CHS softball smashes into third place

Harli Hubbard had a day to remember on the mound and at the plate for the Papermaker softball team.

The freshman racked up 11 strikeouts in seven innings pitched. She also knocked in two runs on three hits to help Camas defeat Mountain View 10-1 to move into third place in the 3A Greater St. Helens League standings.

“I felt like I was on my game. I reached my goal of not giving up many hits,” said Hubbard, who held the Thunder to just two hits in the game. She also did her job in the batter’s box with runners on base.

“It’s always nice when your pitcher helps herself out like that,” said head coach Ken Nidick. “She had a great day pitching and hitting.”

Sarah Nidick knocked in three runs on a single and a couple of sacrifice flies. Brindl Langley added a 2-run single.

Erin Tauscher had three hits and scored two runs. Mariah Jiminez walked three times and scored three times.

The Papermakers smacked 16 hits Thursday, to defeat Columbia River 13-1. Mikaela Searight and Nidick both hit home runs in a 7-run fourth inning. Nidick also pitched six strong innings and collected three strikeouts.

“We were getting good pitching, hitting and defense. It just all came together for us in that game,” she said. “And to get those home runs on top of all of that, it was just a really good day.”

Erin Carson and Lena Richards both had three hits in the game, and Nidick and Searight each knocked in four runs. Kirsten Langdale and Hubbard added two hits.

Monday’s anticipated rematch with Hudson’s Bay was rained out, and re-scheduled for Thursday at Camas.

“We did not play well against Hudson’s Bay the last two times, so some revenge is in order,” said coach Nidick.

The Papermakers are also scheduled to host Prairie today and Columbia River Friday. All three games start at 4 p.m.

Nidick is looking for his first win over Prairie in three years of coaching at Camas.

“Ted Buck always liked to say that our pitchers need to be ‘surgical’ with the placement of their pitches,” he said. “We also have to play good defense and get timely hits. If we can do those three things, it should be a good game for us.”