Montesano opened a Saturday doubleheader in eastern Washington with a 12-2 five-inning loss to Naches Valley in Naches.

The Bulldogs (8-1 overall) suffered its first loss of the season thanks in large part to defensive miscues that led to big innings for the Rangers (8-1).

Naches Valley scored eight unearned runs in the contest, bolstered by six walks and four Montesano errors.

Monte fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first with two unearned runs against Bulldogs starting pitcher Skylar Bove.

Monte tied the game in the top of the third when a Rangers error led to two runs on a ground ball off the bat of John Kling, scoring Kaleb Ames and Bode Poler.

Naches Valley responded with a six-run bottom of the third as Monte’s defense committed two errors combined with a balk, a double, a single and a wild pitch to go up 8-2.

In the fifth, the Rangers got three straight singles followed by three consecutive walks to go up 11-2 and ended the game when Landen Cuyle scored on a wild pitch.

Bove took the loss, allowing eight runs – none earned – on four hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts in three innings pitched.

Montesano 002 00 – 2 4 4

Naches Valley 206 04 – 12 7 1

WP: Bove (3 IP, 8 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K). LP: Jenkins (5 IP, 2 R, ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K).

Leading hitters: NV – Jenkins (2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI); Rowe (2-3, 2 R, RBI); Zimmerman (1-2, R); Abrams (1-4, 2 R, RBI); Thomson (1-1, R). Montesano – Poler (1-2, 2B, R); Ames (1-2, R); Busz (1-2); Olsen (1-2); Kling (0-2, 2 RBI).

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano’s Jackson Busz connects on a pitch during a doubleheader against Naches Valley on Saturday in Naches.

Montesano 4, Naches Valley 2

The Bulldogs wrapped up their three-game weekend in Yakima Valley with a 4-2 win over the Rangers in the nightcap, handing Naches Valley its first loss of the season.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, Montesano manufactured a run when Jaxson Wilson, aboard with a one-out single, advanced to third after a walk to Tyler Johansen and was followed by a sacrifice bunt from Christian Morris.

With two outs, Kaleb Ames stepped to the plate and singled to score Wilson and tie the game at 1-1.

Monte took the lead in the top of the fifth when Bode Poler doubled to right to score pinch-runner Zach Timmons. Ames followed with a double of his own to score Poler for a 3-1 Bulldogs lead.

Leading 3-2 after the Rangers scored on a Porter Abrams sac fly in the fifth, Monte’s Josh Wills provided some insurance when he singled to chase home Poler in the seventh.

Monte’s pitching staff made the lead stick, with starter Jackson Busz providing a solid outing, allowing two runs – one earned – on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Busz gave way to Kling with one on and two out in the seventh. A Monte infielding error put runners on the corners with two outs, but Kling got Jaden Zimmerman to ground out to Wilson at third to end the game.

Busz picked up the victory with Kling allowing no hits in one-thirds innings of work to earn the save.

Ames led Monte at the dish with three hits, a double and two RBI for a Bulldogs team that had seven hits and drew five walks in the game.

Monte takes on Hoquiam in a doubleheader scheduled for Tuesday in Montesano. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

Montesano 001 020 1 – 4 7 3

Naches Valley 100 010 0 – 2 4 0

WP: Busz (6.2 IP, 2 R, ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K). LP: Stevenson (5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K). SV: Kling (0.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H).

Leading hitters: Montesano – Ames (3-4, 2B, 2 RBI); Poler (1-2, 2B, 2 R, RBI); Wills (1-3, RBI); Kling (1-4); Wilson (1-3, R). NV – Zimmerman (1-4); Denny (1-3); Thomson (1-1); Stevenson (1-3).

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Centralia 10, Grays Harbor 0

Grays Harbor College lost the first game of a twin bill against Centralia 10-0 in seven innings on Saturday in Centralia.

The Chokers (12-0, 1-7 NWAC West) fell behind 3-0 in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run off the bat of Tyler Harries followed by a solo blast from River Terry.

Three more Blazers runs crossed in the fifth on two RBI singles followed by a run-scoring double by Bennett Comes.

Centralia (19-11, 5-3) walked-off in the seventh with four runs, ending the game on a Harries RBI single up the middle to score James Nelson.

GHC’s Colby Scheuber took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over five innings of work.

Grays Harbor 000 000 0 – 0 2 2

Centralia 003 030 4 – 10 14 0

WP: Morgan (7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K). LP: Scheuber (5 IP, 6 R, 6 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 7 K).

Leading hitters: Centralia – Acklus (3-4, R, RBI); Harries (2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI); Terry (2-3, HR, R, RBI); Comes (2-3, 2 2B, R, RBI); Sturn (2-4, R, RBI). GHC – Hillyard (1-2, 2B); McMurdo (1-2).

Grays Harbor 3, Centralia 0

The Chokers broke a seven-game losing streak with a big seventh-inning rally to down the Blazers 3-0 in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

Locked in a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning, GHC strung together a key two-out rally to take the lead.

With Dylan Becker on with a leadoff walk, Dallas Kaili walked to put runners on first and second with two outs. Hunter Hillyard stepped to the plate and stroked a line drive triple to right field, scoring pinch-runner Beau Barowsky and Becker to go up 2-0.

After a walk to Aidan McMurdo, Chase Thomson singled to chase home Hillyard with GHC’s third run.

In the bottom of the seventh, GHC starter Brandon Roundy allowed a leadoff walk before enducing a 1-6-3 double play off the bat of Bennett Comes.

Tony Groninger followed with a fly out to Dylan Ahmad in left field to secure the Chokers victory.

Roundy earned the win, allowing four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in tossing a complete-game shutout.

GHC faces a four-game series with a pair of doubleheaders this coming weekend against Tacoma.

The Chokers will face Tacoma beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Tacoma.

Grays Harbor 000 000 3 – 3 3 0

Centralia 000 000 0 – 0 4 2

WP: Roundy (7 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 8 K, BB). LP: Henrickson (6.2 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 H, 4 K, 5 BB).

Leading hitters: GHC – Hillyard (1-2, 3B, R, 2 RBI); Thomson (1-4, RBI); McMurdo (1-3). Centralia – Groninger (1-3, 2B); Harries (1-3); Comes (1-3); Duggan (1-2).