Bulldogs Bounce Back to Win Championship Game
The Kimberly Bulldogs captured their fourth consecutive 4A District 4 softball championship on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, after splitting a pair of games with Gooding at Kimberly High School.
Gooding won the first game in a defensive battle that forced a winner-take-all championship contest. The Bulldogs then responded with an 8-4 victory in the decisive game to claim the district crown.
Heading into the tournament, Kimberly held a 23-2 record. The Bulldogs had dominated Gooding during the regular season, winning three of four matchups by an average margin of more than six runs. One loss came against Nampa by a single run, while the other was an 11-run defeat to Gooding in the regular-season finale.
Gooding Pitcher Shuts Down Kimberly Offense
In the opening game of the district tournament, Gooding pitcher Kaylee Silver stifled the Kimberly bats. Silver allowed just six hits from Bulldogs batters, marking Kimberly’s second-fewest hits in a single game this season.
The Gooding defense behind Silver made all the necessary plays as the Senators forced the championship game. Silver recorded four strikeouts in the contest, while Kimberly pitcher Gracie Alleman had five strikeouts.
Five Gooding batters recorded multiple hits in the game. Scottlyn Martin led all hitters with three hits and three RBIs. All nine Senators who registered a plate appearance had at least one hit.
By comparison, Kimberly managed six hits from six different Bulldogs. Maci Chiatovich registered the only RBI of the game for Kimberly, which came in the first inning to tie the contest.
Gooding scored four runs in the second inning before adding three more runs in the top of the sixth. Kimberly never mounted an answer as the Senators forced the winner-take-all game immediately following the victory.
Bulldogs Respond With Offensive Explosion
The second game proved more emblematic of what Kimberly has accomplished against opponents throughout the season.
The Bulldogs racked up 13 hits to score eight runs in the first four innings. Gooding failed to match the impressive offensive output from its earlier performance.
The Senators managed nine hits and four runs, with the majority coming in the top of the seventh inning. Kimberly’s lead proved too much to overcome as the Bulldogs secured the 8-4 victory.
What Comes Next
With the district championship secured, Kimberly advances to the state softball tournament. The Bulldogs will look to build on their dominant regular season, during which few teams were able to slow down their offense.
Gooding’s season also continues after finishing as district runner-up. The Senators demonstrated they can compete with the top teams in the classification, particularly when Silver is controlling the game from the pitcher’s circle.
Both Twin Falls County teams showed they belong among the top 4A softball programs in Idaho. The district tournament split between Kimberly and Gooding highlighted the competitive balance in Magic Valley softball.