A three-run third inning helped the Columbia River baseball team beat host Kelso on Monday to stay within a half-game of first place in the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League.
Andrew Haley and Drew Moore had two hits apiece and each scored a run for the Chieftains, who had six players supply hits. Jay Becker struck out six over five innings to earn the win, and Taylor Easterly pitched the last two innings for the save, including a 1-2-3 seventh.
Kelso (7-4 in league) scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the first, but Columbia River took the lead with three in the third, followed by single runs in the fourth and the fifth.
Stars of the day
- Megan Settje, Skyview softball, hit a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh, lifting the Storm to a 6-5 win over Heritage.
- Brittany Langdon, Battle Ground softball, hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in a victory over Union.
- Brooks Hanson, Skyview baseball, pitched a four-hit shutout while striking out 10 in a 6-0 win over Union.
- Taylor Hartley, Battle Ground golf, shot a 2-over-par 38 at The Cedars for medalist honors in the Tigers’ win over Skyview.
- Lena Richards, Camas softball, scored the only run by sliding around a tag attempt at home plate as the Papermakers beat Evergreen 1-0 to remain unbeaten.
- Greg Allen, Evergreen baseball, went 3 for 4 and knocked in the game winning run with a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Plainsmen beat Heritage 4-3.
- Mike Spellacy, Battle Ground baseball, went 4 for 4 and drove in a run in a win over Camas.
- Bailey Gaspar, Mountain View softball, went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBI as Mountain View won the battle of father and daughter: Thunder coach Bob VanHorn and Prairie coach Ari VanHorn.
