Blackfoot Rallies Past Top-Seeded Bonneville to Claim 5A District 6 Softball Title
EASTERN IDAHO — The Blackfoot Broncos softball team delivered a dramatic comeback Thursday, defeating No. 1 Bonneville 10-8 in the 5A District 6 championship game to claim the district title and head to the state tournament as the top seed out of the district.
The victory capped a remarkable turnaround for Blackfoot, which lost three of four conference games late in the regular season before rattling off six consecutive wins — including four in the district tournament — to seize the championship.
A Rollercoaster Finish in the Championship
Blackfoot entered the title game having already secured a state tournament berth with a win over Bonneville on Wednesday. Thursday’s rematch was purely about bragging rights and the district crown — and it delivered plenty of drama.
The Broncos held a 6-2 advantage heading into the fifth inning, but Bonneville refused to fold. The Bees scored three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth, with Gracie Longhurst delivering the go-ahead blow — a two-run double that pushed Bonneville ahead 7-6. Keeli Miller then drove in Longhurst to extend the Bees’ lead to 8-6.
But the bottom of the sixth inning belonged entirely to Blackfoot. With Emma McGuire receiving an intentional walk, Traylee Reid stepped up and ripped a triple to center field, plating a run and trimming the deficit to 8-7. Then Keslyn Reid delivered the decisive blow, launching a home run to center field that vaulted the Broncos into a 9-8 lead and set off a jubilant celebration in the Blackfoot dugout. An additional insurance run scored on a Bonneville error, and Traylee Reid returned to the pitching circle to retire the Bees in order in the seventh.
Broncos head coach Tammy Sorenson, who said last summer she believed the team had postseason potential, was candid about the white-knuckle ride her squad has provided all season. “This team keeps me on the edge every time,” Sorenson said. She described Thursday’s title as the finishing touch on an already successful week: “Today is icing on the cake.”
Traylee Reid was dominant in the circle and at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with two triples and seven strikeouts over six innings. Her teammate Keslyn Reid’s go-ahead home run will be remembered as the signature moment of the tournament.
Bonneville’s Strong Showing Sets Up State Run
Despite the loss, Bonneville had an impressive day overall. Earlier in the afternoon, the Bees shut out Shelley 6-0, with Longhurst striking out 12 batters and surrendering just a single hit in that contest. Longhurst finished the championship game 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored, while Miller drove in three runs for Bonneville.
Both teams will represent District 6 at the 5A state tournament. Entering the district tournament, Bonneville held the No. 6 ranking in the MaxPreps 5A state poll, while Blackfoot checked in at No. 8. Both squads now carry momentum into the postseason after competitive showings this week.
For Blackfoot’s players, the mindset heading into the tournament run was straightforward. “We had nothing to lose,” Traylee Reid said of the team’s late-season surge.
What Comes Next
Both Blackfoot and Bonneville will compete at the 5A state softball tournament, scheduled for May 14-16 at Post Falls High School in northern Idaho. The event will bring together the top programs from across the state’s 5A classification. East Idaho softball fans will have two local teams to follow as the postseason field is set.
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