STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS: Patience key for Coeur d'Alene; seniors lead way for young Timberlake squad

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

6A

The Coeur d’Alene High softball team has lost just two games heading into the state 6A tournament, which begins today at Eagle High and at Owyhee High in Meridian. 

The Viking coaches studied those two losses, made an adjustment and the team has resumed its winning, hitting ways. 

The adjustment? 

“Taking pitches,” seventh-year Coeur d’Alene softball coach Bobbi Darretta said. “When we lost against Lake City and Post Falls, and it was like an 87 pitch count, and an 86 pitch count. We basically forced them to take pitches, because they can hit. I told them, ‘You can hit, you don’t have to hit the first pitch; you’re not getting the pitchers tired.’ We made them all wait for a strike, and just made the pitchers tired.” 

The result? 

“We had like 163 pitches last game (Tuesday, in Game 1 of a best-of-3 series vs. Lake City for the 6A District 1 title), and ... we tracked pitches and we noticed that was the only thing we did differently when we lost.” 

Coeur d’Alene is making its fourth straight trip to state, seeking its first trophy since 2019, when the Vikings tied for third in a rain-shortened state tourney at Post Falls High in Darretta’s first season. 

The sixth-seeded Vikings (18-2) open vs. third-seeded Eagle (17-5) today at 2 p.m. PDT at Owyhee High in Meridian.

Last year, Coeur d’Alene, as the eighth seed, upset top-seeded Owyhee in the first round, then lost to Timberline and Capital and finished tied for fifth, one win from a trophy. 

Borah, the seventh seed last year, won the state title, beating an Owyhee team weary from playing all the way back through the losers bracket, courtesy of the Vikings. 

Coeur d'Alene has just two seniors — second baseman Chloe Burke and pitcher Leah Nordman — but most of the others gained experience at state last year.

This year, with much of that same team back? 

“I think we’re better hitters,” Darretta said. “We will be facing some teams with better pitching than last year, but we’re also small-ballers, and fast, and that’s what we built our team for last year, because we’re quick, and we’re quick again.”  

Owyhee is the top seed again. Timberline, the second seed, was third last year. Eagle also went 1-2 and tied for fifth last year. 

4A

Timberlake is a regular at state softball, having been to every state tournament since 2000. 

But state will be relatively new to many on this year’s Tigers squad, which has four freshmen, two sophomores and a junior, in addition to five seniors. 

“We are extremely young, but in a way that has helped us in the context of not really knowing when to be nervous,” said Casi Lupinacci, who has said she will be resigning at the conclusion of this, her 10th season at the helm. “The girls are very even keeled, and we are really starting to play well together. Shae (freshman Shae Jones) has been solid on the mound all year long, and our defense is clicking at the right time. I think we have a great shot at doing well at the state tournament.” 

Timberlake (15-3), the sixth seed, opens vs. third seed Weiser (16-6) today at 2 p.m. at Skyview High in Nampa.

“When the season started I had a lot more questions than I did answers, but as we have progressed on, things quickly started falling into place,” Lupinacci said.  

“My seniors have played a huge role in taking over leadership positions and making sure the underclassmen understand our culture and philosophy. That was a huge load off my shoulders as a coach, and it definitely helped this team get to where we are now. Jesi (Kitchin) and Marissa (Needs) did a great job with the infield and offensively making sure kids understood assignments and why we do things the way we do it. They have done a great job leading by example and have acted like another coach on the field. Taylor (Bentley) was a huge help behind the plate with Shae— every great pitcher needs a great catcher, and Taylor was that. Without Taylor, this season would have been vastly different. Reese (Allaway) has been our "jack-of-all-trades" player for us this year. She's one of those kids who is willing to do whatever you need whenever you ask. And Amy (McCune, the fifth senior) has been our constant outfield leader and consistent hitter at the plate.” 

Defending champion Kimberly is the No. 1 seed. Homedale, last year’s runner-up, did not qualify. 

Timberlake was third last year, its best finish since 2017, when the Tigers were runners-up to Bonners Ferry.  

Jones has a 1.30 ERA in the circle, with 208 strikeouts in 102.1 innings. 

“Shae has been great all season long,” Lupinacci said. “She's only a freshman, but her poise on the mound is beyond her years. We need to generate runs, and everything else should fall into place.  

“I'm excited to see how this tournament shapes up. We have a lot going for us, and I know this team is going to compete.”