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ORDER GAME PHOTOS
A year ago, savvy baseball fans were able to quickly spot and identify the teams that could seriously contend for state tournament hardware.
For the most part, the "favorites" won the titles at their respective state tournaments. But, not everything went according to plan.
Take Owyhee, for example. The Storm weren't on anyone's radar ahead of state, and yet, in their first year of existence, Owyhee stood tall over everyone else to win the 5A title.
That's where we'll begin our classification-by-classification preview of Idaho baseball in 2023.
CLASS 5A
In 2022, Owyhee finished 20-9 overall and 9-7 in the Southern Idaho Conference, good enough for fifth place. But at the 5A State Tournament, Oywhee caught lightning in a bottle, defeating Lewiston (6-4), Mountain View (2-1) and Rocky Mountain (6-0) to claim the title. Like many schools in their infancy, Owyhee's roster was littered with underclassmen that are back for another year. Junior Riley Cutlip lead the Storm with a .367 batting average a year ago, while Cole Rohlmeier, Gage Haws and Keagan Kelly are all strong returnees at the plate. Cutllip was also Owyhee's best pitcher, compiling a 6-1 record with a 2.33 ERA.
The fact that Owyhee went from fifth in the SIC standings to state champion showcased the depth and versatility of the league. The story will be similar in 2023. Mountain View, Rocky Mountain, Timberline, and Borah all advanced to state a year ago, and Capital, Centennial, Boise and Kuna weren't that far off from making state either.
Mountain View lost several seniors to graduation, but the Mavericks will re-load around a trio of junior pitchers in Will Grizzle (6-0, 1.00 ERA), Conner Marshall (4-1, 0.52 ERA) and Evan Perry (1-1, 2.43 ERA). Rocky Mountain is in the same boat, and will lean on senior pitcher Peyton hines (5-1, 1.28 ERA). Timberline also lost a lot to graduation. Their top returning hitter is Carter Walsh, who batted .380 and knocked in 17 RBIs.
Borah may be poised to break through after finishing tied for fifth with Owyhee a year ago. The Lions return five of their top six hitters (Korbin McCarney, Verdie Swanson, Lance Anderson, Royder Terrell and Jacob Detweiler). Similarly, keep an eye out for Kuna. The Kavemen started several juniors a year ago, and Kason O'Neil hit .435, while also delivering a 3.50 ERA in 31 2/3 innings on the mound.
Cosmo Lange (Boise), Noah Thunborg (Capital), Andrew Johnson (Centennial), Hayden Chambers (Eagle) and Mikkael Orosco (Meridian) are also worth watching this year in District 3. Middleton and Nampa also join the fray after competing at the 4A level in 2022.
Up north, Lewiston emerged as the District 1-2 champs a year ago, and are locked and loaded again in 2023. A strong nucleus including Elliott Taylor, Chris Ricard, Carson Kolb, and Kyson Barden will anchor a Bengals lineup that will be difficult for opposing pitchers to navigate. Ricard and Kolb will also pitch for Lewiston.
A young Lake City may have been a year away in 2022, but first year coach Mike Criswell has seniors Ethan Taylor and Joe DuCoeur to build around. Coeur d'Alene always boasts a strong program under coach Erik Karns, If the Vikings pitching staff of Cooper Erickson, Bryce Stockton and Andrew Karns can take another step forward, Coeur d'Alene could threaten in the Inland Empire League. Post Falls said goodbye to do-it-all leader CD Sharples in the offseason, and will rely on Langan Naylor, who hit .424 a year ago.
Highland was the toast of District 5-6 in 2022, and coach Christian Colonel has a solid group of returnees, including Gunner Wilhelm and Drew Hymas. The big question for the Rams surrounds their pitching. Their top three hurlers were seniors a year ago, and players like Hymas and Colt Durham will have to shoulder an increased workload this year.
Nipping at Highland's heels is Madison, a team that narrowly missed out on state a year ago. Like Highland, the Bobcats have several capable hitters back this season, including Ethan Garner and Trayson Kostial, but like Highland, their top three pitchers were all seniors in 2022. Rigby will be led by Aaron Archibald this year, while Thunder Ridge will lean on senior Conner Hall.
