Some things haven’t changed for Coach Lane Watkins and the Lumberjacks.
The St. Maries softball team will make a third-consecutive trip to the 2A state tournament this week.
But more than that, the team’s opponent is also the same.
Along with all three teams on St. Maries’ side of the bracket.
Coach Watkins’ team will face Declo in Friday’s first round in a rematch of last year’s 2A opener, won 9-5 by St. Maries.
Declo is 11-7 and squared off with the tournament’s top-ranked team, Malad, May 2, losing 2-4.
The winner of St. Maries and Declo will face West Jefferson or Nampa Christian in the quarterfinal Friday afternoon.
Last year, St. Maries defeated West Jefferson 6-2 before falling to the Panthers in the third-place contest the next morning.
The Lumberjacks are seeded second in this year’s bracket. Defending-champion Malad has won 31 consecutive games dating back to the middle of the 2022 season.
St. Maries qualified for its place in the 2023 tournament with district wins over Orofino and Kellogg last week.
Taci Watkins struck out 17 batters and gave up no earned runs as her team won a district title with a 2-0 win over host Orofino.
Stacie Mitchell’s two-run homer in the first inning brought the Lumberjacks’ lone runs across.
The Lumberjacks started slow in their semifinal win over Kellogg, falling behind 0-1 in the second inning and holding a 2-1 advantage for the majority of the contest before plating four runs in the sixth inning of a 6-1 result.
Taci, Stacie, Lexie Brebner and Madison Thomas each recorded RBIs in the win.
Up Next: St. Maries (18-4) opens its state tournament Friday against Declo (11-7) Friday at 8 a.m. PST at Capell Park in Pocatello.
Pitching: Watkins – 7 innings, 17K, 0 ER
Hitting: Mitchell – 2-3, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 HR; Brebner – 3-3; Baird – 1-3, 1 run; Elliott – 1-3; McGreal – 0-3; Watkins – 0-3; Sloper – 0-2; Spray – 0-3; Thomas – 0-2
Pitching: Watkins – 7 innings, 14K, 1 ER
Hitting: Watkins – 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 run; Mitchell – 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 run; Brebner – 1-3, 1 RBI; Thomas – 1-3, 1 RBI; Elliott – 1-2; Sloper – 2-3; Baird – 0-2, 1 run; McGreal – 0-3; Spray – 0-3, 1 run
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