Vikings hope to send coach out in style

Larry Bieber approaches his final games as Coeur d’Alene’s head softball coach with just a tinge of sadness.

“I’m a little sentimental, but this is the time,” said the 21-year coach, the only fastpitch coach the Vikings have known. “My wife has been a softball widow for a long time.”

The Vikings, five-time state champions under Bieber, are one of the favorites when the State 5A tournament begins Friday at Post Falls. CdA (23-1) opens at 9 a.m. against Eagle (26-1), its biggest state rival over the years.

“In finishing second last year, we feel like we need to get back to that (title) game,” Bieber said. “This is my last season, so the kids are saying, ‘We have to go out on top so Old Man Bieber won’t be disappointed.’ ”

CdA’s lone loss this season was a 5-4 setback against Washington State 4A power Richland. The Vikings won the second game of the doubleheader 15-3.

“We just have a bunch of kids who are really dedicated to the game,” said Bieber, whose career record is 461-151. “The five seniors I have (Abby Howard, Analisa Raynor, Bryce Catt, Jadyn Behm and Kylie Rasmussen) have played together since they were 10 years old.”

Howard hit .506 this season with a club-leading 36 runs, six home runs and five triples. Raynor hit .421 with a team-high 32 RBIs. Rasmussen topped the team with a .542 batting average and 13 doubles, adding 33 runs and 27 RBIs.

Sophomore Kylie Smith hit .432 with 11 doubles, 32 runs and 26 RBIs.

Junior pitcher Bre Burke is 21-1 with an earned-run average of 1.03 and 172 strikeouts in 128 2/3 innings. She also hit .476 with 11 doubles, club-leading 36 runs and 24 RBIs.

“They’re really aggressive and they know how I like to play,” Bieber said of his team. “There are only two things you can control – your effort and your attitude. … You know how people say, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it?’ I like to say, ‘I’ll see it when I believe it.’ ”

Bieber hired former Vikings pitcher Jenna (DeLong) Fore, 26, as his assistant with the understanding that the ex-Drake University player will become head coach next season.

“I wanted to get somebody that I knew understood what Vikings softball is all about,” Bieber said.

• CdA’s league rival, Lake City (18-7), qualified for state for the seventh consecutive season by defeating Rocky Mountain 4-1 during a state play-in game last Saturday. Five of Lake City’s losses are to CdA.

“This group comes to work every day and they work hard,” first-year head coach Jesse Lenz said. “We’ve been working on the little things all year and we’re excited that they’re paying off.”

Lake City features five seniors who will play college ball: JaeCie Wilson, Weber State, .597, 43 runs, 18 stolen bases; Hannah Nelson, Weber State, .535, 11 doubles, six homers, 44 RBIs; Brittany Gay, North Idaho, .477, five homers, 34 RBIs; Katelynne Murphy, Presentation CC in Aberdeen, South Dakota, .355; and Danielle Collinson, Clark CC in Vancouver, Washington.

Junior pitcher Michaela Flerchinger is 16-6 with an ERA of 1.40.

The Timberwolves will open at 11 a.m. against Mountain View (19-7).

State 4A

The Lakeland Hawks (8-15), in their 11th year under Colleen Bevacqua, qualified for state by defeating Sandpoint 12-8 in the regional title game.

“They have been able to really work together as a team,” Bevacqua said. “They’ve continued to work to get better and better, and they kept that mentality that we had to get better for district, which is when it really counts.”

Lakeland, the state runner-up in 2013, will open at 11 a.m. Friday at Coeur d’Alene’s Ramsey Park against Middleton (19-4).

State 3A

Bonners Ferry qualified for its first state tournament by defeating Timberlake 15-4 in the district title game. Kadi Bateman hit a grand slam and Jorryn Bennett added a three-run homer during the Badgers’ big fourth inning. Coach Tomi Bateman’s Badgers feature seven freshmen. The Badgers open at Ramsey Park at 9 a.m. Friday against Kimberly.

Intermountain League champion Timberlake (15-11) bounced back to qualify for state. Coach Mike Menti’s Tigers will open at 9 a.m. against Shelley (11-9).