TACOMA — Extra innings. Extra drama. Extra pain.
Clark County softball will not be in Lacey next weekend for the Class 3A state softball tournament after a series of extra-innings losses Saturday.
Prairie and Mountain View each lost in extras in the consolation semifinals at the 3A bi-district tournament at Sprinker Recreation Center, ending their seasons. Camas fell in extras in the opening round of the consolation bracket.
The three squads started the day in an eight-team bracket fighting for the final berth to state. The four teams that reached the championship semifinals earned the first four berths.
Kelso got an eighth-inning home run from Mackenzie Martin to top Prairie 3-2 in an all-Greater St. Helens League consolation semifinal. Kelso, the league champion, tied the game in the seventh to force the extra frame.
It seemed fitting. After all, the other two Clark County squads lost leads in the seventh and then lost their games.
In fact, Auburn Mountainview did it to Clark County teams twice.
The Lions scored two in the bottom of the seventh to tie Camas in Saturday’s opener, then after Camas took a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth, the Lions plated two in the bottom of the frame to eliminate the Papermakers, 4-3.
In the battle of views of mountains in the semifinals, Auburn Mountainview scored a run in the top of the seventh to tie Mountain View, then scored five in the 10th inning to take command for a 6-2 win.
Mountain View beat Kennedy of Burien 3-0 in the morning game. Nicole Kellams struck out five in the two-hit shutout.
Kylee Gaspar had two hits and drove in a run in the opener, then led off the second game with a solo home run for the Thunder. A senior, Gaspar said it will be hard to say goodbye to this team.
“We really bonded. We all enjoyed everyone’s company,” Gaspar said. “It was a fun season. We played hard together.”
Prairie just missed making it to the consolation finals but did not hold its late lead.
Pitcher Jessica McDonald held Kelso to three hits. McDonald also drove in three runs in Prairie’s first game of the day, a 10-6 win over Lakes of Lakewood.
“Last year, softball was getting ‘iffy’ for me,” McDonald acknowledged. “This year, I’m so much more confident. I love the game.”
A junior, she is already looking forward to 2012.
“We’re just going to keep getting better,” she said.
The Papermakers also considered the season a success, even if it had a disappointing end.
“It’s been a good year anyway,” Camas coach Ken Nidick said.
After a slow start to the season, Camas went on a roll to win the district tournament.
“It’s something we get to put on our banner,” Nidick said. “That’s something they can’t take away from us.”
The odds were tough heading into the day with the design of the consolation bracket.
“Eight teams started play this morning, and only one of them was going to end up happy.” Nidick said.
That one was not from Clark County. But it was from the 3A Greater St. Helens League as Kelso captured the final berth with a 7-1 win over Auburn Mountainview.
