Camas Machine JBO Baseball Team Wins State Title

CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Camas Machine JBO Senior National baseball team won their division’s State Championship this past weekend, beating McKay 8-3 in a hard-fought tournament.

At state, the Machine needed to win five games to win the Championship.  They won their first three games handily, and then the fourth game became a long, hard-fought 10-inning battle against McKay – a team from Salem.

“They gave us probably the best game we have seen all season,” said Camas Machine’s assistant coach, Keith Upkes.  “Score was tied at 0-0 going into the seventh.  In the seventh, we scored one, and McKay as the home team answered our run with a run of their own.  Going into extra innings we were tied.  In the eighth, we quickly scored two to go ahead 3-1, they again answered our score putting up two of their own sending the game to the ninth inning tied at three. In the ninth, they shut us down and then we answered back.

JBO
Camas Machine: The JBO Senior National Baseball State Champions.
 
 
Brannon Meriwether
Brannon Meriwether on the mound against McKay.
 
JBO

 “Going into the tenth we were tied at three. As visitors we scored two going into the bottom of the tenth we were up 5-3.  They quickly scored one making it 5-4, then we shut them down and prevailed with a final score of 5-4.  We advanced to the championship round on Sunday.”

But it wasnt over with McKay.  They moved into the loser’s bracket having only lost to the Machine.  According to Upkes, they won their loser’s bracket game setting up a re-match for Sunday’s championship game.

Camas Machine came out ready to roll, but couldn’t get the bat’s going along with McKay’s good execution of a short game and they prevailed 10-3 in the Championship game.

But it still wasn’t over.

Being a double elimination tournament, the Camas Machine got a second chance. With a 60-minute break in 90 degree weather, the Machine fought their way back. Behind the pitching of Brannan Meriwether and Dillon Mickalson, along with a strong defensive stand, said Upkes, and with bats that started lighting up, the Camas Machine prevailed 8-3 over McKay to win the 2013 JBO Senior National State Championship.

 
JBO
“It was a great feeling,” said Mike Colvin, the team’s manager. “It bodes well for the future of the sport in Camas and in the community at large. Not only did these JBO teams do well, but all three Camas Little League teams won their district championships and went to State.”
Colvin said the boys wanted something that couldn’t be given to them.“They had to earn it,” said Colvin. “They had to work really hard. Every kid stepped up and made plays. They played their hearts out.”

Until the playoff, Joe Gaudio was the team’s manager, but he left for an extended time.  Colvin took over as manager for the playoffs both District and State. Assistant coaches are Toby Mickalson and Upkes.

The Machine finished first in league play with a record of 13-1, and took first place Districts.
The Machine roster includes:
  • Ryan Behnke
  • Wes Colvin
  • Caleb Field
  • JD Fuller
  • Grant Gaudio
  • Josh Hibbard
  • Shane Jamison
  • Brannan Meriwether
  • Dillon Mickalson
  • Connor Shira
  • Haruki Takada
  • Patrick Upkes

 

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Camas Outlaws JBO Baseball Team Wins State Title

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The first-year Camas Outlaws baseball team won the JBO Midget American State Championship over the weekend, sweeping five games and beating Sweet Home, 18-7 in the finals.
The Outlaws (31-0) formed just this year, and comprises the following Camas and Washougal players: Ethan Tobey, Tyler Willis, Nate Adams, Ty Mairs, AJ Anhorn, Chase 
Howington, Easton Rheaume, Drew Fishburn, Mason Packer, Brig Griffin, 
Morgan French, and Jake LeBlanc.
The team is coached by Tad Mairs, Eric Rheaume and Aaron Howington.
Other tourney wins on the way to their undefeated season include the Milwaukee 
Invitational, the Banks Invitational, as well as the Trico District 
Championship.

 

Outlaws
  
 
 
 “This is a first year team that attributes their success to hard 
working, coachable kids and a great supporting cast of parents and 
other family members that believed in and supported the Camas Outlaw 
coaching staff,” said Mairs.The Outlaws are the fourth Camas-based JBO team to play in State this season alone.