CLASS 4A
Any conversation surrounding 4A baseball has to start with the budding rivalry between Bishop Kelly and Columbia. The pair split their regular season contests a year ago, with each side winning by two runs. They then met in the state semifinals, with BK squeezing out a narrow 5-4 win. An anti-climactic 15-0 shutout of Twin Falls gave the Knights the championship, while Columbia fell to Middleton in the third place game by a single run, 6-5.
Bishop Kelly lost some talented seniors to graduation, but return junior Cooper Cammann, who hit .462 with 45 runs scored a year ago. Cammann also delivered a perfect 8-0 record on the mound with a 1.26 ERA. Columbia, meanwhile, will be led by Isaac Antunes, Caden Campa and Mario DeLeon.
Who else might challenge in District 3 this year? Look no further than Ridgevue. The Hawks went 16-8 a year ago, and will be lead by the junior duo of Keegan Randall and Izaiaih Stewart-Kasper. Ridgevue's top three pitchers (Dominic Schmittel, Jordan McIntyre and Randall) are all juniors as well. Vallivue could also surprise this year. The Falcons are young (just two seniors) but have a lot of talented sophomores that are ready to contribute. Emmett and Caldwell limped through sub-.500 seasons in 2022 and are also looking to improve in 2023.
In District 4, Twin Falls has set the standard for the past several seasons. The Bruins, like so many others in Class 4A this year, will have to thread the needle between losing some really talented players to graduation, while also working with a group of returning players that could elevate their game. Bryce Mahlke, Wyatt Solosabal and Nolan Hardesty will all be called upon this year for the Bruins. Hardesty in particular will be asked to lead a young pitching rotation.
The rest of the Great Basin Conference will be a crapshoot, like it is most years. Wood River and Minico finished second and third, respectively, in last year's standings, but it was fourth-seeded Jerome that stole the second bid to state. Jerome will have to figure out how to replace standouts like Logan Worthington and Colton Elison. Wood River will be led by Rabbit Buxton at the plate and Gabe Nilsen on the mound. Minico, meanwhile, has a strong group of seniors led by Stockton Chandler and Brody Jasso, and could break through this year. Canyon Ridge, Burley and Mountain Home are also hoping that last year's growing pains lead to more success this season.
CLASS 3A
Ahead of last year's 3A State Tournament, many agreed that any of the eight teams there were capable of winning the championship. And yet, when the dust had settled, it was top-seeded Marsh Valley claiming their second title in the last three state competitions. Coach Kent Howell has a group of seniors that he can work with in 2023, including his son Stanton Howell. The left-hander is nearly unhittable on the mound, and he'll be joined in the lineup by fellow seniors Alex Vaughn, Wyatt Harris and Jason Jones.
Snake River also qualified for state from District 5 a year ago, and experienced a roller-coaster ride once they got there. After blowing a lead in the bottom of the seventh and giving up a walkoff hit to Sugar-Salem in the opening round, the Panthers reversed course and walked off against Bonners Ferry in extra innings in their loser out contest. Several members of the team are back again in 2023, including Easton Gardner and Kyston Secrist.
Speaking of Sugar-Salem, the Diggers left state a year ago with a top four finish, which was impressive for a program that isn't used to winning at the level of Sugar-Salem's other highly touted athletic teams. Coach Brady Gardner had a young team a year ago, and boasts several talented returners, including James Chase, Jackson Gardner, Dawson McInelly and Tommy Woodcock. The Diggers will be pushed by South Fremont in District 6 again, as the Cougars will rely on seniors Preston Stoddard and Hunter Hobbs.
The unpredictable nature of Class 3A baseball in 2022 was best demonstrated by Fruitland. The Grizzlies entered state as the number seven seed overall, but coach Troy Bidwell's squad made it all the way to the championship game. Fruitland relied on several sophomores and freshmen a year ago, and with an extra year of seasoning, Fruitland is primed for a big year. Seniors Zane Bidwell and Lane Roberts will lead the way for a talented group of youngsters, including Coy Coffman, Jameson George and Jace Mordhorst.
The path to the District 3 title won't be easy, though. Both Homedale and Weiser qualified for state last year, as well. Homedale boasts one of the best pitchers in the state in Dillon Fine, and his battery mate returns at catcher in senior D'Orr Packer. Weiser lost quite a bit to graduation, but will be lead this year by Brock Spencer, Kaleb Grove and Jack Shirts. Payette could also be a sleeper this year in District 3, as Jaydin Morin-Bishop and Collin Hysell will lead a sneaky Pirates squad.
