Softball state roundup: Malad, Pocatello flex muscles; Highland, Teton, North Fremont also win

NAMPA — The Pocatello Thunder and Malad Dragons each announced their pressence with authority during Thursday’s opening round of the Softball State Championships, earning mercy-rule victories.

But they weren’t alone in claiming victories for District 5-6 schools. The Highland Rams, Teton Timberwolves and North Fremont Huskies also opened their tourneys with wins.

Here is a complete rundown of Thursday’s action:

6A

Highland earned a 5-2 victory over the Mountain View Mavericks, at Eagle High School.

The Rams were paced by junior McKenna Sutton, who tossed a complete game, striking out 10 while holding Mountain View to four hits and a single earned run. She added a two-run homer. Freshman third baseman Dawson Sommers finished the game with with one hit and two RBIs.

Highland will face the 6A favorite and top-seeded Owyhee Storm, Friday at Eagle High School, with a spot in the championship round on the line.

5A

The reigning champion Pocatello Thunder opened their tournament run with a decisive 12-0 win over the Jerome Tigers.

Top-seeded Pocatello got four innings of two-hit ball from junior Charlie Naylor, who added a 3-for-3 performance at the dish. Seven of nine Thunder starters recorded at least one hit, with eight scoring at least one run.

The Thunder will face host Skyview, Friday, with a berth in the semifinals on the line.

The No. 2-seeded Blackfoot Broncos dropped a tight battle with the Burley Bobcats, 4-2.

Blackfoot outhit Burley, eight to five, but finished the game waiting for the big hit. Starter Brianna Reynolds led the way with two hits, while slowing the Burley bats for four innings. Kylee Pratt came on in relief in the fifth inning, allowing just a walk over the final three frames.

The Broncos will face Middleton in the consolation bracket, Friday.

4A

Preston was unable to stop the bleeding in the fourth inning, against reigning 2A champs, Cole Valley Christian.

The Chargers scored 15 runs in the fourth, and finished with a 23-1 mercy-rule victory.

Preston collected just two hits, one apiece from Paisley Campbell and Chloe Dunn.

They will face Timberlake, Friday, in the consolation bracket.

Seven-seeded Preston will be joined by eight-seeded Marsh Valley in the consolation bracket. The Eagles dropped their opener, 18-1, at the hands of the Kimberly Bulldogs.

Lydia Howell was credited with two of Marsh Valley’s three hits, while scoring the Eagles’ lone run.

They will face the Gooding Senators, Friday.

Gooding is in the consolation bracket after dropping a eight-inning, back-and-forth battle with Teton.

The Timberwolves scored three runs in the top of the eighth, then held the line in the bottom half to secure the extra-inning win. They were led by Kara Webster, who tallied three hits and three runs scored — one of which coming in the eighth.

They advance to face top-seeded Kimberly, Friday.

3A

Malad and North Fremont earned a Friday showdown with their Thursday victories.

The No. 1-seed Dragons bested eighth-seed Firth, 14-4, via mercy rule, behind a three-hit, three-run performance from Hadlee Summers. Riglee Peterson chipped in with two hits and three runs of her own.

The Cougars got a solo homer from Linlee Telford.

North Fremont got monster performances up and down the lineup en route to a 14-11 victory over the Orofino Maniacs. Three Huskies drove in three runs apiece, while nine North Fremont hitters — of the 10 who played — picked up at least one hit.

The victor of Friday’s matchup between North Fremont and Malad will head to the championship round, with the other dropping into the consolation bracket.