In addition, three Little League teams won their District titles and have or will compete at State. The ASA softball team, Something Special, just won their 16U State Championship.

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Camas LL 10/11 All-Stars Team Wins Districts

The stars came out in their favor.
After their win on Sunday, the Camas LL 10/11 All-Stars are now preparing for State competition, which begins on Saturday at Gig Harbor, WA. The boys swept the District 4 Tournament, held at Cascade Little League, winning six consecutive games. The final score on Sunday was 16-4.
The team is coached by Andy Ott, Joel Shega, and Ken Broadbent.
“We’re very pleased with how the boys played,” said Ott. “And, we’re excited they get a chance to play at the State level next week. We’re looking forward to it.”
To learn more about Camas Little League, visit www.camasll.com
Stars

 

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CLL10/11 All-Stars Win District Championship

Now, 3 CLL Teams Go to State

VANCOUVER, WA — The Camas Little League (CLL) 10/11 All-Stars won their division’s District title Sunday night against Cascade, 16-4. This is the third divisional championship in six days for Camas Little League Baseball. Last Monday, the 9/10 team won their finals, and the following day the 11/12 won their championship game. Both of those teams are competing at State.

The 10/11 boys head to State Tournament later this week in Gig Harbor, WA. The team is coached by Andy Ott, Brad Day, and Bob Gibbs. Photo provided by Kathy Birchem.

To learn more about CLL, visit www.CamasLL.com

All-Stars




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CLL11/12 All-Stars Begin State Tournament

VANCOUVER — After sweeping Districts (5-0) the Camas  Little League (CLL) 11/12 All-Stars begin facing the best teams from 14 other districts from all over Washington state as Salmon Creek Little League host this year’s State Tournament.

The Opening Ceremonies began Saturday at 9 am, and the Camas boys begin their first game at 4:30 at Luke Jensen Sports Park.

Luke Jensen Sports Park
4000 NE 78th St.
Vancouver, WA 98665

The team is coached by Doug Williams, Brendan Ford, and Jeff Mansur.

The team is comprised of:

  • Ryan Behnke
  • Shane Jamison
  • Zach Convey
  • Joey Schnell
  • Camden Ford
  • Grant Heiser
  • Carson Williams
  • Jacob Trupp
  • Christian Geigenmiller
  • Josh Mansur
  • Billy Schdult

The teams are selected using an end-of-season voting process that includes players, coaches and board members.

To learn more, visit www.camaslittleleague.org

State


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Camas Runner Efraimson: No. 3 in the World

UKRAINE — Camas High School long-distance runner Alexa Efraimson just won third place at the IAAF World Youth Championships in the Ukraine, with a time 4:13.07 in the 1500m event.

This is a photo of Alexa at the Oregon Relays in April 2013.

To learn more, visit www.chs.camas.wednet.edu

 

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Camas Runner Competes on World Stage for USA

Camas High School track star, Alexa Efraimson, just qualified for the finals of the 1500m of the World Junior Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine, placing 3rd in her qualifying heat with a time of 4:23.27.
“I’m really grateful for what’s been happening,” said Efraimson. “I absolutely love to run, and condition every day, on top of all my school work. We just make it happen. I’m grateful to all my coaches who have inspired me, and especially my mom, who always encourages me.”
She’s set new records in Washington state and delivered exceptional times in her recent runs at the Oregon Relays at Historic Hayward Field, in Eugene, Oregon.
Runner

Camas long distance runner, Alexa Efraimson, is running for USA.




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Showtime 16U Junior Prep Wins State USSSA Title

CHENEY STADIUM, Wash. — Southwest Washington baseball programs are red hot right now, as the Showtime 16U Junior Prep team just won the USSSA State Championship Tuesday against Crimson Rock.

The intense game, held at the newly renovated minor league park, was a close one, as the local Showtime boys edged out the competition, 6-5.

