CdA rallies for first state berth since ’01

The drought is over for the Coeur d’Alene baseball team.

Coeur d’Alene is returning to state for the first time since 2001 as the Vikings rallied to knock off Mountain View 7-3 in a 5A play-in game Saturday afternoon at Church Field in Lewiston.

“We’ve been trying to turn corners all year long in the program and these guys bought into what we asked them to do,” CdA alum and first-year coach Nick Rook said.

CdA (21-7) will take on District III champ Capital of Boise (19-10) when the tourney begins Thursday at Hawks Memorial Stadium in Boise.

The Vikings trailed 3-1 going into the top of the sixth when they scored six runs. Matt Lambert and J.J. Turbin drew bases-loaded walks and Colin Comack and Jackson Seaman had sacrifice flies before Devon Austin capped things with a two-run single.

“These kids deserve every success they get right now,” Rook said. “They’ve been through (a lot the last couple of years).”

Seaman (5-2), who went the distance, pitched his best in the final two innings, Rook said.

3A District I-II: Second-seeded Bonners Ferry knocked off top-seeded Orofino 10-0 in a run rule-shortened six innings to capture the district title at Orofino.

Bonners Ferry (16-8) advances to state, beginning Thursday at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore. The Badgers open against District V champ American Falls (15-8).

The Badgers’ Zach Roberts, who was named the league’s most valuable player, struck out eight and walked two while limiting the Maniacs to three hits. Roberts improved his record to 6-1. He also helped his own cause, going 2 for 3 with two runs. Teammate Greg Taggart was 2 for 2 with three RBIs and two runs and Casey Nelson had two hits and two RBIs.

Orofino (21-4-1) earned the second state berth, topping St. Maries (8-17) 9-4.

Track

3A District I-II: Timberlake’s boys won another district title while the girls broke through for the first time in action at Spirit Lake.

The Tigers boys practically lapped the field as they posted 205 points. Priest River finished a distant second with 113. Timberlake’s girls piled up 192 to top defending champ Bonners Ferry by 90.

Sophomore Caitlyn Nichols led Timberlake with two individual titles (200 and 400 meters). She also ran legs on the Tigers’ winning 400 and 1,600 relays.

Erin Hiatt led BF with titles in the 300 hurdles and 800.

In the boys, Brian Maldonado led Timberlake with victories in the 100 and 200. He also ran on the 400 relay.

2A Region I: The Coeur d’Alene Charter boys finished second and the girls tied for second as the regional meet concluded at Kamiah.

The Charter boys finished with 92 points, 7½ behind winner Grangeville. The Charter girls matched Kamiah’s 81 and were 17 behind winning Grangeville.

Jacob Bowman led Charter’s boys by winning the 200 and teammate Rory Ruskovich, who won the 3,200 on Friday, doubled by winning the 1,600.

Elizabeth Stadley and Sabrina Ewing led the Charter girls. Stadley won the 200 and 400 and Ewing, who won the long jump on Friday, came back to take the high and triple jumps.

1A Region I: Kootenai’s boys captured a regional title, finished with 120 points, well ahead of runner-up Troy (81).

Lapwai captured the girls regional title with 121.

Dakota Amy and Cody Parker led Kootenai’s boys. Amy won the 110 and 300 hurdles and Parker prevailed in the pole vault.