A hiccup in the district championship game didn’t prevent the Camas High School softball team from getting back to the state tournament.
After losing to Skyview in the title game, the Papermakers showed their resolve Friday by beating Kentridge and Gig Harbor in the first two rounds of the bi-district tournament, at the Sprinkler Recreation Center, in Spanaway. Those two victories ensured Camas a spot in the Sweet 16 in Spokane.
“That’s been our mission all along, to come out and win and get your berth to state,” said head coach Ken Nidick.
The Papermakers defeated Kentridge 9-2 in the first round. Kentridge jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Camas rallied for three runs in the bottom of the first and added six more runs in the sixth inning. MacKenzie Farnham drove in four runs for the Papermakers on two hits. Tori O’Neil added a 2-run single. Katie Schroeder pitched into the fifth inning to get the win. Harli Hubbard struck out six of the last eight batters she faced to earn the save.
Camas beat Gig Harbor 5-1 in the quarterfinals. Erin Tauscher, Hubbard and O’Neil knocked in runs. Hubbard racked up 12 strikeouts in seven innings pitched.