The champs became champions again Saturday at Propstra Stadium.
Mountain View, the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League regular-season champion, took down Skyview 10-1 for the Class 4A District 4 baseball tournament title, getting a gem from Colin Biggs and home runs from Preston Jones, Austin Hamilton, and Grant Francis.
Skyview, which had to win three in a row this week to reach the finals, did not have much left in the tank against the Thunder.
Both teams will represent Southwest Washington in the bi-district playoffs next Saturday for a chance to make it to the state tournament.
Biggs threw into the seventh inning and was taken out to get a round of applause from the Mountain View fans.
“Winning league and winning this, just a surreal moment. I tried to soak it all in at once,” he said.
Biggs didn’t want just high-fives from his teammates and coaches. He wanted hugs.
“I’ve been playing with most of these kids since I was little,” Biggs said. “They’ve stuck with me through and through. They’ve been great to me.”
Biggs struck out five and also went 3 for 5 at the plate.
He had plenty of run support from his teammates, too.
Jones hit a solo shot in the first inning.
“It got everyone hyped, everyone excited, everyone tuned into the game,” Jones said. “We were up from there.”
Austin Hamilton hit his shot to deep center field, a two-run homer in the second inning.
“I kind of felt it off the bat,” Hamilton said. “Sometimes you just know it’s going. The ball was going to fly today.”
Francis connected to lead off the bottom of the fifth, giving Mountain View a 7-1 lead, just moments after Skyview got its only run.
“I wasn’t sure,” he acknowledged. “I just got a good piece of it, and it flew.”
The Thunder joined the 4A GSHL last year. Now, they have won league and district titles in their second season before they head back to 3A next school year.
“We took our lumps last year,” Mountain View coach Aaron Coiteux said. “But that helped. Watching these kids grow, it’s fun.”
It’s not over, they say.
“We have our sights set much higher than league and district championships,” Hamilton said. “But it’s a great feeling to get it together senior year.”
“It’s basically the same team as last year, but the leap we made from last year is significant,” Jones said.
Biggs, too, said the Thunder appreciate all that they have achieved but they are not satisfied.
“It’s cool, but we have bigger things to focus on right now,” he said. “Win this (next) game, and make our run to state. That’s our goal.”
Besides the home runs, Francis and Jones each drove in a run in other at-bats. Biggs also drove in a run. Christian Maddox had a two-run single in the sixth inning.
Skyview, which finished fourth in the league, won Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to reach the title game. The Storm avoided the shutout Saturday when Brody Barnum drove in a run with a single in the fifth inning.
Both teams have one-game playoffs next Saturday, with the winners going to state.
MOUNTAIN VIEW 10, SKYVIEW 1
Skyview 000 010 0—1 5 4
Mtn. View 220 222 x—10 11 0
Skyview
Pitchers — Nick Simonsen 3.2 IP, loss; Ryan McAbel 2 IP; Michael Lundgren 0.2 IP. Highlights — Avery Schmidt 1-3; Michael Copeland 2-3; Chris Huntsinger 1-3, 2B; Brody Barnum 1-3, RBI;
Mountain View
Pitcher — Colin Biggs 6.1 IP, win, 5 Ks; Tyler Milton 0.2 IP. Highlights — Preston Jones 2-3, HR, 2 RBI; Colin Biggs 3-4, RBI; Kyle Moen 2-4; Grant Francis 1-3, HR, 2 RBI; Austin Hamilton 1-3, HR, 2 RBI; Jake Ryan 1-2, 2B; Christian Maddox 1-4, 2 RBI.
