TACOMA — The Class 3A Greater St. Helens League dreamed of getting two, maybe three or four teams to the state softball tournament.
That dream is long gone.
Now, the league can only get one team to state, and that’s not even a guarantee.
In a stunning development for Southwest Washington softball fans, all four GSHL teams lost in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A bi-district softball tournament Friday at the Sprinker Recreation Center.
The four winning teams all advanced to the semifinals and, more importantly, secured berths to next week’s Class 3A state tournament in Lacey.
The losing squads, however, fell into an eight-team consolation bracket to be played today — with only one survivor going to state.
“I thought for sure we’d get a couple of us over” to state, Camas coach Ken Nidick said after his team lost 2-1 to Capital of Olympia. “The tough thing now is only one of us is going.”
Then he was reminded that there are four other teams that also are vying for that one spot. So it’s possible for the 3A GSHL to be shut out at state.
“That’s right. You never know,” he said.
Because of their district championship, Camas had a first-round bye Friday. Erin Carson’s run-scoring double gave the Papermakers a 1-0 lead over Capital in the third inning, but the Cougars got two runs in the top of the sixth inning and held on for the 2-1 victory.
“Good game. We just didn’t get the hits when we needed them,” the coach said. “You wish you could maintain your bats from a week ago. But things change. Sarah (Nidick) pitched well. We played great defense. We just didn’t get the timely base hits, and they did.”
Nidick pitched into the seventh inning, giving up five hits and two runs.
“I just felt like we weren’t on today. We weren’t 100 percent for offense,” said Nidick, who had seven strikeouts. “We really need to come out strong (today).”
Camas will face Auburn-Mountainview at 10 a.m. The three other GSHL teams will have 10 a.m. games, as well.
Kelso, which won the past two Class 4A state titles prior to changing classifications this school year, is in a fight to get back to state. The Hilanders, who won the 3A GSHL’s regular-season title, will face Yelm.
Prairie, which finished third last week at district, beat Auburn-Mountainview 5-3 early Friday, then lost to Wilson of Tacoma 8-4 in the quarterfinals. Wilson scored four in the fourth to take command, 6-1. The Falcons will play Lakes of Lakewood.
Mountain View, the No. 4 seed from the GSHL, topped Yelm 4-2 in the opening round, then took a lead in the quarterfinals only to see Peninsula of Gig Harbor score seven runs in its final two at-bats for an 8-2 win. The Thunder will face Kennedy of Burien.
The bracket design allows for all four GSHL teams to reach the consolation semifinals. If that happens, one will be guaranteed to make it to state.
That team will know it will have earned it, too, with games scheduled for 10 a.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m.
It is a schedule none of the teams wanted, nor expected when Friday started with three GSHL wins in the opening round, and another team receiving a bye to the quarterfinals.
Then all four lost, making for quite the change in plans.
