CALDWELL — The storied career of Owyhee head coach Russ Wright got the storybook ending it deserved.
One of the most legendary coaches in Idaho high school baseball, Wright made it known to his team ahead of the state tournament he would be retiring at the end of this season. His players made sure to end his season in style like he’s done so many times in his 38 years of coaching — winning a state championship.
Going up against Rocky Mountain in the 5A state baseball championship game for the second time in three years, Owyhee used a quick start to defeat the Grizzlies 5-4 Saturday night at Wolfe Field, winning a third-straight state title in three years as a school.
The celebration didn’t show any signs of fatigue.
“It feels like you’re a little kid again out there,” Owyhee senior Ryder Cutlip said. “Celebrating with your teammates, having fun with your friends. That’s what it’s all about.”
Gage Haws pitched the final 3 2/3 innings for the Storm to help put the Grizzlies away. Leading 5-4 in the top of the seventh, Rocky Mountain’s Jeff Thompson reached on an error. After striking out Jeff Thompson, Haws and the Owyhee defense ended the game with a 6-4-3 double play.
Haws threw his glove a mile high in the air as his teammates surrounded him on the mound and piled on in celebration. It’s the first time a 5A school has won three state titles in a row since Boise from 1996-1998.
The key to their success? A drive to improve themselves despite being at the peak of 5A baseball.
“The first year we were happy to be there,” Haws said. “Last year, it was just a relief. It’s a different type of feeling but it’s always the same goal. We have to embrace the climb, we’re at the top but have to keep climbing, there’s always something we can do.”
Owhyee (24-2) wasted no time in taking the lead. They scored all five of their runs in the first two innings. It was clear they were still riding high from Friday night extra-innings walk-off win over Lake City.
“It sparked confidence in all of us,” Cutlip said. “We started to trust each other, especially the last game if we didn’t before. It was huge in this game. We put good swings on the pitching early and got out to an early lead.”
Nathan Keith sent in all three runs in the first inning with a three-RBI triple. In the second, Cutlip and Keagan Kelly both had an RBI-single to make it 5-0 Owyhee.
The Storm were cruising until the top of the fourth, when Rocky Mountain (19-9) made it a ball game. Jeff Thompson cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to cut the deficit to 5-3. Thompson later scored on an error from Owyhee catcher Lucas Skinner, throwing to third base. The Storm’s lead was cut to one.
All of the batters that reached ahead of Thompson in the inning came with two outs.
That’s when Haws entered the game on the mound to end the inning. Following Friday night’s performance when he struck out five batters in the final two innings for the Storm, he didn’t allow a hit in the final three innings Saturday.
“Gage is full throttle,” Wright said. “That is Gage, for better or worse sometimes. He would tell you that. It was really special to him. He loves and thrives on that competition.”
It was the perfect ending to Wright’s coaching career, who has now won 11 state titles in Idaho, splitting time with Payette, Minico, Fruitland and Owyhee. He briefly retired from coaching at Fruitland before joining the Storm once the school opened in 2021.
Wright’s willingness to connect with his players and their willingness to listen to him has created the perfect recipe for success.
“He knows how to work with kids,” Haws said. “The respect we have for him is unheard of. Everybody wants to do their best and please him. He’s a legend and nobody wants to let him down.”
You couldn’t ask for a better way for Wright to end his coaching career, with a state championship trophy in his grasp.
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