Considering they are on opposite ends of the 2A Evergreen League standings, it would be understandable if the Aberdeen Bobcats took the Rochester Warriors for granted.

But that wasn’t the case as Aberdeen stuck to its game plan to earn a 5-0 victory on Friday at Stewart Field.

The Bobcats (12-0 overall, 9-0 2A Evergreen) got on the scoreboard in the opening minutes of the game when Evan Cone headed the ball over to Carlos Mendoza on the wing. Mendoza crossed toward Gio Ambrogiani, who one-timed a shot into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Approximately 15 minutes later, Aberdeen doubled its lead when a Colby Mendoza shot was blocked and bounced into the air just in front of the Warriors net. Trailing the play, Juan Serrano swooped in and leaped to push the ball across the line, giving the Cats a 2-0 lead in the 19th minute.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen senior winger Colby Martinez, left) boots a free kick during the Bobcats’ 5-0 victory over Rochester on Friday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen continued to apply pressure after halftime by continuing to control the passing game and utilizing a deep bench against Rochester (0-11, 0-9).

Gio Castillo made it 3-0 off an assist from Edwin Quintana just over a minuted elapsed in the second half and was followed by an Elmer Torres goal off a Carlos Mendoza assist in the 57th minute.

Austin Gomez closed out the scoring with a goal in the final five minutes of play, assisted by goal keeper-turned-midfielder Antonio Granados.

Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming talked about how his team didn’t overlook winless Rochester as the Warriors came into the matchup having lost several games by two goals or less.

“I think 75% of their losses are 2-0 or less. A lot of (league) teams are like that. They have solid players and stay in games,” he said. “We did a really great job of combining our passing this game. We knocked that ball around really well today. We didn’t finish great, especially in the first half. … But we only gave them a couple chances even near our box. … I was really impressed.”

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen junior Evan Cone (21) leaps over a slide tackle during the Bobcats’ 5-0 victory over Rochester on Friday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

Fleming added his team’s depth, one of the main reasons Aberdeen is currently No. 2 in the WIAA RPI rankings, was again a key to victory on Friday.

“We are luckily deep enough to sub a lot and by the second half we just wear them down and are running at them the whole time, and that happened in this game,” he said. “They didn’t have the subs that we did.”

Aberdeen JV won 5-0 on Friday, with Leo Garcia, Javier Lagunas, Angel Mendez, Angel Corona and Mat Martins scoring for the Bobcats.

With the win and Tumwater’s 2-1 loss to Shelton Friday, Aberdeen holds a 2.5 game lead over W.F. West and 3.5 game lead over Tumwater in the 2A Evergreen League standings.

Aberdeen takes on Tumwater at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Tumwater.

Rochester 0 0 – 0

Aberdeen 2 3 – 5

Scoring

First half – 1, Aberdeen, Ambrogiani (Ca. Mendoza), 4th minute. 2, Aberdeen, Serrano, 19th minute.

Second half – 3, Aberdeen, Castillo (Quintana), 41st minute. 4, Aberdeen, Torres (Ca. Mendoza), 57th minute. 5, Aberdeen, Gomez (Granados), 77th minute.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Hoquiam’s Kunanon Chaiyakam (14) and Elma’s Hank Doelman compete for a header during the Eagles’ 3-2 on Friday at the Sea Breeze Oval in Hoquiam.

Elma 3, Hoquiam 2

Elma had the last laugh to win a back-and-forth contest 3-2 over Hoquiam on Friday at the Sea Breeze Oval in Hoquiam.

Hoquiam (5-6, 5-5 1A Evergreen) struck first when Brannon Gonzalez scored off a pass from Christian Sanchez in the 12th minute.

Elma (7-6, 7-4) responded late in the half when Cason Seaberg scored off a throw in from Jose Perez in the 33rd minute.

Tied at 1-1 entering the second half, Seaberg converted a penalty kick as Elma regained the lead in the 58th minute.

The Grizzlies got the equalizer when Gonzalez scored off a corner kick from Rene Garcia in the 62nd minute.

Elma scored the eventual game-winner when Ivan Torres converted a Jose Perez corner kick in the 74th minute.

Elma’s Mike Hernandez drew praise from head coach Carson Seaberg for filling in at goal for the unavailable Andy Salvatierra.

“Very pleased with Mike Hernandez, who filled in at goal keeper and made several save to keep the game close,” he said.

Hoquiam head coach John Johnson praised his defense after the close one-goal loss.

“I want to give our defenders some light as they have really been standing out and holding it down in these games,” Johnson said, acknowledging the play of Rene Garcia, Santiago Martinez Ortiz, Chance LaBounty, Daniel Cortez Verdejo and Burton Chavis. “I think overall these guys are looking pretty good, not letting things frustrate them, which has been a bit of a struggle, but I believe once we can let the frustrations go and settle into our game, these guys will really show what they are capable of.”

