Montesano’s Major all-stars fell in the championship round of the district tournament while Elma’s Intermediate team advanced through the winner’s bracket of the state playoff as we take a look at Little League baseball action involving Twin Harbors teams.

Larch Mountain 8, Montesano 5

Montesano’s Major all-star team nearly slayed the giant that is Larch Mountain Little League, but alas Larch Mountain’s offense proved to be too much for Monte to handle in an 8-5 loss in the championship round of the District 3 Major Tournament on Friday in Aberdeen.

Entering the game, Montesano faced a Larch Mountain all-star squad that had romped through its competition, outscoring Aberdeen, Yelm and Capitol National by a combined 32-0.

Montesano had to win four straight elimination games to reach the championship round after falling 5-4 to Yelm in the tournament’s opening round on July 1.

In a scoreless tie in the bottom of the first inning, Montesano made a big statement thanks to the bat of right fielder Cortney Watson.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano’s Cortney Watson hit a grand slam home run in the first inning of an 8-5 loss to Larch Mountain in the Little League District 3 Majors Tournament on Friday in Aberdeen.

With one out and the bases loaded, Watson belted Larch Mountain pitcher Peter Hayden’s 1-2 pitch over the outfield fence for a grand slam home run, giving Monte an early 4-0 lead and putting Larch Mountain behind for the first time in the tournament.

But Larch Mountain’s prodigious offense rallied for three runs in the second, including a leadoff home run by Kaiser Tartios.

Larch Mountain took an 8-4 lead in the third when six straight batters reached base with two outs, four straight on singles – two of the seeing-eye variety and one a blooper – to close out the frame.

Meanwhile, Montesano’s offense continued to put runners on base but failed to get the clutch hit to close the gap. In the bottom of the fourth, Kale Kjesbu reached third after lining a single to right field that skipped past the Larch Mountain outfielder and rolled to the fence. Kjesbu then scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 8-5.

With two outs in the inning, Watson singled and advanced to third on a stolen base and wild pitch, but Jaky Dalgord popped out to first base to end the threat.

With runners on first and second with no out in the bottom of the fifth, Calder Luft grounded to Clayton Knutson at third. Knutson stepped on the bag and threw across to first to record a double play, letting the air out of a potential Monte rally.

That was as close as Monte would get as Larch Mountain reliever Owen Driver worked around a one-out walk in the sixth to secure the 8-5 victory.

The loss spoiled a solid outing by Montesano starting pitcher Hunter Schmitz, who threw a complete game with four strikeouts and was helped out by his defense turning a 6-4-3 double play in the top of the fourth.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano starting pitcher Hunter Schmitz tossed a complete game in an 8-5 loss to Larch Mountain in the Little League District 3 Majors Tournament on Friday in Aberdeen.

Schmitz retired five of the final seven batters he faced to hold Larch Mountain scoreless over the final 2 1-3 innings.

Watson went 2-for-2 with a stolen base and four RBI to lead Montesano.

Kjesbu, Charles Shell and Austin Maldonado added a hit apiece for Montesano.

Other scores

Pioneer Park, Aberdeen

First Round (July 1)

Capitol National 10, Capitol American 4

Yelm 5, Montesano 4

Larch Mountain 9, Aberdeen 0

Winner’s Bracket (July 2)

Capitol National 10, Chehalis 4

Larch Mountain 10, Yelm 0 (4 innings)

Loser’s Bracket (July 2)

Montesano 6, Aberdeen 2

Loser’s Bracket (July 3)

Montesano 9, Chehalis 3

Yelm 11, Capitol American 1 (4 inn.)

Winner’s Bracket (July 5)

Larch Mountain 13, Capitol National 0 (4 inn.)

Loser’s Bracket (July 5)

Montesano 5, Yelm 3

Loser’s Bracket (July 6)

Montesano 13, Capitol National 0 (4 inn.)

Championship Round 1 (July 7)

Larch Mountain 8, Montesano 5

Elma advances in state intermediate tournament

With two wins, Elma’s Intermediate all-star team advanced in the winner’s bracket of the State Intermediate Tournament at Lloyd Murrey Park in Elma.

Elma defeated North Kitsap 2-1 in the first round on Saturday and followed that performance with an 11-3 win over Mill Creek on Sunday.

Elma is scheduled to face Seattle Central in winner’s bracket quarterfinal matchup at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in Elma.

Other scores

Lloyd Murrey Park, Elma

First Round (July 8)

Elma 2, North Kitsap 1

Seattle Central 11, Camas 1

Pullman 11, Highlands 5

Bellevue National 10, South Hill 3

Winner’s Bracket (July 9)

Elma 11, Mill Creek 3

Pullman 6, RUG-Ballard 0

Loser’s Bracket (July 9)

North Kitsap 6, Camas 4

South Hill 6, Highlands 0

Upcoming games

RUG-Ballard vs. North Kitsap, 5 p.m. Monday

South Hill vs. Mill Creek, 7:30 p.m. Monday

Elma vs. Seattle Central, 5 p.m. Tuesday

Pullman vs. Bellevue National, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

State Senior Tournament

Les Dow Field, Redmond

First Round (July 2)

Northwest Seattle 14, Montesano 12

Federal Way 19, South Kitsap Eastern 0

Winner’s Bracket (July 2)

Northwest Seattle 12, Redmond West 8

Federal Way National 13, Pacific 3

Loser’s Bracket (July 2)

Pacific 14, Montesano 1

Redmond West 5, South Kitsap Eastern 4

Winner’s Bracket (July 4)

Federal Way National 11, Northwest Seattle 1

Loser’s Bracket (July 4)

Pacific 8, Redmond West 5

Loser’s Bracket (July 5)

Pacific 11, Northwest Seattle 10

Championship Round 1 (July 6)

Pacific 4, Federal Way National 3

Championship Round 2 (July 7)

Federal Way National 6, Pacific 0