Maniacs fourth in state baseball

   The Orofino Maniacs won their opener against Bear Lake during last week’s Idaho 3A baseball state tournament, but lost the following day to Payette to end their championship hopes.

   In a consolation game Saturday, the Maniacs fell to Fruitland 7-5.

Orofino 8, Bear Lake 5

   After seeing a four-run lead disappear quickly, the Orofino Maniacs had to stage a comeback of their own to get by Bear Lake 8-5 and advance in the state tournament held May 20-22 at Treasure Valley College in Ontario, OR.

   Things started off well for Orofino, as Ricky Breeden smacked an RBI double in the first inning and Ethan Gilliam blasted a two-run homer.

   The Maniacs were cruising with a 4-0 lead after scoring a run in the second inning, but they gave up three runs in the fourth (two unearned) and two more in the top of the fifth to go down 5-4.

   "We had it under control," coach Bo Cummings said. "Basically we made a big, big, big, big, big error in the fourth."

   But the Maniacs got things together in the bottom of the fifth and put up three runs of their own to seize control once again. That included an RBI double from Gilliam and an RBI single by catcher Jason Thompson.

   The Maniacs then sucked some of the life out of Bear Lake in the top of the sixth when first baseman Nick Pomponio put an end to a potential rally as he dove to catch a ball and doubled a runner off second. The Maniacs tacked on one more run in their half of the sixth, and reliever Seth Melton finished out the game on the mound.

   Starting pitcher Michael Welch had 11 strikeouts on the day for Orofino.

Bear Lake 000 320 0-5 6 3

Orofino 310 031 x-8 5 2

Tyrel Anderson, Alex Carr (5) and Jastyn Saxton. Michael Welch, Seth Melton (6) and Jason Thompson.

Bear Lake hits - Anderson 3 (2B), Jordan Ramusson 2 (2B), Trent Mitchell.

Orofino hits - Ricky Breeden 2 (2-2B), Ethan Gilliam 2 (2B, HR), Thompson.

Payette 12, Orofino 2

   A horrendous first inning for Orofino set the tone, as the Maniacs were banished to the consolation bracket with a loss to Payette in the Idaho Class 3A tournament semifinals.

   The Maniacs slipped behind 7-0 in the first frame. Payette smacked just two singles, getting help from three walks and a hit batter.

   Orofino coach Bo Cummings also said a few calls went against his club.

   "Everything just went against us today," he said. "Nothing we can do about it."

   Orofino (19-7) generated its only offense in the third, when a double from Adam Wilson was followed by RBI singles from Michael Welch and Ethan Gilliam. The Maniacs managed just one other hit outside of the third.

Orofino 002 00- 2 4 2

Payette 702 3x-12 6 1

Trevor Bansemer, Ricky Breeden (3), Jesse Adams (4) and Jason Thompson. Brad Huddleston and Matt Allison.

Orofino hits - Adam Wilson (2B), Michael Welch 2, Ethan Gilliam.

Payette hits - Huddleston, Tommy Laume, Allison 2 (2-2B), Adam White 2 (3B).

Fruitland 7, Orofino 5

   With a 7-5 loss to Fruitland, the Maniacs ended state tournament play in fourth place.

   "They are pretty much the No. 1 team in the state right now," Orofino coach Bo Cummings said of Fruitland. "Even though we didn't play our best, I am really proud of what this team accomplished."

   The windy conditions probably contributed to taking the players out of their comfort zone, resulting in three errors for the Maniacs.

   Orofino tied the score at 5 in the top of the sixth, only to watch as Fruitland tacked up two runs of their own to arrive at the final margin.

   Michael Welch had two hits, including a triple, for Orofino. Seth Melton went the distance in a losing effort.

Orofino 101 003 0-5 7 3

Fruitland 100 222 x-7 10 1

Seth Melton and Jason Thompson. Joel Martarano, Colson Warrington (4) and Dalton Blackwell.

Orofino hits - Melton, Adam Wilson, Michael Welch 2 (3B), Ricky Breeden, Ethan Gilliam, Trevor Bansemer.

Fruitland hits - Ryan Wright 3 (2B), Lane LaCrone 3, Martarano (2B), Reed Johnson 2, Warrington.