With the win, Elma sits firmly in third place in the 1A Evergreen League.

Hoquiam is in fourth place, 1.5 games back of the Eagles.

The Grizzlies will face Montesano at 6 p.m. Monday in Montesano.

Elma hosts Forks at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Elma 1 2 – 3

Hoquiam 1 1 – 2

Scoring

First half – 1, Hoquiam, Gonzalez (Sanchez), 12th minute. 2, Elma, Seaberg (Perez), 33rd minute.

Second half – 3, Elma, Seaberg, 58th minute. 4, Hoquiam, Gonzalez (Garcia), 62nd minute. 5, Elma, Torres (Perez), 74th minute.

PREP BASEBALL

Montesano 3, Hoquiam 2

Runs were at a premium as Montesano edged Hoquiam 3-2 on Friday at Olympic Stadium.

Monte (13-1, 7-0 1A Evergreen) scored a run in the top of the first when shortstop Bode Poler scored on an error.

Hoquiam (2-10, 0-8) responded with a run when Chase Shumate crossed the plate on a wild pitch from Bulldogs starter John Kling.

Monte took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when catcher Dalton Harris drew a bases-loaded walk to push across Daylon Schroeder.

The Grizzlies tied the game once again when Jake Templar scored on a wild pitch in the bottom half of the fourth inning.

Monte took the lead for good when Poler led off the fifth with a double and came home on a Josh Wills sacrifice fly.

Kling picked up the win, allowing two runs – one earned – on on hit and a walk with three strikeouts in four innings pitched.

Skylar Bove earned the save, holding Hoquiam scoreless on two hits with seven strikeouts in three innings of relief.

Montesano has a key league matchup against Elma at 4 p.m. on Monday in Elma.

Hoquiam hosts Eatonville for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Montesano 100 110 0 – 3 5 3

Hoquiam 010 100 0 – 2 3 1

WP: Kling (4 IP, 2 R, ER, H, BB, 3 K). LP: Templer (6.1 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 5 K). SV: Bove (3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 7 K).

Leading hitters: Hoquiam – Templar (1-2, 2B, R); Shumate (1-3, R); M. Bozich (1-3). Montesano – Poler (2-3, 2B, 2 R); Kling (1-4); Busz (1-3); Wilson (1-2); Harris (0-0, RBI, 2 BB); Wills (0-3, RBI).

Elma 16, Oakville 1

Elma needed just five innings to dispatch of Oakville 16-1 on Friday in Elma.

The Eagles (8-2) scored eight runs in the bottom of the first, capped by a two-run single by Eastin Wright and bolstered by seven walks in the inning, six consecutively.

Elma tacked on a run in the second on an Andrew Sanders single before tallying four runs in the third highlighted by back-to-back RBI singles from Sander and Ethan Camus.

Three more Eagles runs scored in the fourth on a wild pitch, a Grant Vessey double and a bases-loaded walk to Cameron Green.

Vessey (2-3, 2B, 4 R, RBI), Wright (2-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI) and Sanders (2-2, R, 2 RBI) had multi-hit games for Elma, which had eight hits and drew 12 walks as a team.

Sanders earned the victory, allowing one earned run on two hits with three strikeouts in three innings pitched.

Green pitched two innings of scoreless relief for Elma, allowing one hit with five strikeouts to close out the victory.

Elma hosts Montesano at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Oakville 010 00 – 1 3 2

Elma 814 30 – 16 8 1

WP: Sanders (3 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 K). LP: n/a

Leading hitters: Elma – Vessey (2-3, 2B, 4 R, RBI); Wright (2-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI); Sanders (2-2, R, 2 RBI); Dunlap (1-3, 2 R, RBI); Camus (1-3, R, 2 RBI); Palmer (0-0, R, RBI, 2 BB).

Aberdeen 10, Centralia 2

Aberdeen picked up a key league victory on Friday, defeating Centralia 10-2 at Ken Waite Field in Aberdeen.

The Bobcats (8-6, 4-4) trailed 2-0 before tying the game with three runs in the bottom of the third.

Aberdeen tied the game at 2-2 when Trevon Nichols singled to score Trevon Ramos. A Centralia error on the play allowed Hunter Eisele to also score on the play.

Marcus Hale followed with a single to score Nichols with the go-ahead run.

The Bobcats added a pair of runs in the fifth on Bubba Jones’ two-run single and put the game out of the Tigers’ reach with five runs in the bottom of the sixth, with Hale, Kenny Dawson and Jones recording RBI singles in the frame.

