There is something to be said about rivalries in sports.

Whether it's the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees, or a matchup between the Wallace Miners and Kellogg Wildcats - rivalries bring out the best in players.

Last Saturday, while watching the Class AA Area A (district) Legion baseball tournament at Post Falls High, it seemed as though another chapter in a long list of rivalry games was written.

THE GAMES between the Lewis-Clark Twins and Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen in the past month have been nothing short of intense. Although neither team seemed to show the fire before the game started, after the game ended - they did.

Both teams qualified for the state tournament, starting today at Timberline High, and should they meet again, you can probably expect some intense games as they battle for one spot into regionals next week in Spokane.

And after going at each other seven times in league and district play, both will probably enjoy seeing someone other than each other when they make it to Boise.

RIVALRY GAMES are something that I've enjoyed watching, whether it's a game between Wallace and Kellogg in the Silver Valley, or games between Southern Idaho and North Idaho in Scenic West Athletic Conference play.

As a fan, you never have to worry about intensity in those games, because most of the time, both teams have those games circled on their schedule well in advance.

Same could be said for those fans, who outside of a homecoming football game, will make that rivalry game the only other game they make sure to attend.

However, with some of the changes in the scheduling of games in the North Star League, that Kellogg-Wallace game hasn't been played in three years, something that is still taking me some getting used to.

WHETHER OR not it's considered a rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, both teams are expected to challenge for a playoff spot each year makes it one to me.

When Seattle played in the AFC West, the idea of a West Coast rivalry with San Francisco was one that I laughed at due to the fact that San Francisco was rolling into championship games, while Seattle, well didn't.

After Seattle moved to the NFC West, they'd continue to challenge, but could never find a way to win against San Francisco. Once they finally did it was Seattle that kept making the playoffs and a rivalry was born.

There are many reasons why, as a Seahawks fan, I love to hate San Francisco.

Terrell Owens signing a football after scoring a game-winning touchdown, Patrick Willis running back an 80-yard interception of Matt Hasselbeck tipped pass or Frank Gore nearly breaking the NFL rushing record on my birthday last year, but the biggest reason like any rivalry game is simple.

They're next on the schedule.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2020, or via e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.