Aberdeen and Elma squared off in a softball season-opener as we review Wednesday’s prep sports on the Harbor.

PREP SOFTBALL

Aberdeen 9, Elma 1

As one of the most talent-stacked teams in the 2A class entering the season, the Aberdeen Bobcats finally got a chance to show what they could do on Wednesday.

Did they ever impress.

The Bobcats scored plenty of runs and dominated in the cirle en route to a 9-1 season-opening win over the Elma Eagles in Elma.

Aberdeen (1-0 overall) scored all nine of its runs in the first four innings, highlighted by two no-doubt home runs off the bat of senior Annika Hollingsworth, who made her varsity debut for the Bobcats after transferring from Ocosta last season.

Hollingsworth opened the scoring with a two-run blast over the center-field wall in the top of the first inning and book-ended the Cats’ offensive output with a two-run shot in the fourth.

“I just went in with the mindset that I was going to get a base hit and it fell for me,” Hollingsworth said of her two mammoth shots.

The Bobcats had six extra-base hits in the game, with Laynie Yakovich, Zoe Vessey, Riley Hendrickson and Scotlyn Lecomte each doubling in the game.

“At the end of state, we were one of the top three teams in batting average, hits and runs. The goal was to carry that right into this season,” Aberdeen head coach Jimmy McDaniel said. “I feel like they picked up right were they left off. They executed at the plate, got runners on base and got runs in.”

While Aberdeen was putting up runs, Bobcats starting pitcher Lilly Camp was silencing Eagles’ bats.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen starting pitcher Lilly Camp was perfect for three innings during the Bobcats’ 9-1 win over Elma on Wednesday in Elma.

The junior right-hander was perfect through three innings but lost the no-hit bid when Eagles freshman Raelyn Weld opened the bottom of the fourth with an opposite-field single.

Weld eventually came around to score when twin sister – freshman Ashlynn Weld – singled up the middle.

But Camp regained her form to strike out the next three Eagles batters, ending her four-inning outing allowing one run on two hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts.

Hollingsworth then swapped spots with Camp at first base and held Elma scoreless over the final three innings of the game, allowing one hit while striking out nine.

Hollingsworth said she was elated to play in her first varsity game since the 2022 season.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen senior Annika Hollingsworth throws a pitch during the Bobcats’ 9-1 win over Elma on Wednesday in Elma.

“It felt amazing just to get back in. Everything was just going so good,” Hollingsworth said. “To be surrounded with such amazing people around me, it felt very nice. …. It felt really good to get back out here and be able to play with these girls again.”

“Just for her to get the chance to finish her senior year with us, knowing what she went through last year in not being able to play with us, she showed it,” McDaniel said. “She capitalized and took advantage of this first moment. … She showed whey she should be out here.”

Camp and Hollingsworth combined to hold Elma to three hits while striking out 19.

“Our pitchers, they dominated,” McDaniel said. “Having two (pitchers) makes it so much easier, especially when they are standout pitchers. If we want to mix it up, we can mix it up on the batters all day long now. We don’t have to put one pitcher through the stress of pitching every single game, every single week. That flexibility is going to pay off.”

The Eagles were led by Ashlynn Weld, who went 2-for-3 at the plate and, after giving up Hollingsworth’s second home run, settled in to hold the Bobcats scoreless over the final three innings.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma freshman Ashlynn Weld prepares to pitch during the Eagles’ 9-1 loss to Aberdeen on Wednesday in Elma.

“She’s just a ballplayer,” Elma head coach Ashley Stancil said of Ashlynn Weld. “She’s just a go-getter, she just wants to get better and go play.”

Elma junior Jasmyne Kish took the loss, allowing six earned runs on six hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts in three innings pitched.

Ashlynn Weld allowed two runs – one earned – on a pair of hits with a walk and five strikeouts in three innings of relief.

Elma head coach Ashley Stancil saw plenty of positives in her team’s first game of the season against arguably the best pitching duo her lineup will face this season.

“I thought my girls responded really well, especially when they hit the home runs off of us, and when they got up to bat, they were taking cuts,” she said. “But what I loved the most was my dugout. They were loud. … You would never know that we lost 9-1 and that’s just being great teammates and being there for each other.”

Elma hosts Shelton at 4 p.m. on Friday.

Aberdeen plays at Hoquiam at noon on Saturday.

Aberdeen 232 200 0 – 9 8 0

Elma 000 100 0 – 1 3 2

WP: Camp (4 IP, ER, 2H, 10K, BB). LP: Kish (3 IP, 7R, 6ER, 2K, 3BB).

Leading hitters: Aberdeen – Hollingsworth (2-4, 2HR, 2R, 4RBI); Lecomte (2-4, 2B, 2R); Vessey (1-3, 2B, R, 2RBI); Yakovich (1-4, R); Camp (1-4); Hendrickson (1-3, 2B, 2RBI); Mainio (0-2, R, RBI). Elma – Ash. Weld (2-3, RBI); R. Weld (1-3, R).

BOYS PREP SOCCER

Rochester 1, Hoquiam 0

A late goal spoiled Hoquiam’s upset bid in a 1-0 loss to Rochester on Wednesday at Rochester High School.

The Grizzlies (0-2) had one of their best defensive efforts in recent memory, holding Rochester scoreless until the Warriors broke through with a goal by Justin Gochez off a cross in the 72nd minute.

Hoquiam’s offense was unable to net the equalizer en route to the Grizzlies’ second loss to open the season.

“Overall, we are improving each game,” said Hoquiam head coach Corri Schmid, who added a more patient passing game starting at the back line played a key role in giving the Grizzlies a chance at a victory. “The biggest improvement would be our communication on the field and the defense gaining and maintaining possession and passing the ball up the field.”

Hoquiam goal keeper Mauricio Avila-Guzman recorded seven saves in the game.

The Grizzlies host Forks at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Sea Breeze Oval at Hoquiam High School.

Hoquiam 0 0 – 0

Rochester 0 1 – 1

Scoring

First half – none.

Second half – 1, Rochester, Gochez, 72nd minute.

Other games

Montesano 5, Eatonville 0