The spring postseason begins this week. But before we talk about the playoffs, let’s take a quick look at some regular-season champions that could be crowned this week in Class 4A and 3A Greater St. Helens League track and field, golf and tennis.
TRACK AND FIELD: The Skyview boys take a 4-0 dual-meet record into their final league meet of the season on Tuesday at Mountain View. The Kelso girls will look to complete a 5-0 dual-meet season Tuesday at Heritage.
In the 3A GSHL, the Columbia River boys got past Union 74-71 two weeks ago to remain unbeaten in league. The Chieftains will go for a 5-0 mark at winless Hudson’s Bay on Tuesday. The Camas girls aim for a 5-0 season when they host winless Fort Vancouver on Tuesday.
GIRLS TENNIS: Mountain View is 6-0 in the 4A GSHL, while Skyview trails at 6-1. Mountain View has two scheduled league matches coming up this week, plus two rainout make-up matches. One of those matches will be against Skyview.
The 3A GSHL race is less close. Union has a 7-0 mark and takes a two-match lead over Columbia River as league play concludes this week.
GIRLS GOLF: Unlike track and tennis, their are some key league matchups this week in the 4A and 3A GSHL. In the 4A GSHL, Battle Ground scored a one-stroke victory over Mountain View last week to improve to 3-0 in league matches. The Tigers face two more big challenges this week with matches against Kelso and Evergreen.
Meanwhile, it looks as if the 3A GSHL title will be on line when Camas (2-0) and Union (2-0) face off at Camas Meadows this afternoon.
Now on to other sports.
BASEBALL: In the 4A GSHL, Kelso has clinched the league title, and Evergreen has clinched a district playoff berth. Skyview and Heritage both clinch spots with one more win or a Mountain View loss. Mountain View must beat Evergreen twice this week, and hope for some help.
The 3A GSHL is done with the regular season. The district playoffs open Wednesday at Propstra Stadium with Union facing Prairie at 4 p.m. It’s a big game because the loser is done, while the winner clinches a berth in next week’s bi-district tournament. Camas and Columbia River have already clinched berths in the bi-district.
The winner of Wednesday’s 4 p.m. game will play Columbia River at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The winner of that game will face Camas at 4 p.m. Thursday in the district championship game.
In the 2A GSHL, Mark Morris (10-3) and R.A. Long (9-4) have clinched district playoff berths. Mark Morris concludes league play with a doubleheader today at Ridgefield, while R.A. Long plays two at Washougal.
Ridgefield (7-6), Hockinson (7-6) and Woodland (6-7) are battling out for the last two playoff spots, and that includes a berth to the district pigtail game. In a couple of weeks, Ridgefield has gone from a team that was contending for the league title to one that may find itself out of the postseason picture.
Woodland plays at Hockinson in a doubleheader today. The Beavers need to win both to assure themselves of a playoff spot. A split may not be enough.
BOYS SOCCER: Skyview’s win over Evergreen on Friday tighten things up in the 4A GSHL. Evergreen has clinched at least second-place, which will assure the Plainsmen of a bye from the first two rounds of the district tournament. The first round begins Saturday. Evergreen faces Battle Ground and Mountain View this week. Skyview can clinch the other bye in the district playoffs with a win over Heritage on Thursday at Kiggins Bowl.
The 3A GSHL title figures to be on the line Tuesday when Camas (8-0) plays Columbia River (7-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Kiggins Bowl. Both teams have clinched the top two spots in the league. Union has clinched a district playoff berth. The Titans will face Hudson’s Bay or Fort Vancouver in the district playoff next week.
Bay leads Fort by three points entering the week. The two teams meet on Friday, in what could be a playoff for the last playoff spot.
Ridgefield (7-0) has clinched the 2A GSHL title. R.A. Long (4-2), Washougal (3-3) and Hockinson (2-5) remain in the hunt. Washougal hosts Mark Morris on Tuesday and plays at R.A. Long on Thursday.
SOFTBALL: League play continues in softball through next week. But there are some key games this week. In the 4A GSHL, Kelso (5-0) plays at Heritage (5-1) on Thursday. On Wednesday in the 3A GSHL, Prairie (5-1) gets a second shot at Union (6-0).
Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reached by phone at (360) 735-4538 or e-mail at tim.martinez@columbian.com
