Montesano defeated Hoquiam while Aberdeen struggled against league foe Tumwater as we review Monday’s Twin Harbors prep softball games.

PREP SOFTBALL

Montesano 10, Hoquiam 0

Montesano remained unbeaten in the 1A Evergreen League with a 10-0 six-inning victory over Hoquiam on Monday at Montesano High School.

The Bulldogs (11-3 overall, 6-0 1A Evergreen) broke a scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the second inning when hot-hitting shortstop Addi Kersker came in to score on a Grizzlies error.

Monte went up by three when Kersker doubled to left with two outs in the third, scoring outfielders Adda Potts and Liv Robinson.

The Bulldogs pulled away in the fifth, scoring six runs on seven hits, highlighted by an RBI double by Kaitlyn Trail and a two-run single off the bat of Jaelyn Butterfield.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano’s Kaitlyn Trail belts a run-scoring double during a 10-0 win over Hoquiam on Monday in Montesano.

“I think they just started hitting (Hoquaim starting pitcher Kayte Sauer) and from there they just took the momentum,” Grizzlies interim head coach Matti Ekerson said of the Montesano fifth inning.

Monte ended the game an inning later, earning a 10-run rule victory when senior Riley Timmons – on base with a leadoff walk – came in to score on a Lex Stanfield fielder’s choice ground out.

Grace Gooding picked up the win for Montesano, holding Hoquiam (6-11, 4-3) scoreless on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts over six innings pitched.

“I trusted my team, threw the best I could and made sure I got the outs I needed too,” Gooding said “I had confidence in my team behind me that they were going to help me out and make the plays.”

“She’s got fire in her stomach, deep inside. I love her excitement out there in the circle,” Pace said of Gooding, who – along with Trail – gives Monte some quality arms after ace Riley Timmons. “When she gets a strikeout, you know it. I love it.”

Kersker and Potts had three hits apiece to lead a Montesano offense that had nine different players collect a base hit in the game.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano shortstop Addi Kersker, left, looks to turn a double play against Hoquiam’s Hallie Burgess during the Bulldogs’ 10-0 win on Monday at Montesano High School.

Sauer took the loss, allowing 10 runs – eight earned – on 14 hits with a walk and a strikeout in 5 2-3 innings pitched.

Hoquiam outfielder Chloey Deitrick went 2-f0r-3 to lead the Grizzlies.

The game was the first for Ekerson as head coach against her former coach and team, of which she won a state championship with in 2019.

That was not lost on Pace, who came to the realization that the former Monte standout may have had the upper hand on him.

“Let’s see, I’ve had the same signs for 30 years. Every time I gave a sign I thought, ‘I know she’s picking me right now,’” Pace joked. “Might have to change things up if we meet in the playoffs.”

“I wouldn’t do that, especially not to Pat,” Ekerson responded with a laugh before providing her thoughts on her return to Dick Tagman Field. “It’s definitely weird, especially seeing all the Monte people in the crowd. My mom was up there and they still cheer me on and support me, which is awesome. It’s great to be back and play against a good team.”

Montesano is set to play Elma in a key league matchup at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Montesano.

The Bulldogs and Grizzlies will face off again at 4 p.m. Thursday at Hoquiam High School.

Hoquiam 000 000 – 0 4 2

Montesano 012 061 – 10 14 2

WP: Gooding (6 IP, 0R, 4H, BB, 6K). LP: Sauer (5.2 IP, 10R, 8ER, 14H, BB, K).

Leading hitters: Hoquiam – Deitrick (2-3); Prosch (1-3); Burgess (1-1). Montesano – Kersker (3-4, 2B, 2R, 2RBI, SB); Potts (3-3, R); Stanfield (2-4, R, 2RBI, 2 SB); Trail (1-1, R, RBI); Butterfield (1-1, R, 2RBI); Parkin (1-4, 2B); Campbell (1-2); Olson (1-1, R, RBI); Wisdom (1-3, SB).

Tumwater 7, Aberdeen 1

Aberdeen dropped its second meeting of the season to Tumwater 7-1 on Monday in Tumwater.

The Bobcats (11-4, 6-3 2A Evergreen) struggled once again to solve the puzzle that is T-Birds pitcher Ella Ferguson, who quieted Bobcats bats for seven innings.

The game was scoreless through three-and-a-half innings until Tumwater (13-3, 8-1) broke through with a run in the bottom of the fourth on a Jaime Haase leadoff home run off pitcher Annika Hollingsworth.

Aberdeen tied the game in the top of the fifth when shortstop Zoe Vessey drove in Lilly Camp with a fielder’s choice ground out.

Tumwater responded when Sarah Stevens led off the fifth with a home run followed later by a bases-loaded walk to Haase for a 3-1 lead.

The Bobcats saw the game get away from them when Tumwater scored four runs in the sixth, three on a home run by Zoe Fields.

Meanwhile, the Cats struggled against Ferguson for the second time facing the right hander this season, managing just four hits – all singles – and three walks in the game.

Camp pitched 1 2-3 innings of relief for Aberdeen, allowing four earned runs on two hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.

The two teams face off for the third and final time of the regular season at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Bishop Athletic Complex in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen 000 010 0 – 1 4 1

Tumwater 000 124 x – 7 7 1

WP: Ferguson (7 IP, R, ER, 4H, 3BB, 2K). LP: Hollingsworth (4.1 IP, 3R, 3ER, 5H, 2BB, 8K).

Leading hitters: Hollingsworth (2-3); Lecomte (1-3); Hendrickson (1-2). Tumwater – Stevens (3-3, HR, 2R, RBI); Fields (2-3, HR, R, 4RBI); Haase (1-2, HR, R, 2RBI); Schock (1-4).