Camas outlasts Columbia River in instant classic

SEATTLE — By the time Logan Grindy’s pumping, pounding legs were rounding third base, the Camas Papermakers’ bench was already ready to pounce.

Then Grindy jumped up, dove outward and slid headfirst over home plate.

Grindy was safe. Camas was the victor. And as the Papermakers alternated skyward arm movements with a dream-like pile up on the infield of Safeco Field, an instant Clark County-classic was finally over.

Camas downed the Columbia River Chieftains, 3-2, in 11 innings Friday afternoon in a 3A state baseball
semifinal contest.

With the win, the Papermakers are just one victory away from becoming state champions.

Camas will face O’Dea at 4 p.m. today for the 3A title.

Just minutes after Friday’s memorable battle was over, Camas coach Joe Hallead was forced to fight back tears while praising the play of every athlete who took the field.

Hallead first referred to the contest as a war. Then he said that he had never been part of a better game in his entire career.

“I’m just so blessed to coach these guys,” said Hallead, whose team will make its first-ever title-game appearance.

He added: “We’re in the state championship game. When I took this program over 10 years ago, it wasn’t even in the foreshadowing. This group of boys … have just gelled together so nicely. This has just been a magical season. A magical trip through the postseason.”

A two-out, two-RBI, line-drive double that was smoked down the right-field line by Kurt Yinger in the bottom of the 11th instantly provided Camas (20-7) with magic-laced memories.

Check columbian.com for more on this story. Updates to follow on The Columbian’s high school sports blog.

Columbia River 3, Camas 2, 11 innings
Columbia River 000 010 000 01—2 10 0
Camas 000 010 000 02—3 5 2
Columbia River
Pitchers — Skye Adams 9 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 5 K, 4 BB; Christian Bannister 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 K, 2 R, loss. Highlights — Quin Walker 2-5 2B, R; Andy Breshears 2-6, 2B, RBI; Trevor Cass 2-5, R, SB; David Anderson 4 BB; Steven Porter 1-4; Adams 1-5, RBI; Bannister 1-5; Derek Dixon 1-3.
Camas
Pitchers — Taylor Williams 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 8 K, 5 BB; Zach Carter 1/3 IP, 1 H; Kurt Yinger 3 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 5 K, win. Highlights — Logan Grindy 1-4, R; Derek Atkinson 1-3, RBI; Yinger 1-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Landon Donovan 1-4, R; Austin Barr 1-5, 2B, R.