The rankings do mean something, at least to the Camas Papermakers.
Sure, they understand that a ranking will not help them achieve their ultimate goal, a state baseball championship. The ranking will not even lead to a league championship or a district title.
But when the Seattle Times put Camas atop its Class 3A state rankings, it was a big deal in east Clark County.
“We have been embracing it. We’re not afraid to talk about it,” said junior catcher Austin Barr, who has driven in 25 runs through the first 14 games for the Papermakers — all victories. “We’re just trying to play well and prove we belong here and that it’s no fluke that we’re No. 1.”
“It truly is an awesome feeling,” added shortstop Logan Grindy. “I’ve never been on a team ranked No. 1 in any sport. It’s a really cool feeling.”
It’s not just the players who are enjoying the moment.
Camas coach Joe Hallead — bucking the long-standing tradition of coaches trying to downplay rankings — posted a message on his team’s Web site, acknowledging the feat.
Hallead was not bragging about being No. 1. After all, he understands that the only No. 1 that really matters is the one left standing when the season comes to a conclusion in May. But the mid-season ranking remains special.
“It’s an important milestone for the program,” Hallead said, noting it is the first time Camas baseball has been recognized in such a way. “We’ve done a good job for five or six years, building this. We have to celebrate it. The kids take great pride in it.”
If there is any extra pressure associated with the ranking, Hallead hasn’t noticed.
“We’re going to go out on the field whether we are No. 1 or No. 112. We’re going to play Camas baseball,” he said.
Lately, that’s also called winning baseball.
Through the first 14 games, three have been close, down to the seventh inning or beyond. In all three, someone new stepped up for the Papermakers.
Nate Culver hit a three-run home run to tie Hudson’s Bay in the sixth inning, then Barr blasted a home run in the seventh for the win. In a 2-2 game going into the seventh inning against Columbia River, the Papermakers got homers from Grindy, Kurt Yinger, and Jeremy Faulkner in a 13-run frame. Then on Monday, Faulkner hit two home runs and junior pitcher Nate Lauritzen threw three perfect innings of relief, including two in extra innings, as Camas survived against Kelso 7-6.
In yet another example of a team on a roll, Lauritzen had pitched two innings all year prior to being put on the mound in that clutch situation.
Five Papermakers are batting over .500 this season, yet it’s the pitching that is the real strength of the squad. The staff’s ERA is 1.04.
That 1.04 is 1.04 higher than ace Kurt Yinger’s ERA.
Yinger has 48 strikeouts and four walks in 32 innings. Kelso scored two unearned runs off him Monday — the only two runs to score with Yinger on the mound this season.
He said the key to his success has been his teammates.
“It’s just fun to come out here and play with all these guys I’ve known throughout high school,” said Yinger, who plays third base when he is not on the mound and is batting better than .600.
Baseball and numbers were meant for each other. It’s fun to run off a bunch of statistics. But it is not just a numbers game for the Papermakers.
They are building on last year’s success — the team finished second at state — and not taking anything for granted.
“We know what the competition is like now that we made it that far,” Grindy said. “Just having that confidence is pretty key. We know we can play with anyone in the state.”
The Papermakers also know they are a target. That helps with the focus, too.
“We know everyone’s coming after us,” Yinger said. “Every league game is a battle. Every game, we put our best forward and try our best to win. It’s a mindset of being locked in every game. That’s a big reason we’re undefeated. We’re focused, and we don’t take any opponent lightly.”
Which means Camas will have to wait to focus on Mountain View, a team that is ranked seventh in the state by the Seattle Times.
A year ago, Camas beat Columbia River in the state semifinals. Southwest Washington again appears headed to some very important games.
Hallead is looking forward to May, hoping to make another run, and also hoping to see another Southwest Washington team deep in the bracket.
“I think Mountain View is just as good as us. They have excellent pitching and they have guys back from last year who went through the 4A wars,” Hallead said, referring to the Thunder who are now a Class 3A program. “Both teams will represent the area really well.”
Camas and Mountain View are scheduled to play next week in 3A Greater St. Helens League play. The rankings suggest they will keep playing well beyond district.
Of course, rankings don’t really mean that much.
Except for when they do, when it’s a first for the Camas Papermakers.
