There are no captains on the Columbia River baseball team.
There is no need for one or two players to lead every drill, to call every meeting.
“We have kids out there who like to speak more than others. But when it comes to captaincy, we’re all the same age, we all help each other out,” senior Trevor Cass said. “We’re one big captain. We’re all together as one.”
One big group of seniors.
There are 16 players listed on the varsity roster, 16 seniors. This would be considered, in the sports world, the window of opportunity.
The Chieftains are trying to take advantage. They tied for the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League crown with Camas, settling for the No. 2 seed to district. Then, they lost their first game to fall to the No. 3 team to bi-district.
Columbia River relied on that leadership, that experience, to first get through the bi-district by winning back-to-back loser-out games. Then, the Chieftains won the regional tournament in Centralia with two more victories — dominating performances in which they never trailed.
Which brings us to this week. Columbia River has reached the Class 3A state’s final four and will play at Safeco Field in Seattle on Friday.
And it just so happens they are playing league rival Camas, the team that beat Columbia River three times this season.
“Sophomore year, Kelso beat us three times in league, but we got them when it mattered (in district),” first baseman David Anderson said. “Last year, Prairie beat us three times, but we got them at district. We hope history repeats itself.”
Interestingly, the Chieftains missed a chance to beat a team four times this season. River topped Union all three times in league, but the Titans got the Chieftains in district.
“The way I see it, it’s hard to beat a team four times in a row,” Cass said. “I’m glad we get a fourth try. I want to beat Camas. I’m so glad we get another chance to play them.”
Clark County baseball fans cannot lose Friday. They are guaranteed to have a team in the state finals Saturday at Safeco.
Fans should not be surprised to see the Chieftains where they are. A year ago, they made it to the Sweet 16. This year, with almost everyone back, and everyone on the same page, Seattle really was the destination.
Of course, with only nine positions on a team, 16 seniors could have caused a headache for first-year head coach Stephen Donohue.
“We’ve got guys on our bench who will be going to play college,” said Donohue, who had been with the team two seasons before taking over for Korey Kier this year.
Donohue remembers a team meeting early in the season.
“I told them I can only play nine of you guys. We need everybody to buy in. If you guys want to accomplish that goal of getting to Safeco, we can’t have guys behind the scenes rooting against guys,” Donohue said.
Saturday, after winning the regional, players talked about the River baseball family. Monday, Cass and Anderson reiterated that philosophy.
There are players who would be starting at other schools who are not getting much time on the field.
But everybody is ready when called on, and everybody is cheering each other on, no matter who is playing.
At bi-district, two starters — Steven Porter and Therone Bridges — could not get out of academic commitments, testing in the International Baccalaureate program at Columbia River. Neil Daly and Colin Preuss filled in, and the Chieftains did not miss a beat. Preuss even blasted a playoff home run.
Saturday, the bats were loaded. The Chieftains scored in all seven innings in their win over Highline, then scored five runs in the second inning to take command against Mercer Island.
Skye Adams and David Anderson led the way with hitting. Adams and Christian Bannister got the pitching victories — Bannister playing despite an injured throwing shoulder. And the defense, on a wet field, was superb.
Third baseman Quin Walker made a diving catch and doubled off a runner to end the second game.
It really turned into an insert-name-here type of day, with Chieftains making play after play.
“It’s been a great ride,” Donohue said. “The kids got hot at the right time.”
Their reward is the final four. Cass said he has only been to Safeco Field once, as a fan, three years ago. He has searched Google images for pictures of Safeco, just to get himself more psyched up about playing there this week.
“It’s all we’ve talked about, all year long,” Anderson said. “It’s been three years of work. All the 6 a.m.’s before school, sophomore year, junior year, and senior year. I wouldn’t want to go with any other team.”
