The Washougal softball team was happy to be in the district tournament for the first time in a decade, but heartbroken over the results. "We accomplished the first goal. Now we need to make all the goals," said junior captain Madisen Baldwin. "Getting to districts will no longer be enough. We want to make it to the second day and then on to state."
Returning to the state tournament for the 16th season in a row and earning 300 career victories for coach Roland Minder are important milestones, but the Camas High School boys soccer team isn't celebrating. "This is just the first bump in the road," said senior co-captain Nate Beasley. "All we did was make it to the tournament. We haven't accomplished anything yet."
Competition heated up for the Camas High School track and field athletes at the district meet Wednesday and Thursday, at McKenzie Stadium. So did the weather. Riley Hein started the meet off right for the Papermakers by winning the 3,200-meter run in 9 minutes, 47.64 seconds. The CHS senior came out strong in the first three laps and built a solid lead before the 90-degree temperature sapped his energy. Hein settled into a comfortable pace and coasted to the finish line, unchallenged. "I felt a sense of relief. I just had to relax and keep my legs moving," he said. "It still seemed like a long last lap."
Amelia Quatermass, Christina Zack and Haley Briggs are still grinning after what they accomplished for Washougal at the sub-district tennis tournament. "You can tell everyone on this team wants it," Quatermass said. "We may be a small school, but we can do this. It's all in the heart." Quatermass wore her heart on her sleeve as she outlasted Ridgefield's Sarah Kaufman 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 for the sub-district singles tournament championship Saturday, at R.A. Long High School. Zack and Briggs fought with desire and defeated Jamie Isaacson and Amber Olson of Mark Morris 6-1, 1-6, 7-5 to become sub-district doubles champions for the second year in a row.
The Camas and Union softball teams shared the league title, but there could only be one district champion. After defeating Heritage, Evergreen and Battle Ground just to get this opportunity, the Papermakers were going to settle for nothing less than the grand prize. They capped off an incredible week by beating the Titans 6-4 for the district title Thursday, at Heritage High School. "It was exhausting this week, but I am very proud of everyone for the endurance it took to get through this last game," said Harli Hubbard. The senior pitched all 29 innings for Camas and racked up 58 strikeouts. She said every pitch was worth it.
Camas and Skyview played 270 minutes of soccer in three games without a decisive winner. Only one team could be the district champion. Skyview got the glory when the Storm beat the Papermakers on PKs 4-3 Saturday, at McKenzie Stadium. "I'm proud of this team. We had full effort. They were committed," said Camas head coach Roland Minder. "A shootout does not prove who is the better team. They won the game today, but it could have easily been the other way."
After bleeding Papermaker red for 15 years, Joe Hallead said the time has come to ride his Harley off into the sunset. He and his wife bought a condo near Las Vegas, where she has a high paying job. As Hallead searches for the next teaching and coaching opportunity, he knows there will be no place like Camas. "It's impossible for me not to continue to be a Papermaker," Hallead said. "I've put every ounce of effort into teaching, coaching and making this community a better place. It's all I've ever known. "This will leave a hole in my heart, but I'm taking lots of great stories with me."
Chalk this victory up as the biggest one in the last decade of Washougal High School softball. Mark Morris rallied from two runs down to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning Monday, but the Panthers dug their nails into the dirt and refused to lose. Courtney Shelley kicked off the comeback charge by lacing a 2-out single up the middle, stealing second base and advancing to third base on a pitch off the catcher's glove. Morgan Ratcliff walked and took the open second base to set the table for Madisen Baldwin.
The Washougal boys put the finishing touches on a third straight track and field league championship May 6, at Fishback Stadium. Junior Holbert grabbed first place in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and Josh Bischoff clinched first place in the discus and shot put to help the Panthers defeat Mark Morris 80-65. Thomas Normandeau notched first for Washougal in the 3,200, Matt Rotundo took first in the triple jump and Adam Thomas earned first on the pole vault.
Although they compete for rival high schools, Alexa Efraimson, Alexis Fuller and Alissa Pudlitzke dreamed of achieving this moment together. The three Camas runners embraced after clinching the top three spots in the Jesuit Twilight Elite 1,500-meter run Friday, in Beaverton, Ore. Efraimson finished in first for the Papermakers with a time of 4 minutes, 21.1 seconds. Fuller earned second for the Union Titans in 4:37.04. Pudlitzke followed in third for the Papermakers in 4:37.62.
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