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Snowstorm no obstacle in quest for gold
(This article includes Orofino and Timberline track information)

   Running in a snowstorm proved no problem for Austin Blain, as the Timberline senior raced to the gold medal in the 1600 with a time of 4:39.78 at the Idaho State 3A/2A/1A track meet in Boise May 21-22.

   After finishing second in the 3200 and 800 earlier in the meet, Blain faced unheard of weather conditions for a state meet.

   What began as morning drizzle turned to solid rain, then to a flurry of wet May snowfall as fans squeezed into a stretch of covered seats at Bronco Stadium. Puddles began to form on the polyurethane track surface, and athletes waiting for medals huddled for warmth beneath flimsy canopies.

   Blain, who says, "Over the last four years, I'll bet I've had about 60 practices in the snow. You get used to it," was unfazed by the conditions as he ran his race.

   He passed four runners over the last 250 meters, taking the lead in the homestretch and pocketing his first state-meet win in 4 minutes, 39.78 seconds.

   The previous day, Blain finished second in the 3200, but broke a 23-year old Timberline record, previously set by Marty Bonner.  Blain finished with a time of 9:51.15, shaving more than five seconds off Bonner’s time.

   Also on Saturday, Blain finished the 800 in second place with a time of 1:59.67.

   On opening day, Monique Stamper of Orofino, favored in the 3A girls' pole vault, developed a blister on her hand while using a new pole, and wound up second at 10 feet.

   In 3A, Orofino's only medal Saturday was by Katie Nemeth, third in the girls' long jump.

   In 1A Timberline girls finished 24th overall with 8 points, while the boys placed seventh with 32.

   Orofino girls finished 17th with 15 points.

Results of District II athletes

Finals

Class 3A

Girls

Pole vault - 2, Monique Stamper, Oro, 10-0.

Discus - 8, Tabby Mikel, Oro, 99-8.

Class 1A

Boys

800 - 2, Austin Blain, Tim, 1:59.67. 3, Blake Warner, Ken, 2:00.12.

1600 - 1, Austin Blain, Tim, 4:39.78.

3200 - 2, Austin Blain, Tim, 9:51.15.

Medley relay - 5, Timberline 3:49.79. 8, Kendrick 4:10.70.

Triple jump - 1, Kyle Curtice, Ken, 43-4. 3, Marshall Williams, Troy, 40-111/2. 7, Kendrick Jared, Tim, 39-81/4.

Girls

400 - 5, Taylor Hewett, Cul, 1:03.16. 7, Aspen Jared, Tim, 1:06.55.

800 - 1, Taylor Hewett, Cul, 2:21.88. 4, Aspen Jared, Tim, 2:30.75.

800 relay - 1, Prairie (Hill, Vonbargen, T. Schaeffer, M. Schaeffer) 1:49.62. 3, Troy 1:52.60. 8, Timberline 1:56.55.

Class 3A/2A

Girls

Long jump - 3, Katie Nemeth, Oro, 16-01/4.

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Austin Blain (#705) and fellow competitors on the podium accepting their medals at State 1A Track May 20-22 in Boise.

Austin Blain launches from the starting line during a race in State 1A Track in Boise May 20-22. It rained and snowed heavily during the competitions.

Timberline’s Austin Blain sets records and wins medals

   Austin Blain’s performance for Timberline High School during 1A state track competition May 20-22 brought home a gold medal, two silver medals, and a bronze medal, and set some new records.

   With a time of 4:39, Blain became the state 1A champion in the 1600 Meter race.

   Blain’s 3200 Meter race time of 9:51 earned him a silver medal and set a new Timberline High School record, beating a 1987 record of 9:56 set by Marty Bonner. Blain’s 800 Meter race time of 1:59 also earned him a silver medal.

   In his district performance May 14-15, Blain took home four gold medals.

   He won the 800 Meter race with a time of 1:58, which was a new Idaho District I/II, 1A record held by Josh Dalton of Deary, as well as a new Timberline High School record Blain himself set last year, with a time of 2:00.73.

   In the 1600 Meter race at districts he won with a time of 4:49, setting a new Idaho District I/II record held by Josh Dalton of Deary. In the 3200 Meter race he won with a time of 10:14.

   In the Medley Relay the Timberline team of John Syed (200 M), John Miles (200 M), Kendrick Jared (400 M) and Austin Blain (800 M) won the gold with a time of 3:44.16, which was very close to the current Timberline school record.

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