STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS: Confident in the circle

UNLV-bound Burke looks to close out Coeur d’Alene High career with state softball title

It started when she was 6 years old on a softball field in California.

That’s the first time that Coeur d’Alene High senior pitcher Breana Burke picked up a softball and threw it across the plate.

Whether it was a strike, she can’t remember. All that mattered — on that day at least — was the win in her opinion.

“I remember the first time I was pitching was during tryouts in California,” Burke said. “It was just for a league down there, and I thought it would be a fun thing to do. So I got up there and threw three balls over the plate. Since then, I’ve been getting with pitching coaches and it started to go from there. I just kind of stuck with it.”

After graduation, Burke will continue her playing career at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

“I like the atmosphere and the members of the team,” Burke said. “And the coaching style. I’ve known the coaches for three years, and have a good relationship with them.”

It also helps that Abby Howard, a freshman at North Idaho College who plans to transfer after this season, and Kylie Rasmussen, who is wrapping up her freshman year, are also going to UNLV. Both are former high school teammates of Burke.

“It just makes it that much easier of a choice for me,” said Burke, who also played on the North Idaho Xtreme club softball team with Howard and Rasmussen the past three years. “We all kind of started to talk to coach (Lisa) Dodd at the same time because they saw us at a tournament. They were able to go and see the school before me because they were older and could visit the campus. The only time I’ve been down there with Kylie is when I watched her play over spring break. Other than that, I’ve done camps there and they did a camp up here.”

Boise State, Corban University — an NAIA school in Salem, Ore. — and Seattle University were also interested in Burke, who enters the state 5A tournament with a 21-1 record.

“There were a lot of smaller schools that were talking to me,” Burke said. “But I just like the level UNLV is at. Plus warm weather is always a plus.”

The softball signing period began on April 13, but Burke is waiting to sign until after the end of the tournament.

Burke also playing in the outfield, but hasn’t had the chance to play out there much, sporting a 72-9 record in the circle in three years at Coeur d’Alene.

“Pitching is a lot, but that’s what I like about it,” Burke said. “It’s intense and the pressure of it. Your team relies on you, and I like being accountable for things.”

Burke has been the primary starting pitcher for Coeur d’Alene the last three years, winning at least 20 games a year since taking over the role at the start of the 2014 season.

“We’ve made it to state all three years,” Burke said. “Unfortunately, we’ve finished second the last two years. I’m hoping the game that’s going to stick out is going to be this weekend. I guess I don’t have a standout game.”

This coming from someone that has thrown three no-hitters, including one in regionals against Lewiston.

“I honestly don’t pay attention to the numbers,” Burke said. “All that really matters to me is getting the win.”

Four more wins — starting with the state 5A tournament today at Bonneville High in Idaho Falls — will give Burke her first state title her three years on varsity.

In last year’s state tournament, Coeur d’Alene lost in the opening round to Eagle, then fought back through the consolation bracket only to lose to the Mustangs again in the state title game.

“I think as long as we show up and play our game, we’ll be fine,” Burke said. “We just need to go out with confidence and play like we know how to. The team with the most confidence should be able to win.”

And if they happen to see Lake City, which beat Coeur d’Alene 7-2 in the Region 1 championship game on May 10, Burke feels they’ll be ready for a sixth matchup. Coeur d’Alene beat Lake City the first four times they played, before the Timberwolves handed the Vikings their only loss.

“I think the loss against them in regionals motivated us,” Burke said. “It pushed us more, because nobody like the feeling of being defeated. I think if we happen to play them, it’s going to push us even more. I think both teams know what to expect out of each other, but I’ve got confidence in my team that we’ll be OK.”

With wins by Coeur d’Alene and Eagle in today’s first round, the teams will meet at 2 p.m. PDT, with that winner advancing to the semifinals. Burke, and some of the other Coeur d’Alene girls play on the North Idaho Xtreme, which also features Eagle’s Martha Tooley, who is averaging two home runs for every six at-bats in the postseason.

“She’s a good hitter,” Burke said. “But I’m a good pitcher too. It’s going to be a good matchup, and I’m sure I’ll face her multiple times during the game. Maybe she’ll get a hit, and maybe I’ll get an out. I don’t know what will happen. It just depends on the day.”

“She’s been having a great season,” first-year Coeur d’Alene High coach Darren Taylor said of Burke. “Other worldly really. She’s been unbelievable, hitting over .600 with a 21-1 record and an ERA (earned run average) under 1.00. She’s a very coachable kid and very competitive. She’s been doing a good job of helping out the younger kids and making sure there’s no screwing around. She’s very businesslike with how she approaches things.”

Now about finishing the job this weekend.

“The past two years, we’ve come so close, but didn’t finish the job,” Burke said. “And that’s too bad. The past few years, I’ve been playing with some of my closest friends and this year, it’s a little different because we lost five seniors that I’d played with for seven years. It’s a little different, but we’ve built new relationships. I just hope we can finish it out and get the state title.”

Coeur d’Alene (23-1) opens at state with Highland (24-3) of Pocatello today at Bonneville High.

“Since it’s the first game, yeah, it’s the most important one,” Burke said. “You’ve got to take it step by step. Right now, it’s going to be the biggest game of the tournament. After last year, there’s definitely some motivation. Eagle only lost one player and we lost five starters. We’ve had to count on multiple freshmen to come in and take starting spots and positions. They’re not easy spots and Miranda (Amos) had to step in at catcher and has been doing a wonderful job. We’re just working hard and if we do what we’ve been doing and we should be fine.”