Some of their best work this season has been done in Kootenai County.

But to win a state 5A championship in baseball, the Coeur d’Alene Vikings will have to eliminate the mistakes and continue with what has gotten them this far — winning.

“Boise is all about taking advantage of opportunities,” Coeur d’Alene coach Nick Rook said. “We’re definitely good enough on the mound to get there, it’s just a matter of getting some good hops and having some luck on your side.”

Coeur d’Alene has won 22 straight games after losing its first two games of the season at Rocky Mountain on March 23. Coeur d’Alene (22-2) could face Rocky Mountain (24-1) in the semfinals on Friday with wins by both schools today at Boise Hawks Stadium.

Coeur d’Alene returns Levi Pereira, who played first base and Joe Roletto and Bubba Duran, who were part-time starters from last year’s team that won the consolation championship. Mikey Schmidt, who is 9-0 this season, also pitched last year for Coeur d’Alene.

“Our senior leadership is huge,” Rook said. “They know what it’s like and know the pressure. Boise is all about limiting the mistakes and having some timely hitting.”

Coeur d’Alene’s chance at a state title last year disappeared when it lost its first game at state, 4-3 to Mountain View.

“Minor mistakes are magnified down there,” Rook said. “We’ve had some minor mistakes in the past down there the last few years that has prevented us from advancing.”

Duran is the starting shortstop for the Vikings, who open the tournament in the late game against Mountain View (13-12) of Meridian at 6:15 p.m. (PDT). The Vikings are at state for the third straight year.

“There’s not really pressure on us to win,” Duran said. “It’s still a game to me. I’m real excited and think we’ll do really well down there and compete.”

Pereira has moved to catcher this year.

“I’m excited,” Pereira said. “It’s going to be fun to go back down there. Hopefully we can win a few more games and get a state title. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and we can’t make mistakes, but we have a chance.”

Lewiston (11-12) defeated Post Falls in the regional runner-up game and will face Timberline (17-7) of Boise to open the tournament at noon.

Eagle is defending champion and will face Highland in the opening game today.

4A: Lakeland won its first game 13-11 against Skyview last year, then lost to eventual champion Twin Falls in the semifinals and to Bonneville 14-13 in the third-place game.

Junior left-handed pitcher Troy Carr struck out six and allowed three hits in the regional championship game for Lakeland.

“I’m really excited about getting back to state,” Carr said. “

Nathan Collier, who played at Coeur d’Alene High last year, transferred to Lakeland this year.

“I think we’ve got a chance to make some noise at state,” Collier said. “We’re hitting the ball really well and our pitchers are throwing strikes. I think we’ve got a good chance to win some games.”

Lakeland (16-5) opens with Bishop Kelly (24-1) today at 9 a.m. at Rodeo Park in Nampa. The Hawks are at state for the third straight year.

Twin Falls is defending champion and opens with Middleton (13-12).

3A: After a disastrous start to the 2012 season where his team walked 35 batters in their first three games — advancing to a state tournament was the furthest thing on St. Maries coach Craig Tefft’s mind.

But after defeating Timberlake 4-3 in the 3A District 1 championship game, the Lumberjacks have qualified for the tournament.

“If you look at where we were at and walking 35 guys, I don’t think we had this on our minds,” Tefft said. “It took lots of hard work and trusting the process and believing it would pay off in the end — and it did.”

St. Maries (11-9) faces South Fremont (13-7) in the opening round today at 3 p.m. at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore.

The Lumberjacks are at state for the first time since 2009.

Timberlake: The Tigers needed one win on the final day of the 3A district tournament last year to make it to state — and they lost two games and missed out on state.

This year, Timberlake lost in the district title game again — but bounced back to win the second-place game to advance to state.

“It was frustrating last year for that group,” Timberlake coach Bill Rider said. “They were pretty hungry to get back.”

Timberlake (14-7), at state for the second time in three years and the third time in school history, opens the tourney today at 9 a.m. PDT vs. Snake River (14-6) at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore.

On the mound, the Tigers will likely start senior J.D. Page, who has struck out 96 batters this season, including 21 in one game.

“It’s been nice to have a kid like J.D. to depend on,” Rider said.

Rider also mentioned clutch contributions from seniors Trenton Reese and Jerry Thiel. Last year, Timberlake won the Intermountain League with four freshmen, and that sophomore group has grown up, he said.

“The young kids have, all of a sudden, discovered what it’s like to play varsity,” Rider said.

STATE BASEBALL SCHEDULES

Times PDT

At Boise Hawks Stadium, Boise

Friday

Game 1 — Highland (14-6) vs. Eagle (17-7), 9 a.m.

Game 2 — Timberline (17-7) vs. Lewiston (11-12), noon

Game 3 — Rocky Mountain (24-1) vs. Idaho Falls (13-10), 3:30 p.m.

Game 4 — Coeur d’Alene (22-2) vs. Mountain View (13-12), 6:15

Friday, May 18

Game 5 — Loser 1 vs. Loser 2, 9 a.m. (loser out)

Game 6 — Loser 3 vs. Loser 4, noon. (loser out)

Game 7 — Winner 1 vs. Winner 2, 3:30 p.m.

Game 8 — Winner 3 vs. Winner 4, 6:15

Saturday

Game 9 — Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m. (consolation championship)

Game 10 — Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, noon (third-place game)

Game 11 — Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 6 p.m. (championship game)

At Rodeo Park, Nampa

Thursday

Game 1 — Lakeland (16-5) vs. Bishop Kelly (24-1), noon.

Game 2 — Bonneville (19-4) vs. Skyview (20-7), 9 a.m.

Game 3 — Pocatello vs. Hillcrest (17-7-1), 3 p.m.

Game 4 — Twin Falls vs. Middleton (13-12), 6

Friday, May 18

Game 5 — Loser 1 vs. Loser 2, 9 a.m. (loser out)

Game 6 — Loser 3 vs. Loser 4, noon (loser out)

Game 7 — Winner 1 vs. Winner 2, 3 p.m.

Game 8 — Winner 3 vs. Winner 4, 6.

Saturday

Game 9 — Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m. (consolation championship)

Game 10 — Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, noon (third-place game)

Game 11 — Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3 p.m. (championship game)

At Treasure Valley Community College, Ontario, Ore.

Thursday

Game 1 — Timberlake (14-7) vs. Snake River (14-6), 9 a.m.

Game 2 — Kimberly (21-3) vs. Payette, noon

Game 3 — South Fremont (13-7) vs. St. Maries (11-9), 3 p.m.

Game 4 — Teton (17-5) vs. Fruitland, 6.

Friday, May 18

Game 5 — Loser 1 vs. Loser 2, 9 a.m. (loser out)

Game 6 — Loser 3 vs. Loser 4, noon (loser out)

Game 7 — Winner 1 vs. Winner 2, 3 p.m.

Game 8 — Winner 3 vs. Winner 4, 6

Saturday

Game 9 — Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m. (consolation championship)

Game 10 — Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, noon. (third-place game)

Game 11 — Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3 p.m. (championship game)