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Camas OF Zach Blair, Oregon State commit, blasts two home runs in district doubleheader

The Papermakers dug a hole in the 4A District 3/4 third place game even Zach Blair's hot bat couldn't help them overcome.

KENT, Wash. — Zach Blair adjusted to the pitch and managed to throw an "emergency swing." The fleet-footed junior took off on a full sprint toward first base. Once he saw the ball eek over the center-right field field, he let up. 

"I didn't think it was good enough, to be honest," Blair said with a chuckle.

The center fielder committed to Oregon State was a bright spot through two games the Papermakers (16-7) would like another crack at. 

The 4A Greater St. Helens League champs lost to Puyallup 13-6 in the semifinals and Curtis 7-6 in the third place game of the 4A District 3/4 tournament on Saturday at Kent-Meridian.

Blair went yard in both. His solo shot over the right-center fence in the loss to Puyallup injected flare into the Papermakers' comebacks hopes. His second, a two-run home run over right-center, cut Curtis' lead to 6-3 in the fourth.

It was also one of three Camas home runs in the game, joining Mac Fraser and Boston Jensen. Blair was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in the game.

Skip Dickson's RBI single in the sixth tied the game at 6-6. Curtis scored after an error on a throw to first in the top of the seventh.

"Offensively, we kind of played well to the short field," Camas coach Steve Short said. 

Both Camas and Curtis are through to the Class 4A regional round. The seeding and field will be set by a 16-team committee made up of coaches and athletic directors Sunday morning. 

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--Andy Buhler; @AndyBuhler.