Montesano swept Elma while Hoquiam struggled against Tenino as we review a weekend of local prep and college baseball games.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano starting pitcher Cam Taylor threw six scoreless innings in a 6-2 win over Elma in the first game of a double header on Saturday in Montesano.

PREP BASEBALL

Montesano 6, Elma 2

Montesano pitcher Cam Taylor tossed six scoreless innings to lead the Bulldogs to a 6-2 win over Elma in the first game of a double header on Saturday at Vessey Field in Montesano.

Taylor was sharp from the jump. The senior right-hander retired the first seven batters he faced – striking out four – and allowed just four hits and four walks with nine strikeouts in six scoreless innings.

Montesano (9-2 overall, 7-1 1A Evergreen) broke the scoreless tie when Christian Morris scored on a Caden Grubb sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the second inning.

The Bulldogs padded the lead with three runs in the third, capped by two runs crossing the plate on a Jaxson Wilson sac bunt, scoring Zach Timmons and Bode Poler for a 4-0 lead.

Monte went up 6-0 with two runs in the sixth when Toren Crites came home on a passed ball followed later by a Poler RBI single.

Elma (5-3, 3-2) scored twice in the seventh off Bulldogs reliever John Griffin. Eastin Wright walked to lead off the frame followed by a double from outfielder Isaac McGaffey. Griffin was pulled after a walk to TJ Dunlap to load the bases with no outs.

Monte senior reliever Skylar Bove replaced Griffin and walked Brody Palmer to force in a run followed by a hitting Grant Vessey with a pitch, bringing the tying run to the plate with Monte’s once comfortable lead now in jeopardy at 6-2.

But Bove got catcher Ethan Camus to ground out into a 5-4-3 double then struck out Carter Studer to end the game.

Studer took the loss for Elma, allowing four runs – three earned – on three hits with two walks and a strikeout in three innings pitched.

Vessey (2 IP, 2R, 2ER, 2H, 2K, BB) and Dunlap (IP, 0R, H, K, BB) pitched in relief for the Eagles.

Elma 000 000 2 – 2 5 1

Montesano 013 002 x – 6 6 1

WP: Taylor (6 IP, 0R, 4H, 9K, 4BB). LP: Studer (3 IP, 4R, 3ER, 3H, K, 2BB).

Leading hitters: Elma – McGaffey (2-4, 2B, R); Wright (2-3, R); Vessey (1-3); Palmer (0-2, RBI, 2BB). Montesano – Ca. Grubb (1-2, 2B, R, RBI); Co. Grubb (1-2, 2B); Poler (1-2, R, RBI, 2BB); Timmons (1-3, R); T. Crites (1-2, R, RBI); Morris (0-0, R, BB).

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Elma’s Grant Vessey drives a ball to the outfield during a double header against Montesano on Saturday at Vessey Field in Montesano.

Montesano 12, Elma 4

Montesano capped on a key 1A Evergreen League twin-bill sweep with a 12-4 win in the second game of a double header against Elma on Saturday in Montesano.

The Bulldogs struck for four runs in the first on three walks, an error and RBI singles from third baseman Toren Crites and pitcher Caden Grubb.

Elma rallied back for a pair of runs in the top of the third on two straight Monte errors to start the frame and an Isaac McGaffey single to score Cole Gustafson.

The Eagles rallied to tie the game at 4-4 on a Gustafson run-scoring single and a Monte error in the fourth.

But the Bulldogs offense responded immediately as the first four batters in the bottom half of the fourth reached base, regaining the lead at 6-4 on a Jaxson Wilson two-run double.

Colton Grubb followed with a sacrifice fly to score Zach Timmons followed by a Crites single to score Wilson for an 8-4 lead.

Monte added four more runs in the fifth, capped by a Colton Grubb RBI single followed by a “swinging bunt” RBI single by relief pitcher Skylar Bove, the first base hit of his prep career.

“It’s been a long three years that I’ve been waiting for a hit, and to have it come in that fashion, it’s kind of weird,” Bove quipped about his full-swing dribbler that died in the grass on the edge of the third-base foul line. “But it’s all good.”

“One thing about this group is that 1-9 we have hitters,” Monte head coach Mike Osgood said. “You just never know who is going to step up and put an inning together.”

That was more than enough run support for Bove, who replaced starter Caden Grubb with two outs in the fourth and dominated the rest of the way, holding Elma scoreless on no hits or walks with six strikeouts to pick up the victory.

