Some timely hitting and shutdown relief pitching helped Montesano to a 6-3 win over Overlake on Saturday at Vessey Field in Montesano.
The Bulldogs (3-0 overall) jumped out to an early lead, got some timely hitting for some late insurance runs and benefited from solid relief pitching from right-hander Skylar Bove to pick up the victory over a Growls team that competed in the state tournament last season.
In the bottom of the first, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a run-scoring triple by second baseman Josh Wills followed by back-to-back RBI singles from first baseman John Kling and designated hitter Jackson Busz.
The Growls (1-2) loaded the bases on Monte starter Cam Taylor with a pair of walks and an error with one out in the top of the second. Overlake’s JM Brakus stepped to the dish and singled to right, but an error on the Montesano defense allowed all three runs to cross the plate to tie the game.
The Bulldogs would regain the lead in the fourth, loading the bases when center fielder Kaleb Ames was hit by a pitch, catcher Denali Harris singled and right fielder Tyler Johansen reached on a fielder’s choice.
Monte third baseman Jaxson Wilson followed with a walk to force home Ames for the go-ahead run.
The Bulldogs would add some insurance in the sixth. With left fielder Christian Olsen and shortstop Bode Poler on second and third, respectively, Wills singled to right to put Monte up 6-3.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano’s Bode Poler is hit by a pitch during the Bulldogs’ 6-3 victory against Overlake on Saturday at Vessey Field in Montesano.
“We weren’t sure what we were going to get today. We knew we were going to face better pitching than what we saw against North Mason and White Salmon, so we knew we were going to have to be really patient and have a good approach,” Montesano head coach Mike Osgood said. “To come out and put a three spot on the board, it kind of set the tone offensively for us and gave our guys a lot of confidence there.”
Meanwhile, Bove was putting up zeroes on the Overlake side of the scoreboard. Entering the game with one out and runners on first and third in a tie ballgame in the top of the second, Bove struck out Michael Komola then got Jaxson Fowler on a fly out to keep the game tied.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano reliever Skylar Bove held Overlake scoreless over 5 2/3 innings pitched in the Bulldogs’ 6-3 victory against Overlake on Saturday in Montesano.
With the help of some solid defense behind him, the Bulldogs bullpen sparkplug shut down the Growls over the next five innings, working around seven hits and a walk while striking out three, getting out of several jams in the process.
“Skylar just came in and kept us in the game until we could get some more runs. He was awesome,” Osgood said. “He’s one of those guys that gets excited. … He’s a vocal guy and a great guy to have on the team and he just came up big for us today.”
Wills led the Bulldogs offense, going 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBI.
“He was huge for us today,” Osgood said of Wills, who produced after Osgood moved him up to the No. 3 spot in the batting order for the first time on Saturday.
Facing a team that advanced to the state tournament last season, Osgood said his team needed to put together good at-bats to beat Overlake.
“For game No. 3 against a team that made the state tournament last year and brought everybody back, it feels good to get that win for sure,” he said. “We’ve got a tough league. Tenino and Elma are both going to be very difficult teams this year and have a lot of talent. … So we knew that this was the type of game that if we could compete here that we could at least stay in games in our league and make that push to get into mid-season form and get into the playoffs.”
Montesano hosts Klahowya at 4 p.m. on Monday.
Overlake 030 000 0 – 3 9 2
Montesano 300 102 x – 6 7 3
WP: Bove (5.2 IP, 0 R, 7 H, 3 K, BB). LP: Clark (4 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 3 K, BB).
Leading hitters: Montesano – Wills (2-3, 3B, R, 3 RBI); Kling (1-2, R, RBI, BB); Ames (1-1, R); Harris (1-2, BB); Busz (1-4); Olsen (0-3, 2 R, BB); Wilson (0-2, RBI, BB). Overlake – Brakus (2-3, RBI); Gomez (2-2, BB); Smetters (2-3, R, BB); Gauthier (1-3, R, BB); Bieber (1-3, R); Fowler (1-3).
Other scores
Hoquiam 15, Spanaway Lake 6
MEN’S COLLEGE BASEBALL
Chokers take three of four for second weekend in a row
The Grays Harbor Chokers moved to 10-10 on the season after taking three of four game from Yakima Valley on Saturday and Sunday in Yakima.
GHC dropped Saturday’s opener 1-0, spoiling a superb complete-game performance from GHC starter Brock Roundy (9 IP, ER, 13 H, 8 K).
In the nightcap, the Chokers won 11-5, scoring five runs in both the second and sixth innings.
GHC starter Luke Stutesman (6 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 3 K, 3 BB) picked up the win, with outfielder Ian Winterhalder (3-6, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Montesano’s Aaron Lano (1-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI) leading a Chokers offense that collected nine hits in the game.
GHC opened Sunday’s double header with a 12-0 victory in eight innings.
Leading 4-0 entering the top of the sixth, the Chokers scored seven run to pull away from Yakima Valley.
Preston Vine-Close (4-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI) smacked two doubles with Winterhalder (3-3, R), infielder Hunter Hillyard (1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI) and designated hitter Dylan Ahmad (2-4, R, RBI) making significant contributions for a Chokers offense that had 15 hits in the game.
Ocosta’s Colby Scheuber picked up the win, allowing five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in pitching a seven-inning shutout.
GHC closed out the weekend series by scoring nine runs over the last three innings for an 11-8 victory.
Winterhalder (3-5, 2B, 3 R), Roundy (2-4, 2 R); Cael McMurdo (2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Cameron-Dior Horne (1-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI) led the offense.
Winterhalder (8 IP, 7 R, 6 ER, 8 H, 6 K, BB) picked up the victory.
GHC has a four-game series at Wenatchee Valley set to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
