BATTLE GROUND — The Camas Papermakers have more work to do in order to feel accomplished.
More work this week.
More next week, too.
But on Wednesday, the Papermakers put themselves in position to begin their pursuit to their ultimate destination: The Class 4A state softball tournament.
Camas rallied in the sixth inning to beat Battle Ground 2-1, clinching at least a share of the 4A Greater St. Helens League title. The Papermakers will host Heritage in a make-up game Thursday. If the Papermakers win that one, they will be league champs and the top seed to next week’s district tournament.
Katie Schroeder hit a two-run single with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning, erasing a 1-0 deficit for Camas. She also threw a complete game, striking out four while allowing three hits and no earned runs.
Camas improved to 9-2 in league play. Battle Ground completed its regular season at 9-3. Union also has three losses and a game to play. The top two teams earn byes in the first round at district. “It’s a great feeling right now but this is not the ultimate goal,” Schroeder said. “It’s a step in the right direction for this team. We hope to keep building.”
Interim coach Tim Searight, who took over for Ken Nidick on April 22, said he is proud of the way the players have responded.
“This team is solid,” he said. “We have pulled together. We have played together. We’ve been battle-tested. Because of everything we’ve been through, we are stronger than we were three weeks ago.”
The Tigers were looking to win the league title outright with a win Wednesday. They took a 1-0 lead off a Camas error in the third inning. Parker Boyd almost made that lead stick. The Battle Ground junior pitcher struck out nine.
Camas, though, got to the Tigers in the sixth. Tianna Bevens battled for a nine-pitch, lead-off walk that got it going for the Papermakers. That was followed by Tori O’Neill’s bunt single, and the Papermakers were threatening. After an out, Allie Hancock reached on an infield single, loading the bases.
Schroeder had a bloop single in the first and a fly out in the third before getting this chance.
“This at-bat, I wanted to hit something on the ground. Make them make a play. I was waiting for a mistake pitch,” she said.
Schroeder smashed the ball up the middle into center field, driving in two runs.
“After that, I knew the momentum we had just gained … would carry over out onto the field.”
