CENTRALIA — The streak now stands at 20 for Montesano. The Bulldogs dropped Tenino 16-1 in three innings and then rode an 18 strikeout performance from Samantha Stanfield to defeat Hoquiam 8-1 at the District IV 1A softball tournament at Fort Borst Park in Centralia on Wednesday.

The two wins earned Montesano a spot in the district title game against La Center on Saturday, but more importantly, extended a streak of state berths that now spans four United States presidents.

Both Hoquiam and Elma started off the day with wins, but came up short in the second round and will move into the consolation side of the bracket with only one more state berth up for grabs.

The Grizzlies played great defense and were able to manufacture just enough offense to take down Castle Rock 3-0 to start the day. In the afternoon, Hoquiam fell victim to Stanfield and the Bulldogs.

The Eagles caught fire early to put up 11 runs in the first inning of an 11-0 win over White Salmon in five innings. However, Elma failed to score the rest of the day and lost 4-0 to La Center in its second contest.

All three teams will be back in action at Fort Borst Park on Saturday. While the Bulldogs will face off against La Center at 3 p.m. for the district title, Hoquiam and Elma will play in loser-out contests at 11 a.m. Elma will take on Castle Rock and Hoquiam will face Forks with the winners of the two games playing for the final state berth.

BULLDOGS 8, GRIZZLIES 1

Samantha Stanfield set the tone for this contest from the very first inning. The junior need just 11 pitches to strike out the first three Grizzlies sent to the plate. From there, she worked through the Hoquiam lineup with near precision to tally 18 strikeouts.

“The rise balls were really getting them off and then it was fastballs outside,” Stanfield said. “Every game I try to get faster. It means the world (to get a state berth). We are all about tradition here.”

Offensively, the Bulldogs started off early with Stanfield leading off by bunting her way aboard before Lindsay Pace came up moments later and drilled a home run over the right field fence to make it 2-0 and plate what would be the game-winning runs for Montesano.

Hoquiam was able to show that Stanfield wasn’t exactly unhittable in the third inning when Kylee Bagwell ripped a shot over the left field fence for a home run. The round trip would cut the lead to 2-1, but that was as close as the Grizzlies would get.

“Defensively, we didn’t play well,” Hoquiam head coach Keith Reynvaan said. “Sam just overmatched us. She was on her game. We just have to get more consistent, but we are a still alive and we will come back on Saturday.”

Montesano would add two more runs in the bottom half of the third. Stanfield doubled with Pace following with a single. Both runners came around to score with Stanfield coming home on a ground out and Pace sprinting home on a fielding error.

The Bulldogs tacked on two more in the fourth on a single by Peyton Poler, before notching a run in the fifth and another in the sixth to cap the scoring.

Stanfield remained solid throughout, almost giving her fielders the day off. Montesano third baseman Hannah Quinn was the only Bulldog to field a ball for an out against the Grizzlies.

“Everything is working right now, the pitching, offense and defense,” Montesano head coach Pat Pace said. “I get excited every year. This is pretty special. This is a good group of kids right now and they want to end on a high note for the seniors.”

WILDCATS 4, EAGLES 0

Two long balls made the difference in La Center’s semifinal victory over Elma.

After Kaylie Faul singled to left and Madisen Stimmel bunted for a hit, Megan Muffett unloaded a three-run homer over the left-field fence in the third inning. Eagle left fielder Kohlby Sayler actually knocked down the temporary fence in vain pursuit of the drive.

Faul launched a solo shot to the same location two innings later.

Elma freshman Quin Mikel pitched well otherwise, scattering nine hits and walking only one. Her teammates played errorless defense behind her.

Muffett’s homer, however, changed the complexion of the game.

“One run, we could probably handle,” Eagle coach Roger Elliott said. “Trying to get three or four back, it’s pretty tough.”

That was particularly the case with La Center ace Abigail England in the circle. The compactly built senior right-hander tossed a three-hitter while striking out 13. She fanned six consecutive Eagles at one stage.

Elma’s only legitimate threat came in the fifth inning. Corrina Torres and Mikel each singled with two outs, but England ended the inning with a strikeout.

Peyton Elliott had the other Elma hit, a single that broke up England’s perfect game in the fourth.

GRIZZLIES 3, ROCKETS 0

Hoquiam did all its scoring late to avenge an 8-0 regular-season loss to Castle Rock.

English Hyde, who did not pitch in the previous meeting, spun a five-hitter. She was aided by outstanding defense. Second baseman Paige Folkers and shortstop Maya Jump made several fine plays, while left fielder Kylee Bagwell started an inning-ending double play with a fine running catch in the fourth inning.

The Grizzlies, at that stage, hadn’t even mustered a hit off Rocket pitcher Emily Ashby.

