Vikings want last word
After every state championship game at Idaho high school tournaments, the coach of the runner-up team is handed a microphone and shares a few words about his team’s season before handing out medals to his players.
Following that speech, the microphone is handed to the coach of the state champion.
The Coeur d’Alene softball team has advanced to the State 5A finals for four straight years and five of the last six. And each time, Vikings coach Larry Bieber has had to talk first.
Bieber wants to speak last this week.
Heather Helmhout, a four-year starter, has heard the speech once too often. Her final state tourney, which begins today in Twin Falls, is an opportunity to finally go out as a state champion.
The state tourney also represents an end to competitive sports for Helmhout, a pitcher/first baseman who has struggled mightily with arm problems since her sophomore year when she was named co-player of the year in the Inland Empire League. The valedictorian, who carries a 4.33 grade-point average, is headed to the University of Arizona to study pre-med. No more sports except intramurals.
“For the seniors, we have no other chances. This is it,” Helmhout said. “To think it’s going to be over is hard to comprehend.”
Seniors Jackie Lenz (center fielder), Jordan Corbey (catcher), Brianna Robson (right fielder), Jessyca Le (second baseman) and Dana Lyon (third baseman) agree.
It’s hard to believe that there’s a sense of urgency for a team that has had the second-most success among 5A teams in recent years. But that’s it in a nutshell. Second best hasn’t been satisfying.
“We were so close last year,” Bieber said of the Vikings’ 4-3 loss to Timberline in the state final. “And the year before and the year before and the year before.”
Four of the seniors – Helmhout, Lenz, Robson and Le – have been starters since they were sophomores. Corbey is a two-year starter and Lyon is a two-year letterman in her first year as a starter.
Counting the juniors, the nucleus of the team has played together since they were 10-year-olds. They were instrumental last year in the Coeur d’Alene Crush summer team winning the ASA under-18 B national championship in Spokane.
They’ve won a title at a higher level than high school. But they want to hang a state championship banner in the gym.
“It’s been exciting to get to the championship game every year, and once we’re done with the season we appreciate our accomplishments,” Lenz said. “But at the time, you’re disappointed if you don’t win.”
Le expects the Vikings to break through at Twin Falls.
“We’re not going to think about it and put it in the back of our minds,” Le said. “I know we’re good enough to win. Sometimes it’s just the luck of the game. We’ve been working so hard for this. We’re so ready.”
Corbey said chemistry could be the difference this year.
“It’s there. We’ve been playing for this our whole lives,” she said.
Robson has been the Vikings’ leadoff hitter and offensive igniter for three years. She knows if she gets on base, success will follow.
“We’re confident and determined to get it done,” Robson said.
Lyon, who has played the least amount of years with the seniors, has picked up on Bieber’s pet motto: Every pitch, every play, everyday.
“We’ve got what it takes as long as we bring our game that we know how to play,” Lyon said.
Helmhout said accepting second at state would be fine if the teams CdA lost to were measurably better. But they haven’t been.
“We’ve been as good as any of the state champions,” Helmhout said. “Sometimes one error here or there is the difference.”
If capturing gold comes down to defense, Bieber knows the Vikings are in good hands.
“Defensively, this is one of the best teams I’ve coached,” said Bieber, including CdA’s back-to-back state title teams in 1998 and 1999. “We’re solid in the outfield, solid in the infield and Jordan’s a rock behind the plate.”
All that’s left to do is prove it.