A question was asked last week.
Why is it that the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League baseball teams have played nine of their 15 league games, but 3A GSHL softball teams have only played one of 10?
A logical question. It does look odd to glance at the league schedules for all the sports and see baseball and soccer leagues halfway through their league schedules, but softball teams only just beginning.
Well, the short answer is that it doesn’t take very long to play many softball games. So softball teams have time to get their league games in.
The 16-team state tournament in softball is played over two days on the final weekend in May. The 16-team state tournaments for baseball and soccer take two weekends or two weeks.
And the bi-district and district tournaments take longer in baseball and soccer. That’s why most leagues conclude league play by or around May 1.
So that means races are heating up for baseball and soccer, as teams make the final push for district playoff spots.
So here is a look at some key games on the schedule this week.
Baseball
Kelso leads the 4A GSHL with a 7-0 league record. Heritage (5-2) is trying to keep the pressure on the Hilanders. The Timberwolves escaped with a 3-2 win over Evergreen on Friday to remain two games behind Kelso.
Heritage can close the gap on Kelso on Friday when Timberwolves travel to Kelso.
Like Heritage did against Evergreen, Camas escaped with a one-run win over Columbia River on Friday. It was the second win over River for the Papermakers last week.
And yet, Camas does not enter the week with a comfortable lead in the 3A GSHL. The Papermakers lead Union by one game. Camas has two games against fourth-place Prairie this week, while Union’s big game of the week comes Friday at home against River.
In the 2A GSHL, Mark Morris (6-1) and Ridgefield (5-1) meet Tuesday in Longview.
Soccer
The battle for first place in the 4A and 3A GSHLs happened last week. Evergreen beat Skyview on Monday in the 4A, and Camas edged Columbia River 2-1 on Friday.
So this week is a big week for teams trying to stay in the league title hunt.
In the 3A GSHL, Union (2-1-1) has a big week. First, the Titans wrap up the first half of the league schedule with a game Tuesday at Camas (4-0). Then Union finishes the week with a game at Columbia River (3-1).
On Tuesday, Skyview (3-1) and Heritage (3-1) will battle for second place in the 4A GSHL in a game at McKenzie Stadium.
Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reached by e-mail at tim.martinez@columbian.com or phone at (360) 735-4538.