“Well, we faced some pretty good pitching with guys throwing in the mid 80’s but we got our timing down and eventually hit him well,” said Showtime player Jace Bolton. “It was pretty amazing! The feeling after getting the last out was indescribable. Kordell Vasbinder threw all seven innings for us [about 100 pitches].”

The visiting Showtime boys earned six runs on five hits, “and it came down to the wire,” said fan Vicki Lee. “They had runners on 2nd and 3rd when we got them to fly out to left field. It was an amazing experience. The boys got rings and this giant trophy and the facility was absolutely beautiful. I don’t think any of them will forget this for a very long time. I know I won’t.”

The intense game wasn’t without incident, either. Showtime player Jackson Wagner was hit in the face by a fastball early in the game. He’s being treated and is expected to recover.

The Showtime boys play in a couple more tournaments before winding down the season.

 

State Champions!

 

Showtime State
Cheney Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

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Camas 11/12 All-Star’s Win District Title

Second Championship Win for League This Week

BRUSH Prairie, Wash. – For 75 minutes, hearts were pounding as Camas Little League fans sat in the heat of the Pacific Northwest summer watching their 11/12 All-Star team compete with and ultimately defeat Evergreen 2-0 in the District 4 Championship game Tuesday night.

Both teams entered tonight’s game undefeated, and players, coaches, and fans alike expected a close, low-scoring game. And that’s just what they got.

The Camas boys have been used to racking up runs during this weeklong tournament, but knew more adversity would come their way. Evergreen played well and had a strong defense, and likewise for Camas.

But, the Camas bats were a bit stronger Tuesday night – and that’s what made the difference. It was also Camas Little League’s second District title in as many days (the 9/10 All-Star’s won their championship Monday night).

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when Carson Williams hit a single and started working his way home. He would score their first run, and would quickly be followed by pitcher Shane Jamison.

Ryan Behnke pitched the entire game (under 65 pitches) for Camas and only allowed a few hits. His solid pitching gave Evergreen fits throughout the entire game.

With two outs at the bottom of the sixth, Evergreen hit one deep into left field foul territory, and Joey Schnell made an amazing catch as he hit the fence and ended the game, sealing the Camas victory. It was the first time in years that an 11/12 team from Camas has won the District title.

“This feels so great!” said Jamison, who along with Behnke, Williams and Christian Geigenmiller, have been working on winning a District title since 2010, which was their first year of All-Star eligibility.

Most of the team has played together in post-season since 2011, and have placed second two years in a row.

“It was our time,” said Camden Ford, who experienced his third season as an All-Star.

Manager Doug Williams said “the boys played with heart and they really wanted to win this.”

Williams, Brendan Ford, and Jeff Mansur have been coaching this team since June 16, and now look forward to opening day at the Washington State Tournament, which begins this Saturday.

All-Stars
Camas Little League: The 2013 11/12 All-Star District 4 Champions.

 

Ryan Behnke pitched the entire game.
All-Stars
Joey Schnell is congratulated by his teammates after making
an amazing catch at left field to end the game.

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Baseball: Camas All-Stars Win 9/10 Districts

The Camas Little League 9/10 All-Stars clinched their divisions District Championship and are now headed to State competition.

The tournament, which was hosted by Fort Vancouver Little League, began last week, and the Camas All-Stars won four of their five games. Coached by John Blair, Barry Smith, and Brian Sanville, the boys have been practicing since June 16, a day after the regular season ended.

Zachariah Shaw started for Camas, and he pitched four innings. Jake Blair closed, and got himself out a tight bind as bases were loaded late in the game. The Camas defense looked solid, and the boys came to  hit — and hit they did.

“We’re super excited,” said Braden Sanville, one of the team’s players.

A large portion of the Camas Little League was in attendance to support their boys.

The District title earns the team the opportunity to play at the Washington State Little League tournament, which will be at Oak Harbor, in northern Washington.

John Blair was one of the coaches from last year’s winning 9/10 All-Star team.

To learn more, visit www.camasll.com

 

All-Stars
Camas Little 9/10 All-Star District Champions.
All-Stars
Jake Blair closes for Camas.

 

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