It was a busy final weekend of the prep softball regular season, highlighted by a much-anticipated matchup of two top-tier Twin Harbors programs.
PREP SOFTBALL
Montesano 3, Aberdeen 2
It was a game that Twin Harbors sports fans had their collective eyes on for awhile, and it did not disapoint.
In a premiere matchup of two of the top teams in their respective classes Montesano rallied to beat Aberdeen 3-2 in front of a packed, standing-room-only crown Friday evening at Dick Tagman Field in Montesano.
“I think the atmosphere tonight just pushed the girls to want to go out and have fun,” Montesano head coach Pat Pace said. “They were so loose playing this game. There was nobody that was nervous and when you play against a team like Aberdeen, there are going to be teams that are nervous and collapse. I really love the fact that it was a good pitching dual on both sides.”
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen pitcher Annika Hollingsworth had 11 strikeouts in a 3-2 loss to Montesano on Friday at Montesano High School.
Indeed it was a good pitching dual as Aberdeen starter Annika Hollingsworth and Bulldogs pitcher Riley Timmons – two of the premiere pitchers in their respective classes – put up plenty of zeros on the scoreboard in a game where hits were at a premium.
Locked in a scoreless game in the top of the fourth, the Bobcats (15-5 overall) had two on and no outs after center fielder Laynie Yakovich led off with a single and advanced to second after right fielder Scotlyn Lecomte was hit with a pitch.
First baseman Lilly Camp sent the first pitch she saw from Timmons through the infield for a single, scoring Yakovich for the game’s first run, with Lecomte racing around to beat the throw at third.
The Bobcats reached into their bag of tricks as Camp took off to steal second, but was thrown out by Bulldogs catcher Ali Parkin. But Lecomte scampered home on a delayed double-steal play, putting the Cats up 2-0.
It appeared as though that might have been good enough for Aberdeen as Hollingsworth cruised through the first three innings, allowing only a walk while striking out seven.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano catcher Ali Parkin is greeted by her teammates after hitting a home run in the bottom of the fourth inning of a 3-2 win over Aberdeen on Friday in Montesano.
But Parkin had other ideas as the power-hitting junior caught just enough of a Hollingsworth fastball, lining the ball just fair over the right-field corner for an opposite-field home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth.
“I thought it was going to hit the fence. I didn’t know if it was going foul or not,” Parkin said of her shot that gave Monte new life. “It felt really good to hear that it was out. … Annika is an amazing pitcher, but we just feed off each other. If one person makes a play, everybody starts making plays. … I think that’s what makes our team so special.”
But Hollingsworth wasn’t shaken, working around a one-out single to first baseman Kylee Wisdom to get out of the frame with the Bobcats still up 2-1.
Timmons and the Monte defense was equally as impressive, retiring seven of the next eight Bobcats after giving up two runs in the fourth, holding Aberdeen to within a run heading to the sixth inning.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano senior Riley Timmons earned the victory over Aberdeen, allowing two runs on just four hits in a 3-2 win on Friday in Montesano.
That’s where Monte’s signature “small ball” took over. Speedy leadoff hitter Liv Robinson laced the first pitch she saw into left field for a triple, giving the Bulldogs a golden opportunity to tie the game with no outs and Parkin at the plate.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano outfielder Liv Robinson stands on third base after hitting a triple in a 3-2 win over Aberdeen on Friday in Montesano.
Parkin was plunked by a Hollingsworth pitch and was replaced by pinch-runner Tieander Olson, who promptly stole second.
Shortstop and all-state candidate Addi Kersker then bunted back to Hollingsworth, who took a look at Robinson before throwing to first. Kersker beat the throw with Robinson taking off to score and tie up the game.
Monte first baseman Kylee Wisdom laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Olson and give Monte its first lead of the game.
The Bulldogs defense made the lead stick, with Kersker snaring an Alyssa Yakovich liner for the first out before a strikeout and a pop out to Lex Stanfield at third ended the game, which took just approximately 1:20.
“The performance was solid,” Pace said. “(Aberdeen) came out and hit the ball and our girls just did a great job of playing defense against them. … This was just a good win for us. It’s kind of like it’s all coming together when it’s supposed to.”
For Aberdeen head coach Jimmy McDaniel, the loss came down to late-game execution of the minute details, or lack thereof.
