Roberts, Taggart, make All-State team
For the first time, two Bonners Ferry High School baseball players were selected to play in the All-State Baseball Showcase this weekend.
The news was announced after the 3A State Tournament in Ontario, Ore., where the Badgers placed fifth
Junior Zack Roberts and Senior Greg Taggart were chosen for the game. The junior games will be played at Minico High School in Rupert and the senior games will be played at Twin Falls High School.
The Badgers defeated American Falls 2-1 in the first game, but then fell to South Fremont 11-1 in five innings. Bonners Ferry lost 8-5 in a hard-fought, eight-inning game against Buhl.The Badgers end the season 17-10 overall with 10 of the 15 players returning next year.
Bonners Ferry 2, American Falls 1
Roberts dominated the American Falls batters, striking out 13 while walking only 2 in route to a 2-1 win. This was the first ever win at state in the first game of the tournament for Bonners Ferry.
There were 9 hits combined for both teams. American Falls scored in the first inning after Kody Laggis walked and Kacey Farrens hit an RBI single. Bonners Ferry tied the game in the bottom of the 2nd when Taggart started the inning off with a single and later scored on Alex Kellogg RBI fielders choice. The Badgers got the winning run across the plate in the 5th inning when Aaron Hoisington scored on a passed ball.
Hoisington, Roberts, Taggart and Erickson each had hits for the Badgers.
Bonners Ferry 1, South Fremont 11
South Fremont came into the state tournament with only one loss on the year. Hoisington started the game off scoring for the Badgers in the first inning after being hit by a pitch. After that, the Badger bats were shut down.
Taggart labored at the mound giving up 4 hits, 3 walks, 2 hit batters and 8 runs in the first 2 innings. Senior Robby Burns relieved Taggart in the 3rd inning after the Cougars took a 10-1 lead.
Roberts had 2 hits in the game while Burns and Colton Telford each had a hit.
Buhl 8, Bonners Ferry 5
Described by most in the stands, this 3rd place game was one of the most intense state games of the tournament. The Buhl Indians escaped with 8-5 extra inning win to take the 3rd place trophy.
Buhl got on the board in the 3rd inning after Badger pitcher Alex Kellogg hit 2 batters in a row. With the infield drawn in, Roberts missed a ground ball and the runners scored. In the top of the 4th, the Indians added another run after Dylan Brooks walked and later scored on Dade Pettingers RBI double.
The Badgers responded in the bottom of the 4th with two runs to cut the lead to 3-2. After CJ Erickson and Hoisington walked and Zach Maas reached on an error to load the bases, the Indians pitcher walked in two runs scoring Erickson and Hoisington. At one point in the game, there were a total of 5 runs scored for both teams on only one hit.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Badgers tied the game 3-3 after Taggart singled to start the inning. Erickson lined a double to the left field wall to score Taggart. Hoisington then ripped a single and Erickson rounded third not seeing Coach Tom Turpin hold him up. He continued to head for home only to be nailed at the plate.
In the bottom of the 6th with the score still tied 3-3, the Badger took the lead for the first time in the game. After Maas and Kellogg reached on walks, sophomore Alek Lopez lined a double which scored Maas.
Kellogg was waved home and rounded third. As he reached home, he dove head first and what appeared to be a 2-run lead, the umpire called him out at the plate with a tag from the catcher. The Badgers went into the 7th inning with a one run lead, 4-3.
In the top of the 7th inning, the Buhl Indians responded with 2 runs to take the lead 5-4 when Cedar Owen reached on a single and Marco Avelar reached on an error. They later on a RBI sacrifice fly from Nick Hamilton and a fielders choice from James Leckenby.
But, the Badgers weren’t done. Bonners Ferry down by one run in the bottom of the 7th responded with the tying run when Taggart walked and later scored on Maas’ RBI single.
In the top of the 8th inning, the Buhl Indians scored 3 runs to take the lead for good winning the game and the 3rd place trophy.
Turpin was extremely proud of the way the Badgers battled in the game and all season.
“This is probably one of the most improved teams and hardest working teams I’ve had the pleasure of being around,” he said.