Under the format for Idaho's state baseball tournaments, there's little margin for error.

One slipup and its over.

The Coeur d'Alene Vikings have been in the state title hunt each of the last four years, and will be again this year. The Vikings (20-4), last year's state runners-up, open the 5A tourney on Thursday at 9 a.m. PDT vs. Capital (17-5) of Boise, the District 3 runners-up.

Last year, Coeur d'Alene scored 26 runs in two games to reach the title game, but mustered only two runs in a 6-2 loss to Timberline of Boise in the title game.

The previous two years, the Vikings lost in the first round, but battled back to take fourth. In 2010, Coeur d'Alene fell in the semifinals, then tied for third when the third-place game was snowed out.

"You just never know down at state," said Nick Rook, who has taken the Vikings to state in each of his six seasons as coach. "You've got to have championship pitching, and championship defense, and timely knocks. We did not pitch it well last year, and did not play well defensively, but we hit it a ton, and that's really the only reason we had a chance, and got in the title game."

Coeur d'Alene is led by Gonzaga signee Nick Nyquist (.506, 6 HRs, 30 RBIs), Michael Hicks (.429, 5 HRs, 29 RBIs), Devin Kluss (.348, 4 HRs, 23 RBIs) and Seattle U signee Sean Sutton (.417, 4 HRs, 22 RBIs). The Vikings have hit a school-record 26 homers this season.

"Last year I felt like the state title came down to one play," Rook said. "It's probably not totally true. You've got to have two of the three - you've got to have really good pitching and really good defense, or really good defense and timely hitting, and last year we had one of the three, we didn't have two of the three. Three of the three would be great, but you've got to have two of the three."

What about the Vikings this year?

"I'd be surprised if people could bang it (as well as we can)," Rook said. "We're going to be as good offensively as anybody. I think we play really good defense. ... I think we're good enough on the mound, I think we play really good defense, and we can swing it."

Timberline is back at state this year, albeit as the fourth seed from District 3 with a 12-15 record. The Coeur d'Alene-Capital winner will play Highland or Timberline on the second day. Highland was third last year; Capital was not at state.

“I’d be surprised if people could bang it (as well as we can),” Rook said. “We’re going to be as good offensively as anybody. I think we play really good defense. ... I think we’re good enough on the mound.”

Pitching wise, Coeur d’Alene is led by Connor Cardinel (4-0, 3.40 ERA), Elliott Sparks (4-1, 1.73 ERA) and Colby Kennedy (3-0, 2.02 ERA).

Timberline is back at state this year, albeit as the fourth seed from District 3 with a 12-15 record. The Coeur d’Alene-Capital winner will play Highland or Timberline on the second day. Highland was third last year; Capital was not at state.

4A: The Lakeland Hawks will have strength in pitching when they head south for the 4A tournament at Rodeo Park in Nampa.

Kris Jackson — who threw a no-hitter in the Region 1 title game against Moscow — as well as Dylan Piva, Brian Howell and Logan Bruner expect to see time on the mound for the Hawks this week.

“They’re all throwing really well,” Lakeland coach Jason Bradbury said. “This was just another step in what we’re trying to accomplish this year. First we wanted to win league and get home field (for the playoffs), then advance to state and bring back a trophy.”

Lakeland (14-7) will face Jerome in their tournament opener on Thursday at 3 p.m. PDT.

Lakeland has advanced to state in four of the last five years, the only blip when the Hawks were upset at regionals by Moscow in 2013.

“It’s really tough to get here,” said Bradbury, who is in his 12th year as Lakeland coach. “Especially with what happened last year with Moscow.”

Bonneville of Idaho Falls is the defending champion.

3A: The Timberlake Tigers will take a senior-heavy squad to state starting Thursday at Fruitland High.

The Tigers (15-8), making their fourth state tourney appearance in the last five seasons, open against the defending champion Snake River Panthers at noon.

“I feel we’re pretty good in spots all the way around,” Timberlake coach Bill Rider said. “We’re set up all the way around.”

Timberlake outscored its opponents 28-2 in two games at the District 1 tournament to advance.

“Sometimes you have a good season, and it doesn’t match up down there,” said Rider, in his eighth year as Timberlake coach. “Some of these guys have been working their tails off since they were in seventh grade and coming to camps. I’ve excited to take this group down and see what they can do.”

Timberlake won the consolation championship last year.

2A: St. Maries was just one out from a date in the state championship game last year in its first appearance since dropping from the 3A classification.

Then, the Lumberjacks had to sit and watch as Central Idaho League rival Grangeville won the state title.

St. Maries (15-4) returns to state for a third straight year, eliminating Grangeville in the District 1-2 second-place game last Tuesday in Orofino, the site of this year’s state tournament.

The Lumberjacks open state against New Plymouth on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. New Plymouth beat St. Maries 10-2 in last year’s third-place game.

• See IdahoSports.com for webcast schedules from state.