At the beginning of the season, it would have been a stretch to see the Montesano Bulldogs boys soccer team grabbing one of the 1A Evergreen League’s top two spots — and thus host a district playoff game — by season’s end.

But that is exactly where the Bulldogs find themselves, locking up second place with a 3-0 victory over Hoquiam on Monday at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano.

The evidence for Monte’s young team was displayed in its Senior Night celebration, where the only two Bulldogs seniors — midfielder Raven Kinnison and defender Daniel Vasquez — were honored along with team manager Kaylee Lundgren.

Monte jumped out to a quick lead on nearly identical plays early in the first half.

Montesano junior midfielder Mateo Sanchez sent a long ball forward toward the Grizzlies net. High-scoring freshman Felix Romero got a head on the ball to chip it into the net just before colliding with Hoquiam keeper Carlos Perez Orozco, giving Monte a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano freshman Felix Romero takes a shot while Hoquiam’s Code Drake defends during the Bulldogs’ 3-0 win on Monday in Montesano.

The game was then paused as athletic trainers and medical staff tended to Perez Orozco, who remained down on the turf for several minutes with a dislocated finger. The sophomore keeper’s injured finger was reset during the break and Perez Orozco courageously stayed in the game.

A few minutes later, Montesano (11-3 overall, 10-3 1A Evergreen) doubled its lead. Sanchez sent a long free kick forward toward Perez Orozco, who was beat to the ball by Monte sophomore forward Luke Clements, who calmly kicked it across the line for a goal in the 10th minute.

Perez Orozco, who was visibly hampered by the injury, was then subbed out of the match.

Later in the half, Montesano scored its third and final when Romero sent a free kick over to Sanchez, who tucked a hard, low shot just inside the near post from approximately 20 yards out in the 37th minute.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano junior Mateo Sanchez, left, rips a shot during the Bulldogs’ 3-0 win over Hoquiam on Monday in Montesano.

“We played tough the first half,” Montesano head coach Fidel Sanchez said, adding his team didn’t play with the same fervor as it did in the first half, but the defense was solid throughout the game. “We let down in the second half a little bit, but nonetheless we didn’t allow a goal, which is good. The boys played well and it’s good to get a win on Senior Night.”

Montesano outshot Hoquiam 19-9 and held an 11-3 shots on-goal advantage.

“We made some adjustments at half and shut them down and had some opportunities,” Hoquiam head coach John Johnson said. “While there were some disagreeable no-calls, our guys found a way in second half to start coming together. As a team, they are and I’m proud of them for finding that and shutting Monte down after that third goal in first half.”

The win and Forks’ 3-0 loss to Ilwaco on Monday locked up second place for Montesano, which will host a 1A District 4 playoff game on May 7 (time, opponent to be determined).

“Coming into the league, we as coaches talked about the best case scenario being second place and the worst case being fourth place,” Coach Sanchez said of where he and his staff felt the team would land entering the league schedule. “We had the best-case scenario. It’s one of those things that worked out for us. … Plus, we get to host districts on Saturday, so that’s huge.”

Eighteenth-ranked Montesano will face No. 4 Elma in the regular-season finale at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Davis Field in Elma.

Hoquiam 0 0 — 0

Montesano 3 0 — 3

Scoring

First half — 1, Montesano, Romero (Sanchez), 5th minute. 2, Montesano, Luke Clements (Sanchez), 10th minute. 3, Montesano, Sanchez (Romero), 37th minute.

PREP BASEBALL

Elma 2, Hoquiam 1

Elma scored two runs late in the game to earn a 2-1 win over Hoquiam on Monday at Olympic Stadium in Elma.

The Eagles (7-9, 6-6 1A Evergreen) trailed 1-0 after Hoquiam (3-13, 0-9) scored a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Zander Jump led off the frame with a double and came in to score two batters later on an RBI ground out by Logan McMinn.

In the top of the sixth, Elma’s TJ Dunlap singled to leadoff the inning and advanced to second when Landon McKiney reached on an error.

After Andrew Sanders struck out, Kyren Hackney tied the game at 1-1 when he drove in Dunlap with a fielder’s choice ground out.

Blake Corr then stepped to the plate and doubled to left field, scoring McKiney with the go-ahead run.

Gibson Cain earned the win for Elma, allowing an earned run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks in a quality five-innings pitched.

Ethan Camus earned the two-inning save for Elma, allowing no runs and one hit with two strikeouts and a walk.

Hoquiam’s Todd Meford took the loss, allowing two unearned runs on two hits with two strikeouts in an inning pitched.

Hoquiam used five pitchers in the game, holding Elma to six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

The Eagles currently sit in third place and, depending on how the remainder of the league schedule plays out, will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 league seed entering the district playoffs.

Elma has a non-league matchup scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday against Toutle Lake in Elma.