Kimberly came into state a year ago as the number two overall seed, but Fruitland toppled the Bulldogs in the opening round. Kimberly rebounded to win the consolation title, setting the stage for a redemptive performance in 2023. A trio of juniors (Jakob Cummins, River Chadwick and Hudson Flameling) will lead the way for the 'Dogs this year. Bryce Patterson of Gooding, Zane Lawrence and Jacob Metcalf of Filer, and Damian Craner of Buhl are among the standouts in District 4 this year. A trio of Castleford athletes (Ethan Roland, Gabe Mahannah and Gus Wiggins) are also playing with Buhl this season.
Up north, Bonners Ferry survived a tough District 1 race with Timberlake and Kellogg a year ago to advance to state. Kellogg has moved down to Class 2A, which leaves just Bonners Ferry and Timberlake to duke it out for a single spot at state. Badgers coach Tom Turpin welcomes back his top two pitchers, Trey Bateman and Teigan Banning, and anumber of key contributors from last year's team, including Porter Schulte, Roger Naylor, Nick Eastman and David Hammons. Timberlake will be led this year by Raj Olivieri and Cooper Lenz.
CLASS 2A
Is this the year someone finally knocks Nampa Christian from their perch? The Trojans have won six of the past seven state championships, including last year's 8-0 triumph over Firth. Legendary coach Marc Harris announced his retirement at the end of last season, finishing off a 40-year career that saw Harris win twelve state championship and compile a win-loss record of 635-280. Jake Allen steps in as the new head coach, and he'll have to go about replacing ten seniors that graduated from last year's team. Junior Landon Mills will lead the pitching staff for Nampa Christian, and a trio of promising sophomores (Jack Ihli, Colby Ferdinand and Andres Soza) have started well at the plate.
The only other team to win a championship in the past seven years was fellow District 3 rival Melba. Several talented seniors graduated from last year's fourth place team at state. There are only two seniors on this years Mustangs squad, which will rely on juniors Diego Herrera and Cameron Vail. Marsing,
New Plymouth and Cole Valley Christian were all within striking distrance of Melba a year ago. Seniors Zack Conlee and Alex Wolfe will lead the Pilgrims into battle in 2023, while seniors Xavier Delgadillo and JT Chadez will bring along a very young Marsing squad. And Cole Valley Christian might have the youngest team of all, as not a single senior is on this year's team.
Adding further intrigue to the District 3 race is the addition of North Star Charter. The Huskies ran through the 1A ranks like a hot knife through butter the past two seasons, but how coach Erik Hansen's squad adjusts to the 2A game will be a storyline to watch. Seniors Zander Crookham, Michael Corkish and Daniel Kormylo have all started since their sophomore seasons, the first in North Star Charter history, and will be tasked with helping the Huskies navigate the rough waters of the Western Idaho Conference.
In District 6, Firth and Challis-Mackay-Butte County qualified for state a year ago. The Cougars made it all the way to the championship game, and return several members of last year's team. Seniors Gage Vasquez, Alex Vasquez, Burton Park and Strider Perry form the nucleus of what should be a solid team again.
Challis-Mackay-Butte County, better known by their RiverCats nickname, just picked up the 100th win in program history this past weekend. Coach Ryan Millick always takes less and gets more, as athletes from Challis, Mackay and Arco drive long distances to make practices and games work. Further complicating things is the nasty weather that always seems to linger just a little longer in the Challis region than it does in other places around the state. Wiley Turek and Ruger Nicholls will lead the way for the RiverCats in 2023.
North Fremont and Salmon could challenge for the second spot in District 6 as well, while West Jefferson is trying to shake off a winless season in 2022.
Malad represented District 5 at state a year ago, and ended up taking the third place trophy with a 1-0 win over Melba on Saturday at state. Coach Bo Clark welcomes back several players from last year's team, including Gaiden Combs and Chase Briggs. A number of freshmen and sophomores played for the Dragons in 2022, and that on-the-job training will pay dividends this year. Bear Lake and Soda Springs are within striking distance of Malad, but District 5 still belongs to the Dragons until someone snatches the title from them.
