Different day, different Camas hero, same result.
The Camas baseball team is still undefeated, but Thursday’s win at Propstra Stadium was special: It assured the Papermakers a spot in the 16-team Class 3A state tournament.
Alex Hows broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth with a two-run double, then added some insurance with a two-run single in the sixth, leading Camas to a 5-1 victory over Capital of Olympia in the 3A bi-district tournament.
Camas (21-0) advances to the semifinals against Auburn Mountainview at Auburn Mountainview. Depending on the outcome of that game, Camas will play for the bi-district title or third place, also Saturday at Auburn Mountainview.
Regardless of what happens Saturday, Camas will open the 3A state tournament on May 21. Saturday’s games in Auburn will determine seeding to state.
The Papermakers also had their usual standouts, well, stand out. Kurt Yinger struck out seven and threw a two-hitter, and Austin Barr blasted a solo home run in the first inning.
Camas has had its share of close games this season. And in just about every one of those contests, a new name has jumped off the scorebook with a crucial play. Add Hows to that list.
“Last week, I was hitting eighth. Coach put me in the sixth spot, and I felt a responsibility,” Hows said. “I felt like it was my time to step up and show what I had.”
Capital had just tied the game with a run in the top of the fourth inning. It did not stay tied for long. A double by Barr and a one-out single from Yinger set the stage for Hows, who found the gap in left-center field to make it 3-1.
“I was just trying to get the ball up in the outfield to drive in the run from third,” Hows said. “I found my sweet spot and let it ride.”
Barr and Yinger reached base again in the sixth, and Hows drove both courtesy runners home for a 5-1 lead.
“To get two hits and get two RBIs on each hit is totally awesome,” Hows said.
Camas coach Joe Hallead kept talking about Hows’ performance, noting that this has been the theme all season.
“For Alex to step up and do that shows his character and the character of the whole team,” Hallead said. “We don’t care who we throw out there, we feel anybody can get the job done. Look at Alex. He was 1.000 in getting guys in who were in scoring position today.”
Really, he only needed one RBI for Yinger and the defense.
Yinger was perfect through three innings, gave up two hits and hit a batter in the fourth, then retired the next eight batters. He struck out seven and also fielded four come-backers for outs.
His only walk of the game — in the final inning — was erased by a slick double play to end the game.
“We had a good rhythm out there defensively, and it carried over on offense,” Yinger said.
Barr broke out of a slump with his first-inning bomb.
“We wanted to jump on them early and give them nothing to cheer about,” Barr said. “That’s one of the hardest balls I’ve hit in a long time. Hitting’s contagious. Then Hows got it going. It felt really good to be a spark today.”
This was the pressure game of the tournament for Camas. A loss would have meant the top-ranked team in the state would have had to win three consecutive contests to make it to state.
“It’s an accomplishment,” Hallead said of reaching the sweet 16. “The next two games are pressure-less. Go play baseball, have fun, and try to get a No. 1 seed.”
