It wasn’t the 1A State Softball Tournament two East County teams had hoped for as both Elma and Montesano’s trips to the Columbia Playfields in Richland didn’t turn out as expected this past weekend.
1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
First Round
No. 12 Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) 3, No. 5 Elma 2
Elma’s trip to the state tournament was short-lived as the Eagles were eliminated with a 3-2 loss to Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) on Thursday at the Columbia Playfields in Richland.
Lakeside (13-10 overall) did all its scoring in the top of the second inning, scoring three runs on three hits – including two doubles – and an error.
Elma (16-7) responded with a run in the bottom of the second on a single by catcher Raelynn Weld to score Aubree Simmons, who was on board with a one-out double.
Weld came in to score on a double by junior center fielder Mia Monroe to bring Elma to within a run at 3-2.
Eagles senior shortstop Emmie Spencer reached on an infield single, to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base with one out in the bottom of the fifth.
But Lakeside pitcher Katie Sturm got Elma clean-up hitter Callie Galligan to ground into fielder’s choice out at third then fielded a bunt by senior outfielder Aaleigha Weld to get out of the inning holding on to the one-run lead.
Elma’s failure to get the clutch hit would prove costly over the final two innings. The Eagles stranded a leadoff walk in the sixth and after Spencer reached with a two-out single in the seventh, Sturm struck out Galligan to end the game, and Elma’s season.
Keira White took the loss for Elma, allowing three runs – one earned – on five hits and one strikeout in three innings pitched.
Aslynn Weld threw four scoreless innings of relief for Elma, allowing five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in a no-decision effort.
Lakeside 030 000 0 – 3 10 0
Elma 010 010 0 – 2 9 2
WP: Sturm (7 IP, 2R, 2ER, 9H, 2BB, 6K). LP: White (3 IP, 3R, ER, 5H, K).
Leading hitters: Lakeside – Sturm (3-4); Tobeck (2-4, 2 2B, RBI); Norman (2-3); Jones (1-4, 2B, R); Hill (1-4, RBI); Servatius (1-4). Elma – Monroe (3-4, 2B, RBI); R. Weld (2-4, 2B, R, RBI); Spencer (2-3); Simmons (1-3, 2B, R); Bednarik (1-3).
PHOTO BY SHAWN DONNELLY Montesano shortstop Addi Kersker bunts during a 1A State Tournament game this past weekend in Richland.
Quarterfinals
No. 8 Royal 6, No. 1 Montesano 4
In a matchup more befitting a state-championship game rather a quarterfinal matchup, Montesano saw its hopes of a second consecutive state championship dashed with a 6-4 loss to Royal on Friday.
Due to some questionable seeding at this season’s state tournament, the Bulldogs (21-5) found themselves in a quarterfinal matchup against No. 8 Royal in a rematch of last season’s state-championship game.
In a back-and-forth game that saw the lead change hands three times, Montesano scored a run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-2 lead into the top of the sixth inning.
In the sixth, Royal’s Jaya Griffin hit a bloop two-out single to left field, scoring Lily Delorosa to tie the game at 3-3.
Monte caught a bad break when three straight singles to open the bottom of the sixth appeared to have loaded the bases with no outs, but pinch-runner Jaelyn Butterfield was called out advancing to third due to offensive interference. After Adda Potts advanced to third on an Ali Parkin fly ball, shortstop Addi Kersker singled to drive in Potts for a 4-3 lead.
But in a theme that would show itself later in the tournament, Montesano failed to hold a close lead late in the game.
The first two Knights batters singled to led off the seventh and, after a fielder’s choice ground out, Royal tied the game on a rare error by a Montesano outfielder, allowing Audrey Bergeson to score.
Emerson Eilers followed with a two-run double to put Royal up 6-4.
Monte had no answers in the bottom of the seventh, going down in order to complete the shocking upset.
Royal 020 001 3 – 6 9 3
Montesano 111 001 0 – 4 11 1
WP: J. Allred (7 IP, 4R, 3ER, 11H, 2BB, 7K). LP: Timmons (7 IP, 6R, 4ER, 9H, 3BB, 3K).
Leading hitters: Royal – Griffin (3-4, 2RBI); Eilers (1-2, 2B, 2RBI); Webb (1-4, 2B, R, RBI); Wardenaar (1-4); Bergeson (1-4, R); J. Allred (1-3); Delorosa (1-4, 3R). Montesano – Stanfield (3-4, R, RBI); Wintrip (2-3); Robinson (2-4, 2R); Parkin (1-4, RBI); Kersker (1-2, RBI); Timmons (1-4); Potts (1-3, R).
Consolation First Round
No. 1 Montesano 11, No. 12 Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) 1
Montesano took out its frustrations of a quarterfinal loss by bashing Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) 11-1 in the first round of the consolation bracket.
Monte (22-5) led 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth before scoring five runs to end the game via mercy rule.
The Bulldogs scored five runs on four hits – including a Kersker two-run triple – and walked off on a Kylee Wisdom RBI single to score Kersker with the game-ending run.
Seven different Bulldogs collected a hit in the game, with Parkin leading the way going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Kersker added a triple, two runs scored and three RBI for Monte.