Declo and Wendell will duke it out once again in the two-team Canyon Conference. Wendell won the district a year ago, and dropped a 6-5 heartbreaker in extra innings to Firth in the opening round. The Trojans have a new coach this year in Joseph Swainston. He'll rely on returning standouts Alex Hirai, Cooper Jones and Elliot Thompson. The Hornets, meanwhile, have a strong group of athletes to work with. Kyden Murdock and Cal Silcock will led the charge, but talented players like Deagon Edgar, Will Garrard and Treg Zaharias will also contribute.
Up north, the District 1-2 race could be fascinating. Orofino is the defending champion, and the Maniacs will be led by seniors Nick Drobish and Easton Schneider. Bodey Howell, Drew Hannah, and Dashel Barlow are also strong returnees for Orofino. St. Maries also qualified for state a year ago, and feature talented players such as Trey Gibson, Kody Tefft, Dillon Holder, Trace Wicks and Wyatt Holmes.
Adding to the mix in District 1-2 this year is Kellogg, a strong program that's been a 3A school in the past. Kellogg moved down to 2A competition this year, though, and boast twin brothers Kolby and Riply Luna, Ramsey Rainio and Reed Whatcott. Grangeville has also been strong in the past, and is looking to turn things around after last year's 7-16 record. Ray Holes and Sam Lindsley will lead the Bulldogs in 2023.
CLASS 1A
Since the IHSAA switched its classification designations from the old A-1, A-2 system to its current form in the early 2000s, the Whitepine League in District 2 has won every....single....baseball championship. The trend appears set to continue this year, as North Star Charter, District 3's best program the past several years, has moved up to Class 2A competition.
The Troy Trojans came into state as the fourth and final qualifier from District 2 a year ago. A 4-2 win over North Star Charter, a 19-0 shellacking of league rival Prairie, and a 4-3 nailbiter over defending champ Genesee gave the Trojans an improbable state title. Junior Joseph Bendel and sophomore Dominic Holden are expected to anchor the Trojans' lineup in 2023, but Troy must figure out how to replace the production of graduated senior Cameron House, their leader at the plate and on the mound.
Genesee is in a similar boat after saying goodbye to talented seniors Cameron Meyer, Cy Wareham, Jack Johnson and Nate Guinard. Cy Wareham's younger brother Teak, along with Derek Burt and Kole Scharnhorst, are expected to lead the Bulldogs this year.
Clearwater Valley actually won the district tournament up north a year ago, but fell to Genesee in the state semifinals. Prairie then defeated the Rams 4-0 in the third place game. Landon Schlieper. Louie Fabbi, Austin Curtis, Carson Schilling and Tiago Pickering are just some of the talented athletes ready to lead Clearwater Valley this year. Prairie will feature standouts like Cody Kaschmitter, Collin Ray and Colton McElroy.
Potlatch and Kendrick are lurking on the periphery and could challenge for state bids this year. The Loggers will be led by Jaxon Vowels, while Kendrick features Ty Koepp and Wyatt Fitzmorris. Lapwai and Lewis County could also surprise folks in the Whitepine League this season.
Idaho's only other district in 1A baseball is District 3, plus Glenns Ferry of District 4. Over the years, the Pilots have been the most consistent team in the district, as coach Casey Martinez always has high turnout. David Hernandez, Parker Martinez, Chase Mills, Chase Stewart, Jesus Ortiz and Blake Chafin all saw significant playing time a year ago, and their return is the biggest reason why Glenns Ferry is the favorite to win District 3.
Rimrock and Garden Valley also qualified for state a year ago. The Raiders will be led by Aden Aquiso, while Garden Valley has a bevy of talented athletes to lean on, including Trayson Corn, Zade Thompson and Tacoma Kelly.
Horseshoe Bend and Wilder have also put together rosters capable of making a postseason run this year. Kaleun Jones, Barrett Huston, Carson Drake and Blayne Meyer are veterans at this point, and their experience could help the Mustangs against younger competition. Wilder has a new coach this year in Pedro Rodriguez, and he'll rely on seniors Erick Siodia, Alberto Torres and Felix Lopez.
The Idaho City baseball program, in just its third season of existence, is rolling with a younger roster this year, as Payton Chesire is the only senior. Vision Charter has dropped down from Class 2A, and will be lead by senior Cody Kline. And Greenleaf Friends and Gem State have formed a co-op once again, but not much is known about how the Jaguars will fare in 2023.
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