The second day of the Idaho high school state softball tournaments brought a mix of strong performances and season-ending losses for Magic Valley programs Friday, with Kimberly, Twin Falls, Burley, and Wendell all seeing their 2026 campaigns come to a close.
Kimberly Stays Alive, Then Falls to Cole Valley
The Kimberly Dawgs opened Friday’s action with a convincing 10-2 victory over Preston in the 4A bracket, showing the offensive punch that carried them to the state tournament. However, their semifinal matchup with Cole Valley told a different story.
Kimberly held a 4-1 lead through three innings and appeared in control before the offense stalled. Cole Valley capitalized with a pair of three-run frames to claim an 8-4 victory and advance to Saturday’s 4A state championship game. The Dawgs’ season is not over, however — they will face Preston Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in a consolation semifinal, with the winner earning a spot in the third-place game.
Gooding also had a difficult Friday in the 4A bracket. The Senators defeated Weiser 6-5 in a closely contested game, with pitcher Olivia Rogers going the distance and recording six strikeouts while allowing five runs on seven hits. But facing a third game of the day against a fresh Preston squad proved too much. The Senators surrendered seven runs in the first two innings and could not recover, falling 10-5 to finish the tournament in fourth place.
Twin Falls and Burley Both Exit 5A Play
In the 5A bracket, Burley fell in heartbreaking fashion for the second time in as many tournament games, dropping an 8-7 decision to Lakeland. The Bobcats put together an impressive offensive showing with 13 hits, including two home runs from Taylin Beck. Lakeland scored all eight of its runs over the final three innings to end Burley’s season.
Twin Falls had a strong start to the day, rolling past Pocatello 13-3 in an elimination-round matchup. The top three spots in the Bruins’ lineup combined for 11 hits in 14 at-bats, with eight RBI between them, and pitcher Bri Holcomb went all seven innings on the mound.
The momentum did not carry over into the next game. Blackfoot posted a five-run fourth inning that proved decisive in a 9-7 win over Twin Falls, ending the Bruins’ season. Only one Twin Falls hitter managed to replicate her earlier production in the second game, recording three more hits, but the offensive support that defined the first contest was absent when it mattered most.
Wendell Eliminated in 3A Bracket
In 3A action, Wendell faced a steep challenge in the opening round against Nampa Christian — a team that had posted a 21-0 victory the day before. The Trojans showed fight, scoring a run in an 11-1 loss. Their season came to an end in the following game, falling 6-4 to North Fremont after surrendering a four-run fifth inning that erased a 4-1 Wendell lead. Sophie Mattix and Breanna Comstock each hit home runs in the effort.
Magic Valley’s college softball program has also been making noise this spring — CSI softball advanced to the national tournament earlier this month, continuing a strong run for the region at the postseason level.
What Comes Next
Saturday’s 4A action will see Kimberly face Preston at 9:00 a.m. for a consolation berth, while Cole Valley plays for the 4A state championship. Fans looking for broader statewide sports coverage can visit Idaho News for continuing updates across all classification brackets.