We reserved space in this week’s column to spotlight key matches in boys soccer that would determine league champions in all three Greater St. Helens Leagues.
But there was one problem. The frontrunners in all three leagues didn’t want to wait that long.
Take the Camas boys soccer team, for instance. Even though the Papermakers still have two league matches on the schedule this week, Camas has already clinched another 3A GSHL title.
The Papermakers are 10-0 in league, nine points ahead of second-place Mountain View. After concluding league play this week, Camas will host a bi-district tournament on May 13 for a berth to state.
Camas is ranked No. 3 in the state by the Seattle Times. There are two reasons Camas is not ranked higher. One, is that 3A boys soccer in the state is very competitive. Two, the Papermakers have one loss.
But that loss came in the season opener to Skyview on March 14. And the way the Papermakers are playing now, that seems like ancient history.
Mountain View, Hudson’s Bay, Columbia River and Fort Vancouver have clinched postseason berths. But there are still meaningful matches this week as Mountain View, Bay, and River fight for positioning.
Hockinson clinched its first 2A GSHL league championship with its 2-0 win Saturday over Mark Morris. The Hawks will host a district tournament first-round match on Saturday.
Washougal and Mark Morris have clinched district berths, but seeding will be on the line with the two teams meet Tuesday at Mark Morris.
At first glance, the 4A GSHL soccer standings look to be a toss-up with Union and Skyview entering the week tied with 26 points. However, the Titans have two matches left, while Skyview only has one. And with Union holding the tiebreaker edge, the Titans only need to win one of their final two matches to wrap up the league title.
And with the Titans playing the bottom two teams in the league this week, that win should be attainable.
That likely will leave Skyview and Evergreen to meet next week for a berth to the bi-district playoffs.
Softball
The 4A and 3A GSHLs cap league play this week, while the 2A GSHL and 1A Trico will play on into next week. So we’ll focus on the big schools.
Skyview and Union open the week tied for first at 8-2. Barring a stunning turn of events, the league title likely will be decided Wednesday when the two teams meet at Union.
Heritage (4-5) enters the week with a big edge over Battle Ground (3-6) in the battle for the third spot to the district playoffs, having won the first two meetings with the Tigers.
Kelso will look to clinch the 3A GSHL title when the Hilanders play at Prairie on Wednesday. To stay in the league title hunt, Prairie will also need to get past Camas today at home.
Baseball
Despite stumbling Saturday against R.A. Long, Hockinson can still lock down the 2A GSHL title with a win at second-place Mark Morris today. Even if the Hawks lose today, they can still earn the top seed to the district tournament with a win over last-place Woodland on Wednesday if Mark Morris falls to R.A. Long.
In the 4A, Evergreen will play at Skyview at 5 p.m. Thursday to determined the 4A GSHL’s second berth to next week’s bi-district tournament. Co-league champion Union has clinched the top seed to the bi-district.
The 3A district tournament gets started Tuesday at Propstra Stadium when Prairie faces Hudson’s Bay in an elimination game at 4 p.m. The winner of the Bay-Prairie game will face Kelso in a second-round game at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Propstra.
The winner of Tuesday’s late game will face Mountain View on Wednesday at Propstra, and Wednesday’s winner will face Camas on Thursday for the district championship.
Tennis
Skyview and Battle Ground will play for the dual-meet league title in the 4A GSHL when the two teams meet Tuesday at Skyview.
Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reached by phone at (360) 735-4538 or e-mail at tim.martinez@columbian.com
