There will be no state-tournament baseball on the Harbor this season as both Elma and Montesano saw their seasons come to an end in the 1A District 4 Tournament.
1A District 4 Tournament
La Center 4, Montesano 2
Montesano’s season came to an abrupt and unexpected early end with a 4-2 loss in a 1A District 4 Tournament elimination game on Saturday at Castle Rock High School.
Errors proved costly for the Bulldogs (21-4 overall) as La Center (18-6) scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning on an error by first baseman Kole Kjesbu with two outs.
In the top of the third, Monte cut the deficit in half when Marcus Hale drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs. But La Center pitcher Justin Fuller got Toren Crites to ground out to end the inning with no further damage.
In the bottom of the third, the Wildcats got the run back and then some when an error by infielder Jaxson Wilson allowed leadoff hitter Caden Taylor to reach base.
After a sacrifice bunt followed by a Fuller single, Taylor scored on a wild pitch by Bulldogs starting pitcher Cam Taylor. Smith Stimmel then singled to drive in Fuller for a 4-1 lead.
Monte managed to load the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh, but a Zach Timmons strikeout, an RBI sacrifice fly from Wilson and an infield pop-out by Hale ended the game, and Monte’s hopes of a return to the state tournament.
The loss spoiled a gem by Cam Taylor, who allowed one earned run on just two hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings pitched.
Montesano 001 000 1 – 2 5 2
La Center 022 000 x – 4 2 2
WP: Fuller (5 IP, R, ER, 2H, 3BB, 8K). LP: Taylor (6 IP, 4R, ER, 2H, 2BB, 6K).
Leading hitters: Montesano – Kjesbu (2-3, 2R); Poler (1-4); Timmons (1-2); Perry (1-2). La Center (Fuller (1-3, R); Stimmel (1-3, RBI).
Montesano 8, King’s Way Christian 6
Montesano kept its season alive with an 8-6 win over King’s Way Christian on Friday at Castle Rock High School.
Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Monte took advantage of Knights mistakes, scoring six runs on two walks and four errors, taking a 6-3 lead on a two-run double off the bat of senior shortstop Bode Poler.
After KWC scored two in the top of the fifth, Monte added some insurance with two runs on a Tyson Perry single and an error for an 8-5 lead.
Senior right-hander Skylar Bove picked up the win, allowing six runs – four earned – on nine hits and three walks with five strikeouts in five innings pitched.
Freshman lefty Caden Grubb picked up the save, holding KWC (9-14) scoreless without a hit in tossing the final two innings.
KWC 111 021 0 – 6 9 7
Montesano 000 620 x – 8 4 2
WP: Bove (5 IP, 6R, 4ER, 9H, 3BB, 5K). LP: Tarnoski (5.2 IP, 8R, ER, 4H, 6BB, 3K). SV: Cad. Grubb (2 IP, 0R, 0H).
Leading hitters: KWC – Geisen (2-3, 2 2B, R, RBI); Tarnoski (2-4, R); Somarkis (1-3, 3B, 2R, RBI); Johnson (1-3, 2B, R); Schaller (1-4); Horrocks (1-4, R); Disbrow (1-3). Montesano – Poler (1-4, 2B, 2RBI); Taylor (1-2, R, RBI); Perry (1-2, R, RBI); Col. Grubb (1-4); Johansen (0-3, R, 2RBI).
La Center 8, Elma 0
Elma’s season ended with an 8-0 loss to La Center in a 1A District 4 Tournament elimination game on Friday at Castle Rock High School.
The Eagles (12-10) fell behind 3-0 after the first inning and never recovered as Elma was shutout by Wildcats pitcher Austin Aseph, who scattered seven hits and a walk while striking out eight over seven innings to earn the victory.
Elma was led by Brody Palmer and senior Grant Vessey, each with two hits in the game.
Eagles senior starter Carter Studer took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 3 1-3 innings pitched.
Elma 000 000 0 – 0 7 2
La Center 300 311 x – 8 10 4
WP: Aseph (7 IP, 0R, 7H, BB, 8K). LP: Studer (3.1 IP, 6R, 6ER, 7H, 2BB, 2K).
Leding hitters: Elma – Palmer (2-4); Vessey (2-3); McGaffey (1-4); Wright (1-3); Alexander (1-1). La Center – Fuller (2-3, 2R, 2RBI); Taylor (2-3, R); Bethje (2-3, R, RBI); Coyle (1-1, R, RBI); Stimmel (1-3, 2RBI); Normine (1-3, R); Eiesland (1-3, R).
