STATE 5A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS: Rain forces Cd'A, tourney to Meridian; Lake City out as losers bracket canceled

Rain washed them out of Bonneville High in Idaho Falls on Saturday.

Then, again at Blackfoot High later that day.

So the Coeur d’Alene Vikings jumped on the bus and headed west, and that state 5A softball tournament which includes the Vikings and defending champion Eagle is scheduled to resume today at Mountain View High in Meridian.

Tournament officials opted to move the tournament to Meridian, with the resumption of the Coeur d’Alene-Eagle game at 8 a.m. PDT, along with the Rocky Mountain-Boise game. The Coeur d’Alene game was scoreless entering the fifth inning, and Rocky Mountain leads Boise 6-0 in the fourth.

Due to the rain, all losers bracket games Saturday were canceled as well, ending Lake City’s season as well.

Lake City, which was scheduled to face the Coeur d’Alene/Eagle loser, lost to Rocky Mountain and beat Skyline of Idaho Falls on Friday. The Timberwolves were waiting to face the loser of the Coeur d’Alene-Eagle game in the losers bracket. The Timberwolves finish 20-7.

“We’re extremely frustrated,” second-year Lake City coach Jesse Lenz said. “It was brought to our attention that we were going to have a meeting this morning and discuss the choices, and my understanding was we were looking to play tomorrow (Sunday) in Idaho Falls, or somewhere else in the vicinity. After an hour and a half of discussion, they decided we were going to a single-elimination tournament and at that time, we were out of the tournament.”

Wet weather also caused havoc in other tournaments, forcing the state 4A tournament to a single-elimination tournament on Saturday at Twin Falls High and the College of Southern Idaho.

“We had seven different plans,” first-year Coeur d’Alene coach Darren Taylor said. “When we moved to Blackfoot, we just stood there for most of the day and couldn’t do anything. The Eagle athletic director put together a plan to get the tournament finished.”

Taylor said he didn’t mind finishing the tournament — which includes three District 3 schools — in their home area.

“It’s a neutral field for everyone, and a nice facility,” Taylor said.

Lenz heard about the decision to move the tourney to Meridian as the team bus reached Anaconda, Mont., on Saturday afternoon.

“My athletic director (Jim Winger) and principal (Deanne Clifford) were never notified of the change, but were fully on board with us having the opportunity to compete for a trophy at some point,” Lenz said. “We had the approval to stay to play Sunday, and even if it meant playing on Monday and Tuesday. It’s extremely frustrating and disappointing. My (team’s) parents are not happy, and I feel really bad for our girls. That’s why us coaches do this for. I feel terrible for my seniors that have stuck with me for the last four years. They’ve allowed this team to get 40 wins in the last two seasons, finish fourth last year, and who knows where we could have finished this year. It’s disappointing.”

Taylor added his team has remained focused during all the delays.

“The girls are resilient,” Taylor said. “They’re a tight-knit bunch. They’re having fun right now and embracing the moment. Everywhere we go, we drive into a rain cloud. It might be a little chilly (on Sunday), but we’ll be playing ball I think.”