KENT — Tyler Forner is known for pop in his bat, but also his arm.
The Camas senior left fielder displayed both for the Papermakers in their 4A bi-district title game Saturday night against Puyallup with a go-ahead three-run home run to left field followed by an inning-ending outfield assist to stop the Vikings’ sixth-inning threat.
All in all, it led to Camas’ 10-6 win to capture the 4A bi-district baseball title at Art Wright Field.
The win means the 4A Greater St. Helens League champions have a close-to-home 4A state regional at Vancouver’s Propstra Stadium against Issaquah at 1 p.m. Saturday.
That’s the same venue Camas ended its seven-year state tournament drought earlier in the week defeating Auburn Mountainview 3-1. It last reached state in 2011, a year after playing for the Class 3A title against O’Dea in 2010.
For a school known for state tournament and championship success across many sports, Forner hopes the Camas baseball program is next on the state level on a consistent basis. It’s Camas’ fifth state appearances in program history — all coming since 2006.
“We’re starting to see some generations step up,” Forner said, “and making Camas not so much just a football school. Baseball is coming in for sure.”
Forner’s 3-run home run to left field was part of a 5-run inning to help Camas take the lead for good.
The momentum the Papermakers have going into next weekend’s 4A state regionals is unmatched, Forner said.
“We’re enjoying everything,” Forner said, “League champs, we haven’t done that since 2011, and everything builds up. We’re have so many close games and it keeps us going. We don’t feel like we’re going to stop.”
It was tradition-rich Puyallup, however, that gained an early advantage. The Vikings sent 10 batters to the plate for five runs on five hits for a 5-1 lead in the third.
An inning later, Camas matched that exact line: 10 batters to the plate, five runs on five hits.
None was bigger than Forner’s shot to left field. He finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and four RBI. Grant Heiser went 3 for 4 and Jacob Trupp also had two hits for Camas.
Puyallup got as close as 8-6, loading the bases in the sixth. But Forner’s throw from left field to Heiser ended the VIkings’ scoring threat. Camas began its half of the sixth with consecutive hits by Heiser, Trupp and Quentin Sawyer.
Starter Luke Brewer didn’t allow an earned run in 4.2 innings pitched with three strikeouts. Three pitchers — Brewer, and relievers Zachariah Shaw — combined to allow one earned run with six strikeouts.
