CdA, Lewiston travel to Boise as state baseball tournament begins

The Coeur d’Alene Vikings baseball team is trekking south to Boise to try to finish what they came one game from accomplishing last year: a 5A State title.

The Vikings, who have won the 5A Inland Empire League for four straight years, are joined in the eight-team field by second-place Lewiston.

“The kids have been looking forward to this,” CdA coach Nick Rook said. “The kids are excited to get down there and start playing.”

CdA (20-4) plays at 9 a.m. today against Capital. If the Vikings win, they would play at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Lewiston plays Meridian’s Rocky Mountain at 6:15 p.m. today. If the Bengals win, they would play at the same time on Friday night.

In other games, Lakeland, the 4A Inland Empire League champion, will play Jerome at 3:30 p.m. today.

Intermountain league champion Timberlake will play Snake River at noon today and 2A Central Idaho league champion St. Maries will play New Plymouth, also at noon.

A loss doesn’t eliminate a team from the tournament, but wins are needed to advance to the championship game.

“We’ve been down here a lot,” Rook said. “We are looking to make another run at it.”