Montesano beat Elma in a battle of pitching aces as we review Wednesday’s prep baseball games on the Harbor.

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PREP BASEBALL

Montesano 4, Elma 0

Montesano emerged the victory of a 4-0 pitcher’s duel with Elma on Wednesday at Vessey Field in Montesano.

The Bulldogs (7-1 overall, 1-0 1A Evergreen) and Eagles (3-3, 1-1) were locked in a scoreless tie through the first 4.5 innings of play as a pair of left-handed aces shut down opposing offenses.

Monte starter Caden Grubb and Elma ace Brody Palmer matched each other scoreless frame by scoreless frame as neither team scored until Montesano broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning.

In the fifth, Monte’s Zach Timmons and Kole Kjesbu singled with one out, bringing Grubb the the plate with a runner in scoring position.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano’s Dennis Churchill had two hits in a 4-0 win over Elma on Wednesday at Vessey Field in Montesano.

Grubb helped his own cause by lacing a single to center field, allowing Timmons to score the first run of the game.

An Elma error later in the frame allowed three runs to score to put Monte ahead 4-0.

Grubb made the lead stick, allowing no runs on a walk while scattering four hits with 11 strikeouts to earn the victory. Grubb retired nine of the final 11 batters he faced.

Elma’s best chance to score came in the top of the fourth inning when Jack Alexander – on board with a leadoff single – advanced to third on a Palmer one-out double.

Eagles catcher Ethan Camus then roped a Grubb pitch right at Bulldogs second baseman Kolson Hendrickson, who snagged the liner and quickly threw to Carter Ames at third to double off Alexander and end the threat.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma starter Brody Palmer throws a pitch during a 4-0 loss to Montesano on Wednesday in Montesano.

Palmer suffered the loss, allowing one earned run on nine hits and two walks with six strikeouts in five innings pitched.

Alexander led Elma with two hits.

Monte’s offense was paced by Grubb and right fielder Dennis Churchill with two hits apiece.

The two teams will meet for a doubleheader set to start at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Elma.

Elma 000 000 0 – 0 4 1

Montesano 000 040 x – 4 9 0

WP: Ca. Grubb (7 IP, 0R, 4H, BB, 11K). LP: Palmer (5 IP, 4R, ER, 9H, 2BB, 6K).

Leading hitters: Elma – Alexander (2-3, 2B); Gustafson (1-3); Palmer (1-3, 2B). Montesano – Ca. Grubb (2-3, RBI); Churchill (2-3); Crites (1-3); Co. Grubb (1-3); Timmons (1-4, R); Kjesbu (1-3, R); Hendrickson (1-2, R).

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Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 5, Forks 1

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley took advantage of Forks mistakes to earn a 5-1 win in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday in Forks.

The Titans (2-2, 1-2 2B Pacific) scored a run on a Forks error in the top of the second and doubled the lead when center fielder Blane King drew a bases-loaded walk in the third.

PWV scored three runs in the seventh without a base hit as two Spartans errors, two walks, a hit batter and a passed ball led to the Titans’ big inning.

Kannyon Clements drew a walk with the sacks full to put PWV up 3-1 followed by a Brody Aust RBI groundout to drive in pitcher Liam Smaciarz.

King would score on a passed ball later in the frame to for a 5-1 lead.

Smaciarz earned the win, allowing one unearned run on two hits and five walks with eight strikeouts in six innings pitched.

Aust allowed one hit with a strikeout in pitching a scoreless seventh.

Brayden Ruddell and Mauricio Morales had the only hits for PWV, which drew seven walks as a team and scored four unearned runs off five Forks errors in the game.

PWV 011 000 3 – 5 2 2

Forks 001 000 0 0 – 1 3 5

WP: Smaciarz (6 IP, R, 0ER, 2H, 5BB, 8K). LP: Olson (6.1 IP, 3R, ER, 2H, 6BB, 6K).

Leading hitters: PWV – Ruddell (1-3); Morales (1-2); King (0-3, 2R, RBI, BB); Aust (0-4, RBI). Forks – Olson (1-3, R); Dent (1-4); Cash (1-3).

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Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 10, Forks 4

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley found its offense with a 10-4 victory over Forks in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Wednesday in Forks.

The Titans (3-2, 2-2 2B Pacific) had 11 hits in the game, with four different PWV players collecting two hits in the game.

PWV took the early lead when Blane King singled to drive in a run in the top half of the first inning.

One of four Forks errors allowed second baseman Lucas Lusk to score for a 2-0 Titans lead.

Lusk then singled in starting pitcher Eddie Clements and catcher Mauricio Morales for a 4-0 lead then crossed the plate thanks to another Spartans error for a 5-0 lead in the fourth.

An RBI single by Morales made it a 6-0 lead in the fourth followed by a four-run sixth – highlighted by RBI singles from shortstop Brayden Ruddell and Kannyon Clements – to take a 10-1 lead through 5.5 innings.

Eddie Clements earned the win for PWV, allowing three runs – two earned – on three hits and five walks with five strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings pitched.

Kannyon Clements allowed one earned run on two hits with two strikeouts in 1 1-3 innings of relief work.

Lusk had a pair of hits and scored three runs for PWV.

The Titans take on Ocosta at 4 p.m. on Thursday in Westport.

PWV 101 314 0 – 10 11 1

Forks 000 012 1 – 4 5 4

WP: E. Clements (5.2 IP, 3R, 2ER, 3H, 5BB, 5K). LP: Rawley (5 IP, 6R, 4ER, 7H, 4BB, K).

Leading hitters: PWV – Clements (2-5, 2R, 2SB); Lusk (2-5, 3R, 2RBI, 3SB); Ruddell (2-5, R, RBI); K. Clements (2-4, 2R, RBI); Morales (1-3, R, RBI); Aust (1-2, RBI). Forks – Cash (1-3, 2B, R); Highfield (1-4, 2B, RBI); Dent 91-3, R); Hutto (1-2, R, RBI); Bennett (1-3, R).