Sophomore Grace Gooding earned the victory, allowing one unearned run on one hit with five strikeouts in six innings pitched.
Lakeside 000 010 – 1 1 4
Montesano 102 125 – 11 8 1
WP: Gooding (6 IP, R, 0ER, H, 5K). LP: Sturm (5.1 IP, 11R, 7ER, 8H, 3BB, 4K).
Leading hitters: Lakeside – Tobeck (1-3, R). Montesano – Parkin (2-4, 2B, 2RBI); Robinson (1-2, 3B, 2R); Kerkser (1-3, 3B, 2R, 3RBI); Timmons (1-3, 3B, R, RBI); Wisdom (1-2, 2RBI); Maldonado (1-3, R).
PHOTO BY SHAWN DONNELLY Montesano’s Liv Robinson connects with a pitch during a 1A State Tournament game this past weekend in Richland.
Consolation Second Round
No. 1 Montesano 14, No. 2 Mount Baker 4
Montesano’s bats stayed hot as the Bulldogs earned a spot in the state third/fourth-place game with a 14-4 win over Mount Baker on Saturday.
Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the third, Montesano (23-5) took control of the game with six runs thanks to six extra-base hits – including five straight doubles – to take an 8-1 lead against the second-seeded Mountaineers (22-7).
After Mount Baker added three runs in the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs earned their second consecutive mercy-rule victory with three runs in the fourth – capped by a Maldonado two-run single – and three in the fifth highlighted by a Parkin double.
The Bulldogs walked off with another run-rule victory when Kaitlyn Trail was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in Butterfield for the 14-4 six-inning victory.
Parkin had three hits – two for doubles – and drove in four runs to lead Monte at the dish.
Riley Timmons picked up the win, allowing four earned runs on nine hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 3 2-3 innings pitched.
Grace Gooding pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings of relief for Monte, surrendering one hit with a strikeout.
Mount Baker 001 30 – 4 10 1
Montesano 206 33 – 14 15 0
WP: Timmons (3.2 IP, 4R, 4ER, 9H, 3BB, 2K). LP: Jeretsky (3 IP, 9R, 8ER, 9H, K).
Leading hitters: Mount Baker – Valum (2-3, 2RBI); Jeretsky (2-3, RBI); Maloley (2-3, R); Haynes (1-3); Rathjen (1-3); Cloninger (1-3, R). Montesano – Parkin (3-4, 2 2B, 4RBI); Stanfield (2-2, 3B, 2R, RBI); Maldonado (2-3, 2B, R, 3RBI); Kersker (2-2, 3B, 2R); Potts (2-3, 2B, R, RBI); Timmons (1-2, 2RBI); Wintrip (1-3, 2B, R, RBI).
Third/Fourth-Place Game
No. 3 Riverside 7, No. 1 Montesano 6
For the second time in the tournament, Monte struggled to hold onto a late lead en route to a 7-6 loss to No. 3 Riverside in the state’s third/fourth-place game on Saturday.
Trailing 3-1 in the top of the third, the Bulldogs (23-6) tied the game when Butterfield scored on a wild pitch followed by Kersker coming home on a Timmons fielder’s choice ground out.
With two out in the fifth, Monte took a 4-3 lead when Timmons belted an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left for a solo home run.
After the Lady Rams (19-6) tied the game on a Kaylee Winterroth RBI double in the bottom of the fifth, the Bulldogs regained the lead when Ember Jones – pinch running for Kylee Wisdom after Wisdom led off with a single – stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and came in to score on a wild pitch.
Riverside tied the game once again in the bottom half of the sixth on back-to-back doubles off Timmons and took a 7-5 lead when two runs came across on a Montesano error.
Two straight doubles by Kersker and Timmons with two outs in the seventh trimmed the Riverside lead to 7-6 and put the tying run at second in the form of pinch-runner Butterfield.
In a controversial call that drew the ire of the Montesano faithful, Butterfield was called out advancing to third on a Stanfield infield single, ending the game.
The Bulldogs were led by Timmons, Parkin and Stanfield with two hits apiece as Monte out hit its fourth consecutive opponent in the tournament, but walked away no better than fourth place in the state.
Timmons took the loss in her final prep game, allowing four runs – one earned – on four hits and four walks with five strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings pitched.
Gooding started for Monte, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks in 1-3 innings pitched.
Trail also pitched in the game for Monte, recording one out with one walk.
Montesano 102 011 1 – 6 10 2
Riverside 300 013 x – 7 7 3
WP: Oergel (7 IP, 6R, 4ER, 10H, 2K). LP: Timmons (5.1 IP, 4R, ER, 4H, 4BB, 5K).
Leading hitters: Montesano – Timmons (2-4, HR, 2B, R, 3RBI); Parkin (2-4, HR, R, RBI); Stanfield (2-4); Kersker (1-3, 2B, 2R); Wisdom (1-3); Wintrip (1-3); Potts (1-3). Riverside – Lapano (2-2, 3R); Oergel (1-3, 2B, 2R, RBI); Cotner (1-4, R); Toner (1-4); Winterroth (1-2, 2B, RBI); Swanberg (1-3, 2B, R).
