Three goals accomplished. Two more left to grab. The Papermakers did two things Monday no other Camas High School baseball team has done before. They captured their first 3A bi-district title and their 23rd victory of the season. Number-one ranked Camas raked No. 3 Enumclaw 11-3 in the championship game Monday, at Auburn Mountain View High School.
Justin Webb dreamed of this moment his whole life. The Papermaker stepped up to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning during Thursday's district championship game at Propstra Park. The game with Mountain View was tied 2-2, and the winning run for Camas was on third base. "I was definitely looking to end the game right there," Webb said. "I wanted to put the team on my back, and get a hit."
High school boys soccer playoff action comes to Camas and Washougal this week. The Washougal Panthers host W.F. West of Chehalis tonight, at 6 p.m., at Fishback Stadium. This is the first of three games Washougal must win this week to advance to the state tournament. "This should be a good showcase for our soccer program," said Panther head coach John Tyger. "It's a chance to represent our school, and I think our kids are going to play really well."
To "three-peat" is fun. Just ask the members of the Camas and Washougal high school girls track and field teams. Once again in 2011, the Panther and Papermaker girls defeated all of their opponents in league to capture their third straight league championship trophies. The Camas and Washougal boys were on the same path, until both teams lost their final league meets of the season. "A lot of kids have set the foundation for success. You hope success breeds success," said Camas girls coach Alisa Wise. "You're not always going to be on top. It's a special place to be, winning league championship after league championship. Go out and find some friends and be a part of continuing that tradition."
Goals get written on paper, but dreams come true on the diamond. The Camas High School baseball players have not taken an inning off since that snowy first day of practice, back on Feb. 28. So far, it has amounted to 19 victories, zero losses and a league championship. But, the Papermakers are far from satisfied. They want to become district champions Thursday, win the bi-district tournament the following week and fulfill their dream of capturing a state championship.
There might still be a week of soccer left to play, but the Papermakers have already locked up the league championship. "It feels great to win league this early," said senior Chris Miller. "We still want to go for an undefeated record, and have some more fun out there." The clincher came Wednesday, when the Camas boys beat Columbia River 5-0 in the grass field behind Jason Lee Middle School. Drew White delivered two goals, and Nathan Beasley, Parker Roland and Casey Martschinske each knocked in one.
Records are meant to be broken. The Washougal High School track and field athletes were shattering them left and right Friday, during the Panther Twilight meet at Fishback Stadium. "When you get schools and athletes of this caliber together for a track meet in good weather, great things are going to happen," said head coach Dave Hajek. "We have a lot of pride here in Washougal, and that's what it's all about. Our kids want to be successful for their school and their community."
Camas baseball is all alone in first place and Washougal track and field rewrites the record books.
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." The above is by far my favorite quote, spoken by University of Oregon running icon Steve Prefontaine, who died in a tragic car crash in 1975. But I never truly understood that statement until after completing the Boston Marathon on April 18.
Surrounded by 60 teams, 2,000 athletes and thousands of screaming fans, the Papermakers were in track and field heaven at the University of Oregon Relays Friday and Saturday, in Eugene. "The meet has a big atmosphere, big talent, big everything. It's a lot of fun," said head girls coach Alisa Wise. "How often do you get to compete alongside college athletes and see your name up on the big screen? You hope the kids appreciate the opportunity and the experience." "When you're one of 7,000 people in that one stadium, you really see how impressive this sport can be," added head boys coach Rod Raunig.
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