Union joins six-way tie for third at 3A state softball

TACOMA — Compared to the other two Class 3A Greater St. Helens League teams in the 3A state softball tournament, the Union Titans got done early.

They “only” played until a little after 11 p.m. Saturday night at South End Recreation Area.

The Titans also were the lone team from the league to earn a trophy, picking up one of six third-place trophies awarded at this revised tournament.

The Prairie Falcons, who won their first-round game Saturday before losing the quarterfinals, lost in their third-place game.

The Camas Papermakers lost their opener, then won a consolation round, only to fall in their third-place game.

Hey, that’s a lot of third-place games, huh?

That was tournament life after the first day of what is regularly a two-day tournament is washed away by rain.

By Saturday, tournament officials announced that if there were no rain delays, they were confident they could play 23 of the scheduled 28 games of the tournament. That would leave a champion, a second-place team, and then six third-place teams — the two semifinal losers and the four remaining teams in the consolation bracket.

It took all day — the same format was used in the 4A tournament — and all six fields at the SERA were in use starting at 10 a.m. until the final third-place games were played deep into the night. (Oh, and those final third-place games were changed to five-inning games.)

Kadi Henderson hit a three-run double in the third inning of Union’s late game, leading the Titans to a 3-1 win over Mount Spokane. Mariah Dawson struck out five in her final game of her record-setting career.

Union had lost to Sedro-Woolley — the eventual state champion — in Saturday’s opening round, then topped Mount Rainier 4-0 on a one-hitter by Dawson to get to one of the third-place games.

“This year we did set our goal of winning a state championship. We modified our goal and at least got a trophy today,” Henderson said. “We could have rolled over and died after the (Sedro-Woolley) game. I’m really proud of us.”

Union also finished third — alone — last year.

The Prairie Falcons were disappointed that they did not play better Saturday, but they did get a magic memory or two, as well.

Chelsea Creech hit a cluth, two-out, two-run home run in the seventh inning of Prairie’s opening round game against Holy Names. Prairie was trailing by one at the time, would add another run and win 6-4.

Then in the quarterfinals, Prairie trailed by five runs, but rallied to tie the contest. The Falcons would eventually fall to Everett in extra innings.

Then, late Saturday, against Bellevue, Prairie scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh, still trying to rally. The Falcons ended up losing 5-3 but showed their character with yet another comeback effort.

Same could be said for the Camas Papermakers.

Trailing 9-1 in the final inning, the Papermakers scored four runs for a little extra pride after a long day. They lost to Bonney Lake 9-5 and also got the distinction of being the final game of both tournaments. It ended at 11:39 p.m.

“It was a really great experience,” senior Kelsey Eason said. “(Camas) hasn’t been here for eight years. Just being here today was really big.”

Eason ended her high school career going 7 for 10 in the three games, which included a four-hit game in the tourney opener.

“We battled back at the end,” she said. “We didn’t give up at all.”

None of the three 3A GSHL gave up Saturday. They played through the day, and well into the night.

SATURDAY’S LATE LINESCORES

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

KELSO 2, HERITAGE 1, 8 innings

Heritage 000 001 00–1 3 0

Kelso 000 001 01–2 8 1

Heritage

Pitcher — Britney Sorenson 7 1/3 IP, loss, 3 Ks. Highlights — Brooke Sorenson 1-3, 2B; Desirae Cook 1-3, 2B; Leila Stutesman 1-2, 2B, RBI.

Kelso

Pitcher — Karina Paavola 8 IP, win, 10 Ks. Highlights — Tailer Snow 2-3, RBI; Madeline Zbaeren 1-3; Mackenzie Martin 1-4; Paavola 1-3; Brittany Sanders 2-4, 2B, GWRBI; Brooke Hendrickson 1-3.

THIRD-PLACE GAMES (5 inning games)

UNION 3, MOUNT SPOKANE 1

Mount Spokane 000 01–1 4 1

Union 003 0x–3 6 0

Union

Pitcher — Mariah Dawson 5 IP, win, 5 Ks. Highlights — Alexis Cline 2-2; Kadi Henderson 1-2, 2B, 3 RBI; McKenna Spieth 1-2; Rebecca Thomsen 1-2; Bri Mason 1-1.

BELLEVUE 5, PRAIRIE 3

Prairie 100 02–3 6 4

Bellevue 011 3x–5 10 1

Prairie

Pitchers — Jessi Duncan 3 IP, loss; Chelsea Creech 1 IP. Highlights — Grace Middelstadt 1-3, 2B, RBI; Chantal Paradis 2-3; Duncan 1-3, 3B, RBI; Jessica McDonald 1-2; Alyssa Nanace 1-2; Creech RBI.

BONNEY LAKE 9, CAMAS 5

Bonney Lake 013 32–9 4 1

Camas 100 04–5 9 7

Camas

Pitchers — Kelsi Krill 3 2/3 IP, loss, 3 Ks; Sarah Nidick 1 1/3 IP. Highlights — Erin Carson 2-3, 2B; Kelsey Eason 2-3; Mikaela Searight 1-2, RBI; Mariah Jimenez 1-2, 2B, 3 RBI; Nidick 1-3; Ashley Melton 1-1, 2B, RBI; Corrina Hopkins 1-3.

Consolation round

CAMAS 8, HOLY NAMES 2

Holy Names 010 100 0–2 8 2

Camas 210 320 x–8 9 3

Camas

Pitcher — Sarah Nidick 7 IP, win, 4 Ks. Highlights — Erin Carson 1-2; Kelsey Eason 1-3, 2 RBI; Erin Tauscher 1-3, 2B, RBI; Ashley Melton 1-3; Corrina Hopkins 2-3; Ali Kruger 3-3, 2B, 2 RBI.