Errors, lack of offense lead to district-title game loss for Montesano

Bulldogs struggle in 9-0 shutout to La Center in 1A Distict 4 Championship

By Ryan Sparks • May 14, 2023 3:45 pm
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano outfielder Christian Olsen collects one of the Bulldogs’ four hits during a 9-0 loss to La Center in the 1A District 4 Championship game on Saturday at Castle Rock High School.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano outfielder Christian Olsen collects one of the Bulldogs’ four hits during a 9-0 loss to La Center in the 1A District 4 Championship game on Saturday at Castle Rock High School.

It’s usually a bad sign for a baseball team to have as many errors as base hits in a game.

Unfortunately for the Montesano Bulldogs, that was the case in suffering a 9-0 loss to La Center in the 1A District 4 Championship game on Saturday at Castle Rock High School.

The Bulldogs (20-3 overall) had a sign of things to come in the first inning as La Center (19-2) had two on with one out after Houston Coyle singled followed by Justin Fuller reaching base on an error. Smith Stimmel drove in Coyle with a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

Monte had a chance to score a run in the bottom of the second when designated hitter Cam Taylor and outfielder Christian Olsen smacked back-to-back singles with one out. Starting pitcher Jackson Busz grounded into an inning-ending double play as Monte remained scoreless.

Monte got into trouble in the top of the fourth when Alex Mora was hit by a Busz pitch to leadoff the inning followed by a single off the bat of Branson Castleberry. With one out and runners on second and third, Tyler Normine singled to drive in Castleberry and Mora for a 3-0 lead.

The Wildcats put the game out of reach with six runs in the fifth on five singles, two hit batters, a walk and a two-run error.

Down 9-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Bulldogs outfielder Kaleb Ames and second baseman Josh Wills led off the frame with consecutive singles, but were left stranded as La Center pitcher Garrett Maunu retired the next three batters to hand Monte the loss and give the Wildcats their second straight district title.

Maunu pitched a complete game, allowing four hits – all singles – without a walk and two strikeouts to pickup the win.

Busz took the loss, allowing four runs – three earned – on four hits, no walks and a strikeout.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano starting pitcher Jackson Busz throws a pitch during a 9-0 loss to La Center in the 1A District 4 Championship game on Saturday at Castle Rock High School.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano starting pitcher Jackson Busz throws a pitch during a 9-0 loss to La Center in the 1A District 4 Championship game on Saturday at Castle Rock High School.

Monte used four pitchers in the game, with Skylar Bove (0.2 IP, 5 R, ER, 3 H, BB), Tyler Johansen (IP, BB, K) and John Griffin (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2K) pitching in relief for the Bulldogs.

Monte’s pitching staff hit four batters – two each by Busz and Bove – while the Bulldogs defense committed four errors, leading to five costly unearned runs for the Wildcats.

No Montesano runner reached third base in the game. The Bulldogs were shutout for the first time this season while La Center extended its winning streak to 18 games.

Montesano will enter the state tournament as the No. 4 seed, playing No. 13 seed College Place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20, starting 1 p.m. at Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam.

La Center 100 260 0 – 9 9 0

Montesano 000 000 0 – 0 4 4

WP: Maunu (7 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 2 K). LP: Busz (4 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 H, K).

Leading hitters: LC – Coyle (2-4, R, RBI); Stimmel (2-3, 2B, RBI); Castleberry (2-4, 2 R, RBI); Normine (1-3, R, 2 RBI); Fuller (1-4, R); Taylor (1-4, R, RBI). Montesano – Ames (1-3); Wills (1-3); Taylor (1-3); Olsen (1-3).