Eisele picked up the win, allowing two earned runs, two hits, a pair of walks and five strikeouts in three innings pitched.

Baylor Ainsworth allowed no runs on one hit with three strikeouts in four innings of relief work.

Jones and Hale had three hits apiece and combined to drive in five runs for Aberdeen.

The Bobcats sit in fourth place in the 2A Evergreen League, one game behind Shelton, and will face second-place W.F. West at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Aberdeen.

Centralia 002 000 0 – 2 3 2

Aberdeen 003 025 0 – 10 14 0

WP: Eisele (3 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 H). LP: Leedy (2 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB).

Leading hitters: Centralia – Weaver (1-3, 2 RBI); Miller (1-3, 2B); Norris (1-3, R). Aberdeen – Jones (3-5, 3 RBI); Hale (3-3, 2 R, 2 RBI); Sorensen (2-3, 2B, R); Eisele (2-3, 2 R); Nichols (2-4, 2 R, RBI); Ancich (1-2); Dawson (1-1, R, RBI).

PREP SOFTBALL

Aberdeen 8, Rochester 4

Bolstered by the return of their ace in the circle, Aberdeen picked up a much-needed 8-4 league victory over Rochester on Friday in Aberdeen.

The Bobcats (7-5, 4-2 2A Evergreen) scored five runs in the bottom half of the third on RBI singles by Shyanna Patrick, Lilly Camp and Scotlyn Lecomte.

Leading 5-4 in the sixth, Aberdeen got some breathing room on Zoe Vessey’s two-run double and an RBI single from Patrick to take an 8-4 lead.

That was more than enough run support for Camp, who played in her first game back from an injury to pick up the win, allowing three earned runs on five hits with four walks and 11 strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

Patrick and Camp had two hits apiece a Aberdeen got base hits from seven different players.

Aberdeen sits a half-game behind Centralia for second place in the league standings.

The Bobcats will play at Black Hills at 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Rochester 001 102 0 – 4 5 5

Aberdeen 005 003 x – 8 9 1

WP: Camp (7 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 11 K). LP: Demers (6 IP, 8 R, 5 ER, 9 H, BB, 8 K).

Leading hitters: Rochester – Demers (1-4, HR, R, RBI); Fluetsch (1-4, R); Vassar (1-3); Byrd (1-2); Justice (1-3, R). Aberdeen – Patrick (2-4, R, 2 RBI); Camp (2-4, R, RBI); Vessey (1-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI); Scott (1-3, 2 R); Yakovich (1-4, R); Lecomte (1-3, RBI); Mainio (1-3, R).

SUBMITTED PHOTO Ocosta’s Jessie Gilbert, left, rounds third after hitting a home run in an 8-4 win over Toledo on Friday in Toledo.

Ocosta 5, Toledo 4

Ocosta scored runs late in the game to emerge with a 5-4 victory over Toledo on Friday in Toledo.

The Wildcats (9-3) trailed 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning before sophomore standout Jessie Gilbert belted a solo home run to left to tie the game.

Ocosta added a pair of runs in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk to Ava Weimar followed by an error to score Sophie Olive.

In addition to the dinger, Gilbert went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

The right-hander also picked up the win in the circle, allowing four runs – none earned – on three hits, four walks while striking out 19.

Ocosta has a key doubleheader against Forks set to begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at Fred Orr Memorial Park in Beaver.

Ocosta 110 001 2 – 5 4 1

Toledo 000 030 1 – 4 3 4

WP: Gilbert (7 IP, 4 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 19 K). LP: Holter (7 IP, 5 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K).

Leading hitters: Ocosta – Gilbert (2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI); Rasmus (1-3, 2B, RBI); Weimar (1-2). Toldeo – Jurica (2-4, R, 3 RBI); Norberg (1-3, 2B).

GIRLS PREP GOLF

Aberdeen 117, W.F. West 107, Shelton 35

Aberdeen defeated W.F. West and Shelton in a 2A Evergreen League golf match on Wednesday at the Alderbrook Golf Course in Union.

Aberdeen ace Britt Rajcich led the way, scoring 35 points (Stableford Scoring System) to earn Medalist honors. Rajcich shot a 1-over par 37 for her 9-hole round, which included birdies on holes 4-6.

Kaitlyn McCracken and Alice Earley scored 26 and 21 points, respectively, for the Bobcats, with McCracken carding a round of 46 and Earley shooting a 51.

Aberdeen (117) – Britt Rajcich 35, Kaitlyn McCracken 26, Alice Earley 21, Keara Burns 18, Saylor Heikkila 17.

W.F. West (107) – Natalie Eklund 30, Macie Shannon 21, Kendall Rasmussun 19, Gracie Oien 19, Abby Alexander 18.

Shelton (35) – Individual scores not available.