STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS: Dominant Dominic
5A
BOISE — Lake City starting pitcher Dominic Conigliaro utilized his fastball, curve and other pitches to keep Timberline’s hitters fairly quiet on Thursday, helping the Timberwolves win 5-2 in the first round of the state 5A baseball tournament Thursday at Memorial Stadium.
The 5-foot-10 senior left-hander struck out seven and walked two, scattering seven hits.
“Dominic pitched an outstanding game,” Lake City coach Paul Manzardo said. “He had a very gutsy game, an outstanding performance. He pitched to contact, he kept them off-balance.”
The Timberwolves (17-8) scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-0 lead, then they staked a 5-1 lead after four innings over Timberline (24-4), which won the 5A Southern Idaho Conference. Wolves coach Larry Price, a former Coeur d’Alene standout, plans to retire after this season to watch his sons play.
In the third, Bennett Cunningham was hit by a pitch, Kodie Kolden singled, sophomore Kyle Manzardo laid down a sacrifice bunt and a Timberline infielder made an error, which allowed Cunningham to score on the play. Cody Garza was hit by a pitch. Conigliaro hit into a double play that scored Kodie Kolden. An error on a ball hit by Tanner Criswell to the second baseman scored Manzardo.
Manzardo finished 3 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
“They did a good job,” Paul Manzardo said.
Lake City plays Highland (20-11) of Pocatello at 3:30 p.m. on Friday in the 5A state semifinals at Memorial Stadium. Highland defeated Mountain View of Meridian 5-4. The Timberwolves are attempting to win their first state title since 2007.
Timberline 000 100 1 — 2 7 2
Lake City 003 200 x — 5 6 0
Jake Engleson, Jake Randall (4) and Tristan King; Dominic Conigliaro and Grant Wade. W — Conigliaro (8-1). L — Engleson.
HITS: TL — Harris, Kim 2, Price, King, Satterfield, Herberg. LC — Kolden, Manzardo 3, Garza, Conigliaro. 2B — Price, King.
4A
Minico 3
Lakeland 1
TWIN FALLS — After Lakeland had its opener delayed 2 1/2 hours due to rain, Chris Schilling allowed one earned run, but the Hawks came up short against the Spartans of Rupert in the opening round of the state 4A tournament at Skip Walker Field on the campus of the College of Southern Idaho.
“It was tough to sit around all day wondering when and if we were going to play,” Lakeland coach Jason Bradbury said. “However, I was proud of how my boys competed. Chris threw a complete game and did one heck of a job. He kept us in it all night.”
Minico took advantage of an error in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead.
“We had an error and then one big mental mistake that cost us two unearned runs,” Bradbury said. “If you could take away those things, we’re in the game 1-1. But that’s baseball.”
Andrew Neilson had both hits for Lakeland (10-14), which faces Bishop Kelly (15-11) in a loser-out game today.
Minico 000 300 0 — 3 6 0
Lakeland 000 001 0 — 1 2 1
J. Jensen and unknown; Chris Schilling and Dylan Bradbury. W — Jensen. L — Schilling.
HITS: Min — Ambriz, Jensen, Frank, Winnell 2, Bingham. LL — Neilson 2.
2A
St. Maries 6
Firth 2
OROFINO — When it comes to the state tournament, if you can put up a crooked number in an inning, chances are you’re going to have a good shot to win.
And it came early for the St. Maries in its opener at Orofino High.
Dakota Wilson hit a two-run single to key a four-run first inning as the Lumberjacks beat the Cougars to advance to the semifinals for the fourth straight year.
“That’s what the state tournament is all about,” St. Maries coach Craig Tefft said. “If you can put up a crooked number, it doesn’t matter when it is, you can win. Today, it just happened to be in the first inning.”
Bryant Asbury struck out nine and walked three for St. Maries (10-9), which faces Nampa Christian (24-3) today in a semifinal game at 3:30 p.m.
This is the fourth straight year the teams will meet in the semis, with Nampa Christian winning the previous three games.
“They’re tough again this year,” Tefft said. “They’re a good team and solid defensively. We’ve got a tall task, but we’re playing good baseball right now. We’ll see what happens.”
St. Maries 401 000 1 — 6 4 4
Firth 002 000 0 — 2 3 0
Bryant Asbury and Chase Truscott; Will Park and Carter Cook. W — Asbury. L — Park.
HITS: SM — Asbury 2, Wilson, Larson. Firth — Park 2, Burkhart. 2B — Asbury.
3A
Bonners Ferry 11
South Fremont 1
FRUITLAND — Vince Bennett struck out seven over six innings and went 2 for 3 with three runs batted in as the Badgers beat the Cougars of St. Anthony in the opening round of the state 3A tournament at Fruitland High.
Caleb Blackmore went 1 for 3 with two RBIs and Brady Bateman went 2 for 4 with three runs scored for Bonners Ferry (23-2), which faces Homedale in the semifinals today at 3 p.m. PDT.
“It was a really good day for us,” Bonners Ferry coach Tom Turpin said. “The bats were going really well and Vince was efficient on the mound. We just hit the ball really well and played good baseball.”
South Fremont will face Snake River in a loser-out game today.
South Fremont 000 010 — 1 3 1
Bonners Ferry 211 232 — 11 12 1
Game called with one out in bottom of sixth inning due to 10-run rule.
Yancey, Thuason (4) and Hill; Vince Bennett and Brady Bateman. W — Bennett (9-0). L — Yancey.
HITS: SF — Hill, Olson, Trost. BF — Bateman 2, Bennett 2, Dunham, Gering, Blackmore, N. Sabin 2, Stockton 2, Gray. 2B — Bateman, Gering. 3B — Bennett.