Little League Roundup: Montesano 12U all-stars win district crown

Also: Scores from Little League District 3 Tournaments

By Ryan Sparks • July 11, 2022 1:30 am
PHOTO BY LARRY BALE The Montesano Little League 12U All-Star Team won the Majors District 3 championship with an 8-3 win over Capitol on Saturday at Stan Hedwall Park in Chehalis.

With one game left to decide a district championship and trip to the state tournament, Montesano’s Majors All-Stars Little League team came through in the clutch.

After suffering a 7-4 loss to Capitol (Olympia) earlier in the day to force a winner-take-all final game, Montesano defeated Capitol 8-3 in the decisive contest on Saturday in Chehalis, claiming the District 3 Championship in the process.

Montesano jumped out to a 3-0 lead, scoring a run in the third on a Cruz Vargas double and a pair of runs in the top of the fourth on a passed ball and RBI groundout by Kale Kjesbu.

Monte put the game out of reach in the fifth, scoring four runs highlighted by an RBI double from Hunter Schmitz, a two-run triple from Vargas and an RBI single off the bat of Anderson Potts.

That was more than enough run support for the Montesano pitching staff as starter Kjesbu (5 IP, 5H, 2R, 0ER, 7K, 2BB) was dominant on the bump and combined with reliever Finley Ekerson (IP, ER, 2H, K, BB) to keep the Capitol offense from making the game close.

Vargas finished the game going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs and two RBI.

PHOTO BY LARRY BALE Montesano's Cruz Vargas slides in to home in Monte Little League's 8-3 victory over Capitol in the deciding game of the Majors District 3 Tournament on Saturday in Chehalis.

Montesano’s offense smacked four extra-base hits in the game, with Kjesbu and Schmitz each belting a double in the game.

The victory gives the Montesano all-stars the district title and a berth in the Washington Little League State Tournament, where they’ll face District 9 champion Issaquah at 2 p.m. Saturday in Lynnwood.

Montesano advances in 8-10 District 3 Tournament

Montesano Little League’s 10U All-Stars advanced to the semifinal round of the District 3 Tournament with a pair of victories over the weekend in Aberdeen.

On Saturday, Montesano hammered 10 hits and scored nine runs in the first inning en route to a 16-4 win over Aberdeen in the opening round.

Montesano followed that performance with 13 hits — three apiece from Trey Gunter (3-4, 3R, RBI) and Madden Maruska (3-3, 2R, 5RBI) — in a convincing 16-6 victory over Chehalis in four innings.

Brody Messick picked up the win for Montesano, allowing four earned run on four hits with a strikeout in two innings pitched.

Montesano will face Larch Mountain in a semifinal matchup scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Monday at Pioneer Park in Aberdeen.

District 3 8-10 Tournament scores

Saturday, July 10

Willapa Harbor 8, Elma 2

Sunday, July 11

Larch Mountain 10, Willapa Harbor 9