“The energy and effort was there, but we need to execute on hitting our spots and our coverages,” he said. “We slipped up on a few things and we have to execute on every play, know where we need to be and what we have to do, and this is a good reminder that it’s going to happen when you play good teams that know how to move the ball around. We have to be on our toes and execute. … Had we made a few of those plays, it’s a different ballgame.”
The Bulldogs (15-4) and Bobcats play in their respective district playoffs this week. Montesano will enter the 1A District 4 Tournament as the No. 1 seed with Aberdeen playing in the 2A District 4 playoffs as the 2A Evergreen Conference No. 3 seed.
Aberdeen 000 200 0 – 2 4 0
Montesano 000 102 x – 3 5 0
WP: Timmons (7 IP, 2R, 2ER, 4H, BB, 3K). LP: Hollingsworth (6 IP, 3R, 3ER, 5H, BB, 11K).
Leading hitters: Aberdeen – Hollingsworth (1-3, 2B); L. Yakovich (1-2, R); Camp (1-3, RBI); Patrick (1-3). Montesano – Parkin (1-2, HR, R, RBI); Robinson (1-2, 3B, R); Kersker (1-3, RBI); Wisdom (1-2, RBI); Stanfield (1-3).
PHOTO BY SHAWN DONNELLY Montesano’s Ali Parkin belts a home run during an 8-3 win over Adna on Saturday at Montesano High School.
PHOTO BY HAILEY BLANCAS Montesano shortstop Addi Kersker makes a catch during an 8-3 win over Adna on Saturday at Dick Tagman Field in Montesano.
Montesano 8, Adna 3
Montesano completed its regular-season schedule with another quality victory, defeating reigning 2B state-champion Adna 8-3 on Saturday in Montesano.
The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead on Riley Timmons’ two-run single in the bottom of the second and added a run in the third on a Ali Parkin solo home run.
The Pirates (15-4) responded with back-to-back solo home runs by Kendall Humphrey and Ava Sims to lead off the top of the fourth inning,
A Carsyn Wintrip sacrifice bunt drove in Lex Stanfield for a 4-3 lead in the fourth and Monte added two runs on an Addi Kersker single in the fifth and a pair of runs on a Liv Robinson triple in the bottom of the sixth for an 8-3 lead.
Kaitlyn Trail earned the win for Monte, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts in three innings pitched.
Grace Gooding pitched in relief for Monte, allowing two runs – two earned – on five hits with five strikeouts in four innings.
Adna 000 210 0 – 3 8 0
Montesano 021 122 x – 8 10 0
WP: Trail (3 IP, 2R, 2ER, 3H, BB, 4K). LP: Sims (6 IP, 8R, 8ER, 10H, 10K).
Leading hitters: Adna – Sims (2-3, HR, R, RBI); K. Humphrey (1-4, HR, R); M. Humphrey (1-4, R); Ladontaine (1-2, 2B); Carrol (1-3, RBI); McCloskey (1-3); Guard (1-3). Montesano – Parkin (2-4, HR, R, RBI); Stanfield (2-3, 2B, 2R); Wisdom (2-3, R, 2RBI); Timmons (2-3, 2RBI); Robinson (1-4, 3B); Kersker (1-3, R).
Elma 12, Hoquiam 1
Elma’s offense remained hot to close out the regular season with a 12-1 win over Hoquiam on Friday at John Gable Park in Hoquiam.
The Eagles (13-5, 6-2 1A Evergreen) scored nine runs in the top of the third highlighted by Ashlynn Weld and Aubree Simmons RBI doubles in a seven-hit inning.
Catcher Raelynn Weld, second baseman Aubree Simmons and center fielder Mia Monroe had three hits to lead an Eagles offense that had 14 hits in the game.
Freshman right-hander Ashlynn Weld picked up the win, allowing one earned run on four hits and five walks with 10 strikeouts in the five-inning game.
Elma enters the district tournament as the 1A Evergreen League’s No. 2 seed with Hoquiam the third seed.
Elma 119 10 – 12 14 0
Hoquiam 000 01 – 1 4 5
WP: Sauer (5 IP, 12R, 8ER, 14H, BB). LP: Ash. Weld (5 IP, R, ER, 4H, 5BB, 10K).