Folkers broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the fifth. She moved up on Ashley Paladin’s sacrifice and scored on Bagwell’s single to the left of the shortstop.

Running on contact, Bagwell scored from second when the Rocket second baseman lost her feet while fielding Jade Cox’s infield hit.

A dropped two-out infield fly kept the Hoquiam sixth alive. Paladin’s single eventually knocked in Jump, who had led off the inning with a single.

Hyde pitched out of a two-on, none-out jam in the fifth, then retired seven of the final eight hitters.

“This may have been the best game we’ve played all year,” HHS coach Keith Reynvaan said. “We didn’t get a lot of hits, but we got them at the right times. And English did a great job.”

EAGLES 11, BRUINS 0 (5)

Elma showed off all of its offensive firepower in the first inning on Wednesday. The Eagles strung together singles from Molly Johnston, Peyton Elliott and Kaylee Rambo to score the first run of the game and never looked back against White Salmon.

Elma sent 15 batters to the plate before the first inning was over with Elliott providing fireworks in her second at bat of the inning. The senior connected to blast a grand slam to left field and put the Eagles in command. Kali Rambo doubled to score two runs and cap the scoring for the Eagles.

Elma pitcher Quin Mikel had to get out of a jam in the first inning when two errors and a walk loaded the bases for the Bruins. However Mikel settled in and was able to get a ground out to end the threat. White Salmon would only have one runner reach base the rest of the game.

While Elma was able to put at least two runners on base in each of the other three innings, the Eagles weren’t able to capitalize on any other chances.

BULLDOGS 16, BEAVERS 1 (3)

Montesano, the Evergreen 1A League champions, began its postseason run against league Tenino on Wednesday.

Led by four hits and three RBI from lead-off batter Cheyann Bartlett, the Bulldogs cruised into the semifinals via the 15-run, three-inning mercy rule.

Bartlett slugged two doubles and a home run, a lead-off solo homer in the second inning, to lead the Bulldogs. Ashley Black also drove in three runs. Annie Cristelli earned the win in the circle, striking out eight and walking two.

Hoquiam 001 000 0 — 1 2 2

Montesano 202 211 X — 8 11 1

Hyde and German; Stanfield and Poler.

RBI: Hoquiam — Bagwell. Montesano — Pace 3, Poler 2, Gustafson, Bartlett. Three hits: Montesano — Pace. Two hits: Montesano — Stanfield. Home runs: Hoquiam — Bagwell. Montesano — Pace. Doubles: Hoquiam — Papp. Montesano — Stanfield, Pace.

Winning pitcher — Stanfield (18 strikeouts, two walks). Losing pitcher — Hyde (one strikeout, one walk).

Hoquiam 000 021 0 — 3 6 0

Castle Rock 000 000 0 — 0 5 2

Hyde and German; Ashby and Z. Naugle.

RBI: Hoquiam — Paladin, Bagwell, Cox. Doubles: Castle Rock — Z. Naugle.

Winning pitcher — Hyde (walked one; struck out four). Losing pitcher — Ashby (walked none; struck out four).

La Center 003 010 0 — 4 9 0

Elma 000 000 0 — 0 3 0

England and Muffett; Mikel and Elliott.

RBI: La Center — Muffett 3, Faul. Two hits: La Center — Faul, Stimmel, Muffett, Rudolph. Home runs: La Center — Muffett, Faul. Doubles: La Center — Muffett.

Winning pitcher — England (walked none; struck out 13). Losing pitcher — Mikel (walked one; struck out two).

White Salmon 000 00 — 0 1 2

Elma (11)00 0x — 11 10 2

Waldron and Hylton; Mikel, Torres (5) and Elliott.

RBI: Elma — Elliott 4, Kal. Rambo 2, Johnson, Kay. Rambo, Velasco, Mikel. Two hits: Elma — Elliott, Mikel, Kay. Rambo, Sayler. Home run: Elma — Elliott. Double: Elma — Kal. Rambo.

Winning pitcher — Mikel (three strikeouts, one walk). Losing pitcher — Waldron (one strikeout, three walks).

Tenino 001 — 1 2 6

Montesano 493 — 16 12 0

Gubbe and Snyder; Cristelli and Gustafson.

RBI: Tenino — Gubbe. Montesano — Bartlett 3, L. Schoch, Gustafson, Quinn 2, Toyra, Black 3. Four hits: Montesano — Bartlett. Two hits: Montesano — Quinn, Black. Home run: Montesano — Bartlett. Doubles: Tenino — Gubbe. Montesano — Bartlett 2, Toyra, Cristelli.

Winning pitcher — Cristelli (eight strikeouts, two walks). Losing pitcher — Gubbe (one strikeout, four walks).