THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: What's in a state? What about state baseball in the North?

A team from Wyoming played in the championship game of the Idaho state high school lacrosse tournament in Sandpoint on Saturday night.

Of course.

A team from Trail, British Columbia, used to play in a North Idaho Legion baseball league — and used to compete quite well, back in the Jason Bay days.

Kids from St. Regis, Mont., play football for an Idaho team (Mullan).

And for years, the Idaho state 3A high school baseball tournament was held in Oregon.

Maybe that part of Wyoming wants to be part of Idaho someday, sort of like parts of eastern Oregon.

NOW THAT state baseball is no longer exclusively in the Boise area — the 4As are in Twin Falls this year, and state has been in Idaho Falls in the past — maybe it’s time to revisit bringing at least one of the baseball tournaments up north.

Maybe have state baseball up here on the years state softball isn’t up here.

But where?

Lights would be a necessity. Would seating be an issue?

War Memorial Field in Sandpoint would be a perfect setting. But could there be enough seating?

McEuen Field in downtown Coeur d’Alene was an ideal location until … well, you know.

That leaves Thorco Field, at Ramsey Park.

But again … seating.

Avista Stadium in Spokane, as well as Gonzaga’s ballpark, both are nice places that would satisfy the seating issue.

But … Washington.

That leaves Lewiston. Harris Field offers plenty of seating, but they’re kind of busy down there these days.

Lewiston would have to sneak in a state baseball tournament just after Lewis-Clark State tries to qualify for the NAIA World Series, and just before Lewiston hosts the NAIA World Series.

But if seating isn’t an issue in Sandpoint, or Coeur d’Alene …

Bring it on!

ASIDE FROM lacrosse, there were no state high school tournaments up here this weekend.

Of course not — the weather was nice this weekend.

Every other year, state softball is played in the north, and every other year, it seems, it rains up here that weekend.

State softball returns to North Idaho next year … so you can already predict what the weather will be like.

Speaking of state softball, had it been played up here, it would have been a quiet Saturday on the local front, following a surprising showing on Friday.

Teams in our area — Coeur d’Alene (5A), Timberlake (3A) and St. Maries (2A) — went a combined 1-6, with Timberlake notching the lone win of the three, and all were eliminated on the first day.

Throw in Moscow (4A) and Grangeville (2A), and that record drops to 1-10 on Friday.

Then again, we could have had another issue up here this year — smoke from wildfires in Canada.

Athletic directors from North Idaho high schools usually only have to have that AQI app at thumb’s length on their phones during August and September, checking (hoping? praying?) that number is below 150, so their football, soccer and cross country (and in some instances now, golf) teams can practice or play that day.

How maddeningly fitting would that have been for a spring sports state tournament up here, such as softball, to be delayed/canceled due to poor air quality?

AND FINALLY …

“Grey’s Anatomy” is nearly two decades old now. But did anyone else tune in to one of the first episodes back then and think the star of the show looked like that girl from The "Partridge Family?"

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.