“It’s been really important for us to prioritize shutting teams down and that’s what we’ve been doing,” Bove said of the pitching staff’s performance in the sweep. “It’s really good to see our pitchers come out and have a great day today. … We’re just happy to come out of here with two Ws.”

Caden Grubb went 3 2-3 innings, allowing four runs – one earned – on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts in a no-decision outing.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano infielder Toren Crites throws a runner out during a double header sweep over Elma on Saturday in Montesano.

Timmons, Crites, Cam Taylor and Tyson Perry had two hits apiece to lead Montesano’s 12-hit performance.

Palmer took the loss, allowing eight runs – seven earned – on eight hits with six walks and three strikeouts in 3 1-3 innings pitched.

Cam Green (1.2 IP, 4R, 4ER, 3H, K, 2BB) and McGaffey (IP, 0R, H) pitched in relief for Elma.

“It was good to get back to where we are at,” Osgood said. “Some pitchers just did awesome. … Elma always plays us tough. You kind of throw out the wins and losses because it’s always going to be a battle and it was.”

Monte sits a half-game back in the loss column to Tenino with the sweep, the importance of which was not lost on the Bulldogs.

“This is big. We kind of control our own destiny still,” Osgood said. “If we can get back to there place in Tenino and get some wins, we’ll be where we want to be.”

“(The sweep) was super important because if we split with them, chances are we couldn’t win league anymore,” said Bove, who has committed to play at Big Bend Community College next fall. “So we know we’ve got to go undefeated (the remainder of the league schedule) to win it.”

Elma head coach Travis Vessey said his team was playing catch up all day.

“Their bats are definitely ahead of ours right now,” he said. “I thought we had some good swings, but when you are chasing runs out there it is hard to catch up.”

Elma will look to lick its wounds and gain some valuable team chemistry when it travels to the eastern portion of the state to face College Place and DeSales at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively, on Monday at College Place High School.

The Eagles will face Toppenish at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at Toppenish High School.

Montesano will be back in action on Friday against La Center and Colville in Naches. First pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

Elma 002 200 0 – 4 3 1

Montesano 400 440 x – 12 12 4

WP: Bove (3.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 6K). LP: Palmer (3.1 IP, 8R, 7ER, 8H, 3K, 6BB).

Leading hitters: Elma – McGaffey (1-3, RBI); Studer (1-3, 2R, 2SB); Gustafson (1-2, R, RBI). Montesano – Timmons (2-2, 2R, RBI); T. Crites (2-4, R, 2RBI); Taylor (2-4); Perry (2-4, 2R); Wilson (1-2, 2B, 2R, 2RBI, SB); Co. Grubb (1-2, 2RBI); Ca. Grubb (1-2, 2RBI); Bove (1-2, RBI); Poler (0-1, 3R, 4BB); Morris (0-3, R, BB).

Tenino 13, Hoquiam 0

Hoquiam struggled to slow first-place Tenino in a 13-0 loss in the first game of a double header on Saturday in Tenino.

The Grizzlies (2-8, 0-7 1A Evergreen) fell behind by eight runs after two innings en route to the five-inning loss to the Beavers (8-0, 5-0).

Of the 13 runs Hoquiam allowed, 10 were unearned as the Grizzlies defense committed five errors in the game.

Riley Montoure took the loss for Hoquiam, allowing eight runs – three earned – on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in two innings pitched.

Grizzlies reliever Chris Bryson allowed five runs – none earned – on three hits and a pair of walks with three strikeouts in two innings of work.

Bryson, Joey Bozich and Ethan McLucas collected a hit apiece for Hoquiam.

Hoquiam 000 00 – 0 3 5

Tenino 351 4x – 13 10 0

WP: Strawn (5 IP, 0R, 3H, 6K). LP: Montoure (2 IP, 8R, 3ER, 7H, 4K, 2BB).

Leading hitters: Hoquiam – Bryson (1-1); Bozich (1-1); McLucas (1-2).

Tenino – Strawn (3-4, 2B, 2R, 2RBI); Vasser (2-4, 2B, R, 4RBI); Feltus (2-3, R); Knox (1-4, R, SB); Hart (1-2, 2R, RBI).

Tenino 14, Hoquiam 7

Hoquiam found plenty of offense in the second game of the double header, but so did Tenino.

Hoquiam trailed 9-0 after one inning and failed to slow the Tenino offense for the second game in a row in a 14-7 loss in the nightcap.

