For all the talk of Lake City marching through the state 5A tournament, which runs Friday and Saturday at Ramsey Park, there is this one little point to keep in mind:

The defending champions are back in this tournament as well.

Coeur d'Alene pulled off the stunner over the Timberwolves in last year's title tilt in Chubbuck - back when just one win was needed for the title. This year, it's back to double-elimination.

The Vikings had lost 10 straight to Lake City before last year's big win. This year, Lake City is 5-0 vs. Coeur d'Alene.

But all they want is another chance.

"We know it can be done; a lot of people didn't think we could compete with them last year," Coeur d'Alene coach Larry Bieber said.

Coeur d'Alene (18-8) opens vs. Highland (20-5) of Pocatello on Friday at 9 a.m.

Two wins each by Coeur d'Alene and Lake City would mean a matchup in the winners bracket final Saturday at 10 a.m. That winner would advance to the championship game at 2 p.m., leaving the loser having to come back and beat them twice for the title.

Lake City coach Laura Tolzmann said the team talked about last year's title-game loss at the first practice of this season - but hasn't brought it up since.

"That was hard to deal with, but it almost fueled the fire (for this season)," Lake City junior shortstop Dakota Wilson said.

Unlike Coeur d'Alene, Lake City opted not to make its annual trek to the Boise area for the Idaho Sporting Goods tournament in late March.

"I knew there wasn't anything new down there, to be honest," Tolzmann said. "Pitching wise, nobody had anyone coming in that we hadn't already seen last year, and so we looked into playing some other competition around the Northwest."

So Lake City played teams like University, Richland, Hanford and Colville instead, and will be a bit of a mystery to the teams coming from the Boise area, led by Eagle (24-1), considered the top team from there.

"I kind of like the surprise for them, too," she said of the teams coming up from the south.

Lakeland advanced to the state 4A tournament for the fifth time in six years, missing out only in 2011 - the last time 4A state was in the North.

"We're really excited, especially for our seniors," Lakeland coach Colleen Bevacqua said. "They've worked really hard as a coaching staff and as a team. We just want to go out and put forth a really good showing for our school."

Shortstop Bekah Kastning, third baseman Erin Ogden, second baseman Lauren Schwalbach and pitcher Kristin Klopatek, all seniors, were on last year's team that went 1-2 at state at Twin Falls High, losing in the consolation championship game against Twin Falls.

Lakeland (15-8) faces Kuna (15-7) in its tournament opener Friday at 9 a.m. at Post Falls High.

"It doesn't matter where we play," Bevacqua said. "It's great to have it closer to home to have more people come out to support us, but there's something about traveling as a team. But it's also nice to have it in your own back yard."

Timberlake has had its share of exceptional pitchers over the years.

But the Tigers started this season with pitcher-by-committee.

That was until Sydnie Malloy took over. The senior and three-year starter at shortstop became the No. 1 pitcher midway through the season, and takes a 7-4 record into state.

Timberlake (12-6), making its 14th straight appearance at state, opens vs. District 3 and two-time defending state champion Fruitland on Friday at 8 a.m. PDT at North Park in Buhl.

"Early on we didn't have any pitchers, just throwers," Timberlake coach Mike Menti said. "Sydnie Malloy has turned into a heckuva pitcher, hitting her spots and mixing in a good little changeup. My goal was just to pitch her three innings a game, but the leader that Syd is, she just put the team on her back and said let's go."

Lexi Posch, Timberlake's third baseman last year, moved over and capably replaced Malloy at shortstop.

St. Maries is back at state for the third time in Todd Bitterman's six season as coach, all coming in odd years - 2009, '11 and this year.

But this is the Lumberjacks' first trip to state in 2A, after dropping from 3A after last year. St. Maries (8-15) opens vs. District 5 champion Malad on Friday at 9 a.m. at Orofino High.

The season has been a work in progress for St. Maries, which won a play-in game last Saturday to advance to state.

"(Our record) is not by any means what anybody wants," Bitterman said. "But we played and we fixed some things during the season."

Sports writer Jason Elliott contributed to this story.