

•Lakeland (10-9) is making its first trip to the 4A state tourney and first trip to state since 2004.

The Hawks meet Wood River when the tourney begins this morning at Rodeo Park in Nampa. In other openers, Bishop Kelly (22-5) meets Pocatello (13-9), Rigby (13-7) takes on Skyview (16-11) and Minico (24-2) goes against Mountain Home (17-10).

•District I runner-up Bonners Ferry (12-7) has the unenviable task of facing two-time State 3A champ Bear Lake (15-7) at 9 this morning when the tourney begins at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore.

District I champ St. Maries (15-4) takes on Sugar-Salem (12-6) at 3 p.m.

State softball

Coeur d’Alene (19-7) will seek a third straight 5A title when the tourney begins today at Community Park in Idaho Falls. The Vikings take on Mountain View (19-7) at 4.

In other openers, Lewiston (13-12) goes against Twin Falls (25-1), Eagle (24-2) takes on Skyline (17-11) and Centennial (13-14) faces Timberline (17-10).

CdA beat Mountain View 3-0 in a tournament in Boise in late March. The Vikings also beat Timberline 8-2 and lost to Twin Falls 3-0 at the same tourney.

•Lakeland (14-12) meets Burley (12-18) when the State 4A tournament begins at Twin Falls High School.

In the other openers, Mountain Home (21-2) meets Wood River (11-13), Blackfoot (14-8-2) faces Kuna (17-7) and Pocatello (22-1) takes on Emmett (20-7).

•Defending 3A state champ Kimberly (26-0) is heavily favored to repeat when the tourney begins this afternoon at Ramsey Park in Coeur d’Alene.

Timberlake (16-6), which fell to Kimberly in the state final last year, would like to get another shot at the state champ. Timberlake takes on Teton (14-5) at 5.

In the other openers, Kimberly meets Marsh Valley (17-12), Bear Lake (20-4) goes against Homedale (13-12) and Payette (20-6) faces Buhl (18-9).

Regional/district track

State-qualifying track meets are Friday and Saturday.

The 5A and 4A Region I meets will be at Volmer Bowl in Lewiston. In 5A, the top three placers and winning relay team advance to state. In 4A, the top two placers and winning relay team earn state berths.

•In the 3A District I meet at Timberlake, the top three placers and winning relay advance to state.

•In the 1A Region I meet at Kootenai, the top four placers and top two relay teams advance to state.