Hoquiam takes on fourth-place Eatonville in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

Elma 000 002 0 — 2 6 0

Hoquiam 000 100 0 — 1 3 2

Elma — Corr (2-4, 2B, RBI), Dunlap (1-2, R), Tiffany (1-3), Cain (1-3), Vessey (1-4, 2B), McKiney (0-1, R). WP – Cain (5 IP, 2H, 2R, ER, 3K, 2BB). SV – Camus (2 IP, H, 0R, 2K, BB).

Hoquiam — Z. Jump (1-2, R), Gordon (1-3), Shumate (1-2). LP – Meford (IP, 2H, 2R, 0ER, 2K).

Shelton 6, Aberdeen 4

Aberdeen squandered a 4-0 lead in a 6-4 loss to Shelton on Monday in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen (4-12, 2-9 2A Evergreen) got off to a good start with three runs in the first one a double by outfielder Luca Pisani, an unearned run on an error, and an RBI single by Kenny Dawson.

The Bobcats pushed their lead to 4-0 in the second inning when Hunter Eisele drove in Kyle Miller with his second double in as many innings.

But Shelton (14-5, 7-4) got to Aberdeen starter Malaki Balesteri with three runs in the third and three in the fourth to take a 6-4 lead.

Aberdeen managed just three hits and a hit batsman against Highclimber pitching over the final five innings of the game.

Balesteri took the loss, allowing six runs — three earned — on six hits with four strikeouts in four innings pitched.

Pisani tossed the final three innings for Aberdeen, holding Shelton scoreless on three hits with three strikeouts.

Aberdeen plays at Shelton at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday before closing out the season by hosting Centralia at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Shelton 003 300 0 0 — 6 9 2

Aberdeen 310 000 0 — 4 7 2

Shelton — Rhoades (2-3, 2B, R, RBI), B. Wagner (2-4, RBI), W. Wagner (1-4, 2RBI), Schlender (1-4), Anderson (1-3, R), Hutson (1-3, 2R), Williams (1-2, R). WP – Stewart (4.2 IP, 5H, 4R, 2ER, 4K, BB). SV – Gerchak (2.1 IP, 2H, 2K).

Aberdeen — Eisele (2-4, 2 2B, R, RBI), Pisani (2-4, 2B, R, RBI), Dawson (1-3, RBI), Sorensen (1-3), Heggie (1-3), Miller (0-2, R). LP – Balesteri (4 IP, 6H, 6R, 3ER, 4K, 2BB).

PREP SOFTBALL

Hoquiam 17, Elma 2

Hoquiam hammered 16 hits in earning a 17-2 victory in five innings over Hoquiam on Monday in Elma.

The Grizzlies (10-3, 7-1 1A Evergreen) were led by Faith Prosch, who had a huge day at the plate. The Hoquiam catcher capped a four-run first with a two-run single, drove in a pair of runs with a double in the top of the fourth, and belted a two-run home run to put Hoquiam up 16-2 in the fifth inning.

The top six hitters in Hoquiam’s lineup did the damage, going a combined 14-for-25 with 13 runs scored and 13 RBI.

Hoquiam infielder Ella Folkers also had a prodigious day at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI.

Hoquiam starter Carron Blood picked up the win, allowing two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks in five innings pitched.

Elma (4-9, 4-7) was led by shortstop Emmie Spencer, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Delayne Hanson took the loss for the Eagles, allowing 10 earned runs on 16 hits in five innings of work.

Hoquiam has a huge doubleheader against Eatonville starting at 4 p.m. Tuesday at John Gable Park in Hoquiam, with first-place in the 1A Evergreen League and likely a league championship at stake.

Elma’s league schedule is complete and the Eagles will enter the district playoffs as the 1A Evergreen League’s No. 4 seed.

Hoquiam 412 73 — 17 16 4

Elma 200 00 — 2 4 7

Hoquiam — Prosch (3-4, HR, 2B, 3R, 6RBI), Folkers (3-4, 2B, 2R, 3RBI), Cady (2-4, 2B, 2R, RBI), H0ward (2-4, 2B, 3R), Sauer (1-3, R), Deitrick (1-2, 2R, RBI). WP – Blood (5 IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 4K, 3BB).

Elma — Spencer (1-3, R, RBI), Monroe (1-3, R), Galligan (1-3), Swarts (1-3). LP – Hanson (5 IP, 16H ,17R, 10ER, 2K, 3BB).

PREP GIRLS TENNIS

WF West 6, Aberdeen 0

WF West defeated Aberdeen 6-0 on Monday in Chehalis.

Results

Singles — Laura Yip (WF West) defeated Char Gutierrez (Aberdeen) 6-0, 6-3. Hannah Feaster (W) def. Macy Cogburn (A) 6-1, 6-0. Anna Alexander (W) def. Ellie Cady (A) 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles — Claire Kuykendall/Kaylynne Dowling (W) def. Maddy Machowek/Kallie Knutson (A) 6-0, 6-0. Katelyn Wood/Emma Weerasinghe (W) def. Maritza Guzman Lopez/Monse Lopez (A) 6-0, 6-0. Emma Hamilton/Lillian Huefed (W) def. Clowe Stolen/Maddie Casey (A) 6-0, 6-0.