A pair of local Little League teams competed in their respective District 3 championship rounds on Thursday.

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8-10 Division District 3 Tournament

Elma 5, Larch Mountain 3

Elma’s 8-10 Division all-star team rallied from down three runs to defeat Larch Mountain 5-3 and claim the District 3 title on Thursday in Olympia.

Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Elma tied the game by scoring three runs, all with two outs. Singles by Cooper Smith and Tucker Anensen put two on with two before Miles Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Gage Vansyckle drew a walk to drive in Elma’s first run and was followed by clutch back-to-back RBI singles from Chris Riedesel and Michael Modersohn to tie the game.

After Elma starting pitcher Braiden Nolan worked out of a one-out jam with the bases full in the fifth, Elma took the lead with another two-out rally in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and nobody on, Chase Sample singled and Nolan doubled to put runners on second and third.

Smith stepped to the plate and lined a shot to right field, chasing home Sample and Nolan for a two-run triple and Elma’s first lead of the game.

Modersohn entered with two outs in the fifth and worked around a two-out error in the sixth to retire the side and secure Elma’s district championship.

Anensen (2-2, R) and Smith (2-3, 3B, 2 RBI) led Elma’s offense with two hits apiece.

Nolan earned the win, allowing three runs – one earned – on six hits and eight strikeouts without surrendering a walk.

Modersohn struck out one without allowing a hit or a walk in 1 1-3 innings pitched to earn the save.

Elma will compete in the state tournament starting Saturday in Poulsbo (time and opponent to be determined).

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RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Larch Mountain’s RJ Calica (right) slides in safe ahead of the tag by Montesano shortstop Micah Eaton (left) during Monte’s 5-3 loss in an 8-10 District 3 championship game on Thursday in Montesano.

9-11 Division District 3 Tournament

Larch Mountain 5, Montesano 3

Montesano’s 9-10 Division all-star team missed an opportunity to lock up a berth in the state tournament with a 5-3 loss to Larch Mountain in the District 3 championship round on Thursday in Montesano.

Montesano was undone by base running miscues over three consecutive innings, which killed potential rallies and spoiled a solid pitching outing by Monte starter Connor Jelovich.

Larch Mountain took a 3-0 lead off Jelovich in the top of the first inning on an error followed by a two-out double from Kyle Verd.

But Monte responded with three runs on a two-run double by Madden Maruska and an RBI single off the bat of Blake Rocich in the bottom half of the frame.

With two on and no outs in Monte’s half of the third, a base running miscue led to a pickle that killed a potential Monte rally.

Larch Mountain shortstop Roy “RJ” Calica then stole a run in the top of the fourth after singling to lead off the inning, stealing second, then coming home on a steal of third and throwing error to stake Larch Mountain to a 4-3 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Montesano loaded the bases with two outs but failed to score as hesitation on the base paths led to outs and shut down another Monte scoring opportunity.

Larch Mountain added a run on a Brayden Wheeler sacrifice fly in the fifth to go up 5-3.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano pitcher Connor Jelovich throws a pitch during a 5-3 loss to Larch Mountain in the 8-10 District 3 Tournament on Friday in Montesano.

Monte had runners on second and third with one out in the fifth, but hesitation on the base paths led to a Monte runner being thrown out trying to score. A Larch Mountain error loaded the bases with two outs, but Jelovich grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the threat.

Maruska led off the bottom of the sixth with a double, but was tagged out on a ball hit to Calica at shortstop.

Larch Mountain reliever Verd retired the next two batters to hand Monte its first loss of the tournament and force a win-or-go-home championship game set for 6 p.m. Friday in Montesano.

Maruska led Monte, going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI for a Montesano offense that had just five hits in the game.

The loss spoiled a fine effort by Jelovich, who allowed five runs – two earned – on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings pitched.