The Grizzlies were playing catch up the entire game, trailing 14-2 after three innings.

Hoquiam scored two runs in the top of the second on a Zander Harder fielder’s choice RBI ground out and a run-scoring single by Dominic Standstipher.

Standstipher drove in two more runs with an RBI single in the fourth and earned his fourth RBI of the game an inning later, chasing home Ethan Byron with his second fielder’s choice RBI groundout of the game.

Hoquiam’s other two runs in the fifth were of the unearned variety when Chase Shumate and Trenton Graham scored on two Tenino errors in the frame.

Both teams struggled defensively as each committed seven errors in the contest, leading to 11 of the game’s 21 runs being unearned.

Standstipher led the Hoquiam offense with three hits and four RBI.

Joey Bozich (0.2 IP, 8R, 8ER, 2H, 5BB) took the loss for the Grizzlies, with Chris Bryson (2.1 IP, 6R, 3ER, 4H, BB) and Zander Jump (3 IP, 0R, 0H, 4K, 4BB) pitching in relief for Hoquiam.

Hoquiam faces Ilwaco at 1 p.m. on Friday in Ilwaco.

The Grizzlies will then travel to Tapiola Park to take on Astoria (Oregon) at 5 p.m. on Friday.

Hoquiam 020 230 0 – 7 7 7

Tenino 932 000 x – 14 6 7

WP: Hart (2 IP, 2R, 0ER, 2H, 5K, 2BB). LP: Bozich (0.2 IP, 8R, 8ER, 2H, 5BB).

Leading hitters: Hoquiam – Standstipher (3-5, 4RBI); Jump (1-4); Montoure (1-3); Bryson (1-5); Bozich (1-4, R); Shumate (0-3, 2R, BB); McLucas (0-0, 2R, 2BB). Tenino – Vasser (2-3, HR, 2B, 2R, 3RBI); Strawn (1-2, 2B, 2R, 2RBI, 3BB); Knox (1-2, 2R); Gonia (1-2, 2B, R, 2RBI); White (1-3, 2B, 2R, RBI); Sweet (0-1, 2R).

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Grays Harbor swept by Pierce in weekend series

Grays Harbor College was swept by Pierce College in a four-game weekend series on Friday and Saturday.

The Chokers (4-24, 0-4 NWAC West) opened West Conference play with a pair of losses on Saturday.

GHC fell 7-4 in the first game despite collecting 11 hits in the game, but five errors led to three unearned runs.

Tam Bellefuil (3-4, 2 2B, 2R), Jerry Valdez (3-4), Hunter Hilliard (2-4) and Jean Michael Dejesus (2-4, 2R, RBI) had multi-hit games for GHC.

Chokers starter Kyler Shellenbarger (6 IP, 7R, 4ER, 9H, 4K, 4BB) took the loss for the Chokers.

Former Aberdeen standout Luca Pisani allowed two hits and three walks in three scoreless innings of relief for GHC.

In Friday’s nightcap, Pierce broke a 1-1 tie with eight runs in the eighth inning as the Chokers fell 9-1.

Valdez (2-4) and former Montesano product Kaleb Ames (2-4) had two hits apiece for a Chokers team that had six hits in the game.

GHC tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third when Anthony Andrews scored on an Ames ground-ball double play.

The loss spoiled a fine outing by GHC starter Tommy Brandvold, who allowed one earned run on seven hits, two walks and three strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

In Saturday’s opening game, Grays Harbor fell 15-5 despite outhitting Pierce 14-9 in the eight-inning game.

Five different GHC pitchers combined to give up 13 earned runs, nine hits and nine walks in the loss.

Dejesus (3-4, RBI), Cameron Horne (2-3, R), Valdez (2-4, 2RBI) and Bellefuil (2-4) had multi-hit games for GHC.

The Chokers wrapped up the weekend with a 7-1 loss in the nightcap.

GHC managed just two hits off Pierce starter Tyler McGowan (7 IP, R, ER, 2H, 6K, 2BB) in suffering a seven-inning loss.

The Chokers scored their lone run of the game when Jaden Herwick singled to score Dylan Ahmad in the top of the fifth inning.

Krishen Narayan (3.1 IP, 7R, 6ER, 10H, K) took the loss with Camden Wheatley (2.2 IP, 0R, 0H) pitching 2 2-3 innings of scoreless relief.

The Chokers have a four-game weekend series against Clark College scheduled to start at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.