Madison Anthony got it started.
Addi Lies, Jessica Schaub, and Allison Paladeni kept it going.
Michelle Brincefield made sure it was enough.
And senior Kamille Dobbins earned the right to say she will finish her career as a champion.
The Skyview Storm put it all together Wednesday to roll past Union in what amounted to be the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League’s championship game.
Anthony had four hits, Lies and Schaub each drove in three runs, Paladeni had three hits, and Brincefield — the freshman pitcher — picked up the victory in a 16-5 win at Union High School.
Skyview completed the 4A GSHL schedule with a 10-2 record. Union fell to 8-3 with a game remaining.
The Storm advance directly to the bi-district tournament May 20 in Tacoma.
Union will host third-place Heritage in a one-game playoff next week for the league’s final berth to the bi-district.
“They just knew they were going to win today,” Skyview coach Traci Fuller said.
Anthony did not want to come across as overconfident, but she acknowledged that she and her teammates had a special feeling heading into the game.
“I don’t want to say anything wrong, but we were prepared for this game,” said Anthony, Skyview’s leadoff hitter who had three of her hits in the first two innings. “This was our year. We were ready to push it all together and win this one.”
Dobbins has been part of the program for all four years of high school.
“I’m just tickled to death. This is the best we’ve ever done since I’ve been with the team. I was just really, really pumped that we did this well this year,” she said. “Amazing for this to happen in my senior year. I’m the only senior, so this is special to me.”
Early miscues by both teams led to three unearned runs in the first inning and a 2-1 lead for the Storm.
Skyview then pretty much secured the victory with a nine-run second inning that included eight singles and a double.
Brincefield had a two-run single in the frame. Anthony had a two-run double, her second hit of the inning. And Alyssa Huntley, Lies, Schaub, and Dobbins each drove in a run for an 11-1 lead.
Union’s only shot to get back in the game came in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded. But Paladeni, playing shortstop, made a leaping catch of a line drive to save two runs, killing a potential rally.
The Storm carried over that momentum into the top of the fifth and plated five more runs for a 13-run lead. Anthony’s fourth hit drove in Paladeni, who tripled to open the frame. Lies had a two-run double, and Lauren Aguirre drove in a run with a single.
Brincefield pitched into the fifth inning to pick up the win. She had a strikeout and gave up two earned runs.
Union managed two runs in the bottom of the fifth but needed two more to extend the game. Instead, the 10-run rule came into play, ending the contest.
Bri Mason drove in two runs for Union, Kayleen Willard had two hits and drove in a run, and Courtney Dawson had two doubles for the Titans.
Union coach Alex Perry credited Skyview for playing its best ball of the season at the right time. Skyview scored 20 against Union in the previous meeting. Perry also told his club to forget about this game.
“It’s not the end of our season,” he said. “We’ve got a game Friday against Battle Ground to regroup, then we host the pigtail (playoff) game. We’re still in control. We just gotta win.”
This is Skyview’s first league title since 2005.
“That was my goal at the beginning of the season,” said Fuller, in her fourth season as coach. “I wanted a league championship banner. I’ve got great hitting and great defense, and my pitchers can get it done. The biggest thing about this team is they play with a lot of confidence.”
It showed on Wednesday.
