The Mountain View softball team might have a share of the league title, but it is Columbia River which is poised to earn the No. 1 seed in the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League.
Katelyn Costanza struck out eight and allowed one earned run Monday, and Teaghan Cowles used her speed to produce a couple runs, helping Columbia River to a 5-3 victory at Mountain View.
The Chieftains improved to 7-2 in the 3A GSHL and expect to be 8-2 after Tuesday’s make-up game against Hudson’s Bay.
The Thunder fell to 8-2 — both losses coming against the Chieftains.
So if Columbia River does, indeed, tie Mountain View in the standings, the Chieftains will take the top seed into the district tournament.
“Going into the game, I felt I had to minimize the hits that I allowed,” Costanza said. “That was my goal. I think I accomplished what I set out to do.”
Columbia River learned earlier in the day that two starters would not be able to play, one due to injury and another to illness.
“I think we played with a lot of unity, and it showed out there,” Costanza said.
“To do this against Mountain View, a team with a lot of experience, it shows a lot of heart from our team,” Cowles said.
It was not a perfect game by any means. The two top teams in the league combined for nine errors.
But the River defense came up big when it mattered. Mountain View got a run in the sixth inning to make it 5-3, but Tayler Austin, a reserve forced into starting at second base, made three plays to get the outs in the frame, preserving the lead.
Cowles scored the first run of the game in the top of the first, getting a stolen base, then racing home on an error.
“Speed is one of the weapons that is kind of unique for a catcher,” she said. “I use it as much as I can. If I don’t get the big hit or something, I can get around the bases with my speed. I’m putting pressure on the other team, and making them make mistakes.”
Cowles singled and scored in the third inning, and in the fourth she beat a throw for an infield single that drove in a run.
Bailey Seivers went 3 for 4 and scored twice for River. She stole home in the fourth inning. Costanza drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Mountain View pitcher Colleen Driscoll was solid, as well. She did not allow a hit in the final three innings. Five Mountain View errors led to four unearned runs.
The 3A district tournament begins Thursday in Kelso. Prairie and Kelso play each other, with the winner taking on the No. 2 seed, also on Thursday. The winner of that game will play the top seed on Friday.
