For years, Steve Taylor, the coach of Battle Ground softball, has been hoping to make a softball all-star series a tradition just like the baseball players have in Clark County.
He is fighting an uphill battle.
The Southwest Washington Senior All-Star Softball series, a doubleheader featuring the best senior players in the region, has been held some years. And then one year, weather wiped it out. Now, it appears there just is not enough interest from the players.
Taylor had to call off this year’s game, scheduled for Wednesday, due to a lack of commitment from enough players.
Freedom Bowl Classic set for July 13
One all-star game that is still on is this summer’s Freedom Bowl Classic.
The football game that features recent graduates from Southwest Washington is scheduled for July 13 at Kiggins Bowl.
Larry Peck of Battle Ground will coach the West team. Jack Hathaway of Heritage will coach the East squad.
Look for a tentative roster on the high school sports blog at 360preps.com.
Camas seniors make college choices
The Camas Papermakers had a busy signing ceremony last week for nine high school athletes who are set to move on to college in the fall.
Erin Tauscher, a key member of the softball team that finished second in the Class 4A state tournament last month, hopes to keep crushing the ball at Linfield College in Oregon.
Three volleyball players have their college destinations. Brindl Langley is going to Florida Southern; Abbie Younkin is headed to Wartburg College in Iowa; and Natalia Zea will be moving to Walla Walla to play at Whitman College. Camas won the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League title in its first season as a 4A program, then took fifth at the state tournament in the fall.
Connor Maloney, who was named to The Columbian’s All-Region football team as a defensive back, will play for Willamette University in Salem, Ore. The Camas football team reached the state semifinals in November.
Andrew Kaler and Tucker Boyd will remain teammates, both set to run for Idaho State University. Both were four-year varsity athletes for the cross country and track and field teams.
Baseball pitcher Tyler Hallead is staying close to home, going to Portland to play for Concordia University.
Closer to home, basketball player Sierra Brown will take her talents to Clark College.
Hockinson hires basketball coaches
Hockinson High School has announced the hiring of two coaches to lead its basketball programs.
Trevor Person, a former head coach at Heritage, will take over the boys team. Damon Roche will head up the girls team.
“Both are coming into programs that return a lot of solid players, and we anticipate strong seasons for our Hawks,” said Beth Tugaw, the school’s athletic director.
