CAMAS — Camas softball coach Dale Lunde walked onto the infield to ask an umpire whether a Battle Ground runner had missed first base.
His pitcher, Kennedy Ferguson, let her coach know that whatever the call, she was in control.
“She said ‘Lunde, I’ve got this.’ I said, ‘enough said.’ ”
Ferguson and Camas now have the final word as to who rules the 4A Greater St. Helens League. A 6-2 win Monday over Battle Ground secured the No. 1 seed to the bi-district tournament and at least a share of the league title for the Papermakers.
Ferguson struck out 15 and didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning.
When Battle Ground’s bats heated up in the sixth, Ferguson had a five-run cushion and the competitive moxie to keep Camas in control.
“She’s a competitor to the highest level,” Lunde said of his senior pitcher. “Last year, she was my bulldog. This year, she’s my pitbull. She’s got that mentality.”
Ferguson, who has signed to play at the University of New Mexico, struck out 13 of the first 16 batters she faced. She threw her fastball by hitters and kept them off-balance with a changeup and curveball.
Six different hitters accounted for Camas’ seven hits. Senior catcher Abbi Wong drove in two runs, including an RBI single that gave Camas a 3-0 lead in the second inning.
Camas (13-5, 8-2) stretched its lead to 5-0 in the third inning against a Battle Ground team that entered Monday one-half game behind the Papermakers.
“Everyone is always on their A-game against Battle Ground,” Wong said. “They’ve always been competitive against us, ever since our freshman year.”
The Tigers (10-8, 7-4) have one league game remaining and are a half-game ahead of third-place Skyview, which has two league games left. The GSHL’s top two teams get bi-district berths while the third-place team must win a play-in game.
Camas won the season series against Battle Ground 2-1. The Papermakers clinch the league title outright if they beat either Union on Wednesday or Skyview on Friday.
After that, Camas will turn its attention to the bi-district tournament May 18-19 in Kent. The goal there is to grab one of seven berths to the state tournament, where Camas placed fourth last year.
With the season winding down, Monday’s win showed Ferguson and her teammates are shifting into a higher gear.
“As seniors, you’ve got to go all out,” Ferguson said. “I have a defense behind me that I trust and getting runs early like that really helps.”
CAMAS 6, BATTLE GROUND 2
B.Ground 000 002 0–2 5 3
Camas 122 001 x–6 7 1
Battle Ground
Pitching — Jennifer Westrand 6 IP, 2 K, 2 BB; Highlights — Morgan Stradley 1-3, R; Alexis Morrison 1-2, RBI; Alexandra Traffalis 1-3; Jennifer Westrand 2-3, R, 2B.
Camas
Pitching — Kennedy Ferguson 7 IP, 15 K, 1 BB; Highlights — Sophie Franklin 1-4, 2 R, SB; Abbi Wong 1-3, 2 RBI; Payton Bates 1-4; Kennedy Ferguson 1-3, R, RBI; Maloree Neely 2-3, R; Mary Pipkin 1-2, 3B.
