Last year, the Thunder Ridge softball team added a third-place trophy from the 5A state tournament to its resume.
Rigby claimed state runner-up honors last season, making it one of the most successful postseasons for 5A District 5-6 teams.
With district softball tournaments getting underway this week, the Titans look to add some more state hardware, but maybe a different color this time around.
Thunder Ridge is 21-1 this season and ranked No. 2 in the most recent coaches’ state poll behind defending 5A champion Owyhee
Coach Keisha Fisher credits the team’s senior experience and the lineup’s ability to gel with underclassmen as one of the main reasons the team has been successful this season.
“One of the biggest things is the seven seniors all do a good job,” Fisher said. “The kids put the time in to get better.”
Leading the charge is Kaliann Scoresby, an All-State first-team selection and the Post Register Player of the Year last season.
Through 22 games, Scoresby, an Idaho State signee, was hitting .534 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs. She may be more impressive in the circle, where she enters the postseason 16-0 with a 1.71 earned run average, while striking out 210 batters in 94 innings.
“There’s a calmness,” Fisher said of Scoresby’s demeanor on the field. “She just pitches her heart out.”
Even with their dual-threat star, the Titans are far from a one-player show, a fact Fisher is quick to point out when talking about the team’s balance.
With pitcher Carly Jones out with an injury, freshman Alex Bundy and sophomore Leyda Santillan have seen time in the circle. At the plate, Bundy is hitting .389 and Santillan is batting .317. Freshmen Giulia Johns (.429), Kenley Butler (.407) and Sadie Fullmer (.508) have all been tough outs in the lineup.
“Our offense has been phenomenal,” Scoresby said, noting scoring early and piling up runs obviously is an advantage for her when pitching.
The Titans average 10.18 runs per game. Madison, which handed Thunder Ridge its only loss this season, averages 9.17 runs. Potential state tournament matchups could be high scoring with Owyhee averaging 13.26 runs, Mountain View at 12.50 and Middleton at 10.52 runs. Both Coeur d’Alene and Lake City also averaged more than 10 runs.
But none of that matters if the Titans don’t continue to perform in the district tournament.
Mal Webb noted the regular season doesn’t mean much once the postseason gets underway.
“You have to be ready to play,” she said.
The Titans open the 5A District 5-6 tournament Tuesday against Highland. Madison is the No. 2 seed and takes on No. 3 Rigby on Tuesday. The winners will play at 4 p.m. Tuesday for a berth in Thursday’s championship game.
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