5-8-2008

4A

The Minico Spartans already locked up their 4A State Tournament berth last week, handling the Great Basin West much like they handled the season. The Spartans playing in a seeding game against the Pocatello Indians to decide who goes as the #1 and who goes as the #2.

Minico would fall behind in the early going 2-0 as the Indians struck fast. But the Spartans wouldn't wait long to battle back. Cody Winmill took one yard in the bottom half of the third to cut the lead back to one. Then, with RJ Salvi on board, Bubba Christensen sent a gapper to the wall in right center, plating Salvi to tie it up at two. The Spartans put up three more in the late going, earning the top seed when the state tournament begins next week.

3A

Kimberly was facing off with Snake River, looking to keep their playoff hopes alive as well, and trying to match last year's state run that netted them a runner-up finish behind 3A State Champion Bear Lake.

The Bulldogs took complete control of the game early, taking an 11-3 lead into the sixth. Then, they put it away. An errant throw with runners on would plate one more for a nine-run lead. They hammered a few more in the sixth, running the lead to 15-3, earning a sixth-inning, mercy-rule victory over the Panthers.

Kimberly advances to face Sugar-Salem on Saturday in Pocatello. The winner of that game will move on to play at the 3A State Tournament next week.