Genesee completes Cinderella run to state softball title

The Genesee softball team celebrates its Idaho 1A state championship Friday in Caldwell. The sixth-seeded Bulldogs defeated Kendrick 10-5 in the championship.

 Courtesy of Charise Burke

CALDWELL, Idaho — In the words of coach Brian Malcom, things “started clicking at the right time” for the sixth-seeded Genesee Bulldogs as they battled to an Idaho Class 1A state softball title Saturday.

Genesee “broke the Potlatch curse” to start the day, rallying to upend the top-seeded Loggers 18-12 after a nine-run bottom of the fifth inning. The Bulldogs once again trailed early in the title round against Kendrick, but came on with a seven-run fourth en route to a 10-5 victory to clinch the championship.

Kendra Meyer pitched back-to-back complete games for Genesee (16-9), setting what Malcom speculates to be a record for innings pitched in a state tournament. Against Potlatch (16-5), the Bulldogs were boosted at bat by a 4-for-4 showing including a triple from Audrey Barber.

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