Camas-Washougal Post-Record

May 14, 2013

Caleigh Lofstead lets go of her pole vault after she clears the bar. Lofstead and the Camas girls track and field team became district champions Thursday, at McKenzie Stadium.

View from the top

The Camas High School girls track and field team rose above their Greater St. Helens League challengers Wednesday and Thursday, at McKenzie Stadium. The Lady Papermakers racked up 154 points to beat Skyview, Union, Battle Ground, Evergreen and Heritage for the district championship trophy. The Camas boys collected 146 points to finish in second place. Skyview won the boys title with 162 points. Alexa Efraimson earned first place for the Papermakers in the girls 800 (2:09.74) and 1,600-meter runs (4:50.24). She also carried the baton across the finish line first in the 1,600 relay, picking up the pace set by Cammie Parsons, Ali Nuce and Mckenzie Good (4:01.88). "There are so many great girls at this meet. It's getting more and more competitive in this area as the years go on," Efraimson said. "It makes it harder and harder to move on, but it also makes it more rewarding when you do move on."

May 7, 2013

Camas forward Cameron Eyman kicks the soccer ball between three defenders and out of reach of the goalkeeper Thursday, at McKenzie Stadium. The Papermakers defeated the Union Titans 1-0 and became league champions.

Papermakers soccer host district title game Wednesday

The Camas High School boys soccer team beat Skyview, Battle Ground, Heritage, Evergreen and Union during the last two weeks to become league champions. "It's all about resiliency and mental toughness," said head coach Roland Minder. "These guys gave everything they had, and together they made history." Minder couldn't have been more proud after the Papermakers defeated the Union Titans 1-0 Thursday, at McKenzie Stadium. The game remained scoreless for 60 minutes until Cameron Eyeman put the perfect spin on the soccer ball and sent it past three defenders, out of reach of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

May 7, 2013

Adam Thomas clinched first place on the pole vault and in the long jump to help the Washougal boys track and field team beat Hockinson and Ridgefield for the league championship.

Heartbreak and triumph for Washougal

The Washougal boys track and field team earned another league championship last week, but the girls lost their first league meet in five years by one point. "It's been a great five years. Not too many teams can say they had this much success in any sport," said head coach Dave Hajek. "I'm impressed by all the girls. They were willing to do whatever takes to keep the streak alive. "I'm proud of the seniors who gave everything they had, and I'm excited for the younger girls who say they want to get the league title back next year," he added. "It means we have athletes in Washougal who care. That's all you can ask for as a coach."

May 1, 2013

Katie Schroeder pitched a perfect game for the Papermakers Wednesday, at Camas High School.

On the sidelines: A perfect day for Schroeder

Katie Schroeder was perfect Wednesday. The Camas High School sophomore struck out 14 of the 21 Union Titans she faced. She allowed zero hits and no runners reached first base. The Papermakers won the game 9-0. "It's the best feeling to know you have total control and the people behind you to back you up," Schroeder said. Schroeder and catcher Erin Tauscher were in sync on the mound and behind the plate. The Camas defense also kept the Titans off the base paths.

April 30, 2013

Brandon Casteel is putting his heart into baseball for Washougal.

Brandon Casteel goes 7-for-7 in a doubleheader

Getting three or four hits in a baseball game is a pretty good day. Brandon Casteel stepped up to the plate eight times and got seven hits for Washougal during a doubleheader against Hockinson on April 21. As the lead-off batter, the sophomore laced four doubles and three singles, and scored four runs. And in the other at-bat, he was intentionally walked. "It's the first time I've ever been able to hit that consistently." Casteel said. "My teammates were eating it up. Even the other team was congratulating me. It made my day."

April 30, 2013

Harli Hubbard celebrated her 17th birthday by striking out 13 Union Titans on April 22. The Camas High School junior allowed only two hits and two walks in seven innings pitched. The Papermakers won the game 9-1.

Camas softball team scores runs in bunches

The Skyview softball players met their makers Monday. That's how the Camas softball players described their endless sixth inning that led to a 17-4 victory. The Papermakers sent 18 batters to the plate and scored 13 runs on eight hits. Erin Tauscher drove in seven of those runs with a 3-run home run and a grand slam. She hit a fly ball into left field that just kept gaining altitude. The fielder tracked it, reached for the ball over the fence, but she couldn't bring it back.

April 30, 2013

Austin Tofell took second place in the javelin with this throw of 140 feet, 7 inches during Friday's Panther Twilight track and field meet, at Fishback Stadium.

Washougal track teams share the glory

While the Washougal High School boys track and field team inched closer to another league championship, the girls ended up sharing the glory in two meets that went down to the wire. Several top three finishes helped the Panther girls force a 75-75 tie with Mark Morris April 23, in Longview. If the Washougal girls can beat Ridgefield today, they will stand on the top of the 2A Greater St. Helens League with Mark Morris. And that would be five league titles in a row. "We have girls who are willing to do an extra event, or whatever it takes, to win the meet," said head coach Dave Hajek. "I expect nothing less out of them today. These girls want to prove it on the track and in the field."

April 23, 2013

Photo courtesy of Dolly Fisher Bales
Camas and Washougal runners Dana Seekins, Dolly Fisher Bales, Derek O'Quinn and Anita Burkard enjoy dinner with their families before the Boston Marathon. All four runners crossed the finish line before the bombings on April 15.

Four Camas-Washougal runners cross the finish line before the Boston bombings

April 15 should have been a day of celebration for Camas and Washougal runners Anita Burkard, Dolly Fisher Bales, Derek O'Quinn and Dana Seekins. All four crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon after training together for months at LaCamas Swim & Sport. "Right after I crossed the finish line, I turned to the perfect stranger next to me and gave him a high-five," Fisher Bales said. "We finished! It was such elation."

April 23, 2013

Another no-hitter for Camas softball

Katie Schroeder tossed a no-hitter in the first Camas softball game of the season. It seemed only fitting that Harli Hubbard would throw one in the first league game. The Papermakers defeated Skyview 2-0 Wednesday, at Camas High School. Hubbard gave up zero hits, five walks and struck out 11 batters. "It was such an amazing feeling to get on a roll like that," Hubbard said. "I couldn't have done it without my teammates."

April 23, 2013

Camas runners set two meet records at Oregon Relays

Four Camas High School cross country state champions are breaking new ground on the track. Alissa Pudlitzke, Mckenzie Good, Camille Parsons and Alexa Efraimson set a new Oregon Relays meet record in the distance medley relay Friday, at Hayward Field, in Eugene. Pudlitzke ran 1,200 meters and Good completed the next 400. Then it was Parsons turn to run two laps. "Alissa and Mckenzie had put us in a good spot. I should be able to pass a few girls," Parsons said. "That was my main focus."