Leading hitters: Elma – R. Weld (3-4, 3B, R, RBI); Monroe (3-4, R, RBI); Simmons (3-3, 2B, 2R, 2RBI); Aal. Weld (2-3, R); Ash. Weld (1-4, 2B, R, RBI); Spencer (1-4, 2R). Hoquiam – Deitrick (1-3); Prosch (1-2); Dhooghe (1-2); Standstipher (1-1, R).
Elma 13, Raymond-South Bend 2
Elma wasted no time in taking control of the game with a 13-2 victory over Raymond-South Bend on Thursday in South Bend.
The Eagles scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a grand-slam home run off the bat of first baseman Callie Galligan and a two-run triple by pitcher Keira White.
Galligan doubled in a run in the Eagles’ two-run third and infielder Aubree Simmons led off the fourth with a solo home run to put Elma up 13-0.
RSB (9-6) scored a pair of runs when Ava Pine singled and came in to score on a “Little League home run” in the bottom of the fourth.
White earned the win, allowing no runs on one hit with a strikeout in three innings pitched.
Elma (10)02 10 – 13 10 4
RSB 000 20 – 2 3 3
WP: White (3 IP, 0R, H, K). LP: Ash. Payne (0 IP, 8R, 6ER, 4H, 2BB).
Leading hitters: Elma – Galligan (3-4, HR, 2B, R, 6RBI); Simmons (1-3, HR, 2R, RBI); R. Weld (1-3, 2R); Ash. Weld (1-3, 2R); Aal. Weld (1-3, 2R); Spencer (1-3, 2B, R, RBI); White (1-3, R, 2RBI); Comer (1-3, RBI). RSB – Enlow (1-2, 2B); Glazier (1-3, R); Pine (1-2, R).
Toledo 11, Ocosta 1
Ocosta closed out its regular season with an 11-1 non-league loss to Toledo on Thursday in Westport.
The Wildcats (14-6) allowed nine runs in the top of the third, on five hits, a walk and three errors.
Ocosta scored a run in the bottom of the third on a Joanah Rosander single to drive in Noel Cuzdey.
Rosander took the loss while Jessie Gilbert (2 IP, 0R, H, 6K) pitched in relief for the Wildcats.
Gilbert led the Wildcats, going 2-for-2 at the plate.
Ocosta enters the 2B District 4 Tournament as the 2B Pacific League’s No. 3 seed.
Toledo 009 02 – 11 9 0
Ocosta 001 00 – 1 4 5
WP: Holter (5 IP, R, ER, 4H, 4K). LP: Rosander (3 IP, 11R, 4ER, 8H, BB, 2K).
Leading hitters: Toledo – Hurley (3-4, R, RBI); Carver (2-3, R, 3RBI); Lairson (1-4, R, 3RBI); Miller (1-3, 2R, RBI); Norberg (1-3, R, RBI). Ocosta – Gilbert (2-2); Rosander (1-1, RBI); Cuzdey (1-3, R).
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 11, Eatonville 1
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley had a hit parade in an 11-1 win over Eatonville on Thursday in Pe Ell.
The Titans (15-4) ended the regular season on a high note, collecting 17 hits en route to the mercy-rule victory.
PWV scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by run-scoring triples by Lauren Matlock and Rilyn Channell.
Jillian Hodel, Tylar Keeton and Sophia Milanowski had three hits apiece to lead the Titans.
Lauren Emery earned the win, allowing one earned run on two hits with 12 strikeouts in five innings pitched.
PWV enters the 2B District 4 Tournament as the Pacific League’s No. 2 seed.
Eatonville 100 00 – 1 2 1
PWV 211 16 – 11 17 0
WP: Emery (5 IP, R, ER, 2H, 12K). LP: Smith (4.2 IP< 11R, 9ER, 17H, 2K).
Leading hitters: Eatonville – Smith (2-2, HR, R, RBI). PWV – Milanowski (3-3, 3RBI); Hodel (3-4, 2R, RBI); Keeton (3-4, 2B, 2R, RBI); Matlock (2-4, HR, 2R, RBI); Phelps (2-4, R, RBI); Merkel (2-3, 2R, 2RBI); Channell (1-4, HR, 2RBI); Smaciarz (1-3, R).
