Idaho State baseball: Lake City loses in 5A opener

BOISE – It may have been nerves.

Lake City baseball coach Travis Georgius thought his team was lethargic.

Whatever it was, defending champ Capital blanked the Timberwolves 4-0 in a State 5A tournament opener Thursday morning at Hawks Memorial Stadium.

“Whether they let the anxiety or their emotions get to them, I thought we were lethargic all game,” Georgius said. “It’s kind of weird to see after the (last) couple of weeks we’ve had.”

Lake City (18-11) takes on Highland (20-9) in a loser-out game this morning at 10. Timberline topped Highland 9-1.

The big difference came down to swings – a timely one for Capital and untimely ones for Lake City.

The T-Wolves had the first chance to get something going in the top of the third after Jordan Ross and Jared Hall had back-to-back hits with no outs. But a fielder’s choice, ground out and line out snuffed out the opportunity.

“I kind of screwed up, I had a couple of opportunities to knock people in,” LC catcher Reilly Cherry said. “We kind of got down with our at-bats and couldn’t capitalize when we needed to.”

Capital (15-12) didn’t flinch when it was presented with opportunities in the bottom of the inning. Ross, LC’s starting pitcher, sandwiched walks around a hit as the Eagles loaded the bases.

Cherry overthrew first baseman Dominic Conigliaro, allowing the first run. Then Conner Poulson hit a three-run homer off a 2-0 pitch.

Ross fell behind a handful of batters and finally paid for it against Poulson.

“He went deep pretty much to every guy,” Georgius said. “Like I told him, he was getting outs, he just wasn’t how he’s been the last couple of outings. We’ve been feeding off that quite a bit.”

Capital left-hander Colbi Paul retired 12 of LC’s final 15 batters for a complete-game win. He had five strikeouts while allowing six hits.

Conigliaro replaced Ross in the fourth, shutting down the Eagles thereafter.

After watching his team win three straight loser-out games to qualify for state, Georgius expects his team to bounce back.

“We’ve got Sam throwing (today) and he’s a good tempo guy,” Georgius said. “Hopefully the guys can figure out what we need to do to get ready.”

Cherry expects LC to play for a trophy come Saturday.

“That’s exactly why we’re here this year – we’ve come from behind,” he said. “We’re a team that can bounce back. I have full confidence we’ll come back and win this next game.”

Inland Empire League champ Lewiston, meanwhile, handled Meridian 5-2 behind a two-hitter from Dalton Stamper.

Jack Munoz led the Bengals at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a RBI.

Lewiston (22-5) takes on Hillcrest, a 5-3 winner over previously undefeated Rocky Mountain, tonight in the semifinals.

4A: Moscow slipped past host Bishop Kelly 4-3.

Moscow takes on Blackfoot today in the semifinals.

3A: It took a fifth trip to state, but Timberlake coach Bill Rider’s team finally broke through in an opener.

The Tigers scored the winning run in the seventh inning on an error, edging Snake River 3-2 at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon.

Timberlake (15-9) takes on defending state champion Fruitland (17-8) tonight in the semifinals.

Bonners Ferry was bounced to the consolation bracket, falling to Marsh Valley 3-0. The Badgers (18-8) meet Emmett (11-9) in an elimination game this morning.

After Snake River knotted the score in the top of the seventh, Timberlake put its first two batters aboard by walk.

Then Jackson Schaffer squared to sacrifice. He put a nice bunt down the first-base line and relief pitcher Wyatt Vogler decided to try to get a force at third. But his throw sailed high, allowing Drew Hansen to score the winning run.

“We put the ball in play and made them play defense,” Rider said. “That’s kind of how baseball works. Sometimes you don’t have to get hits to win.”

Tigers starting pitcher Derek Galloway survived a shaky first inning in which he allowed three straight hits but managed to get out of the trailing 1-0.

“A bulldog out there today,” Rider said. “He didn’t have his best day but he went out there and competed every pitch.”

Timberlake took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Jerrett Plunkett had an RBI single and scored moments later on a balk.

2A: Behind a complete-game from pitcher Bryant Asbury, St. Maries had no difficulty with Melba 9-3 at Rodeo Park in Nampa.

Isaac Walters led the Lumberjacks, going 2 for 3 with a RBI.

St. Maries (13-5) meets Nampa Christian (18-6) in the semifinals today.