Some of the state’s must-see softball talent resides in the Twin Harbors, with the defending 1A state champions and some of the region’s top pitchers in action on Saturday.

PHOTO BY HAILEY BLANCAS Montesano pitcher Riley Timmons throws a pitch during a 9-5 loss to Battle Ground on Saturday at Auburn Riverside High School.

Battle Ground 9, Montesano 5

Montesano opened its season with a 9-5 loss to Battle Ground at the annual Auburn softball showcase event on Saturday at Auburn Riverside High School.

The defending 1A state-champion Bulldogs (0-1 overall) outhit Battle Ground 11-7, including four extra-base hits, one being a leadoff home run in the bottom of the third by catcher Ali Parkin.

But Monte was playing catch-up all game as Battle Ground took advantage of two hit batters and a pair of walks en route to scoring three runs in the top of the first inning.

Battle Ground scored five more runs in the third in a frame that included a walk, a hit batter, a wild pitch and two errors.

Monte scored a run in the second, highlighted by Parkin’s solo home run, and two in the sixth on a Liv Robinson double.

Three of Battle Ground’s runs were unearned as three errors and four hit batters gave Battle Ground extra opportunities to capitalize on.

The 4A class Tigers (3-1) were led by senior pitcher Zoey Hughes, who allowed four runs on 11 hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts in earning the complete-game victory.

Monte’s Riley Timmons took the loss, allowing eight runs – five earned – on four hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts in three innings pitched.

“Even though we lost to a very good Battle Ground team, the Bulldogs did things during the game that impressed me for the first game of the season,” Monte head coach Pat Pace said. “The girls faced a tough pitcher but did a great job putting the ball in play and making things happen on the base paths.”

Robinson led Monte at the dish with a perfect 4-for-4 game that included a double and two RBI.

Montesano plays at Forks at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Battle Ground 305 001 0 – 9 7 1

Montesano 012 002 0 – 5 11 3

WP: Hughs (7 IP, 4R, 4ER, 11H, 10K, BB). LP: Timmons (3IP, 8R, 5ER, 4H, 2K, 3BB).

Leading hitters: – Lindersmith (2-4, R); Newton (1-4, 2B, R, 3RBI); Concannon (1-3, R, 2RBI); Torgerson (1-3, 2B, R, RBI). Montesano – Robinson (4-4, 2B, 2RBI); Parkin (2-4, HR, R, RBI); Wintrip (2-2, 2B, R); Timmons (1-4, 2B); Maldonado (1-1, RBI): Potts (1-3, R).

Aberdeen 11, Hoquiam 0

A combination of heavy hitting and shutdown pitching led to Aberdeen’s 11-0 victory over Hoquiam on Saturday at John Gable Park in Hoquiam.

The Bobcats (2-0) hammered Hoquiam pitching for 17 hits, led by three-hit games from Laynie Yakovich and Scotlyn Lecomte and a power supply from Annika Hollingsworth and Abby Mainio, each with a home run in the game.

Aberdeen took a 2-0 lead in the first on a double from catcher Alyssa Yakovich and doubled its lead in the second on Mainio’s solo home run to left followed later by an RBI single from Hollingsworth.

The Bobcats added three more in the third capped by first baseman Lilly Camp’s RBI single to make it a 7-0 game.

In the fourth with Aberdeen up 8-0 after a Laynie Yakovich run-scoring single, Hollingsworth sent an 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence for a three-run home run, her third homer in two games this season and an 11-0 lead.

Hollingsworth – one of Aberdeen’s pair of aces along with Camp – earned the win, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks with 11 strikeouts in four innings pitched.

Camp pitched the fifth and final inning, allowing no runs or hits while striking out two to secure the victory.

Hoquiam (1-4) had two baserunners in the game. Third baseman Lexi LaBounty led off the bottom of the second with a single and Chloey Deitrick reached on an error in the third.

Hayden Brook-Andrew took the loss for the Grizzlies, allowing seven runs in 12 hits and five walks in three innings pitched.

Hoquiam reliever Kayte Sauer allowed four runs on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts in two innings.

Hoquiam takes on Rochester at 4 p.m. on Wednesday in Rochester.

Aberdeen hosts Black Hills at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Aberdeen 223 40 – 11 17 1

Hoquiam 000 00 – 0 1 1

WP: Hollingsworth (4 IP, 0R, H, 11K). LP: Andrews (3 IP, 7ER, 12H, 5BB).

Leading hitters: Aberdeen – L. Yakovich (3-4, R, RBI); Lecomte (3-4, 2B, RBI); Hollingsworth (2-3, HR, R, 5RBI); A. Yakovich (2-2); Mainio (2-2, HR, 3R, RBI); Camp (1-1, R, RBI). Hoquiam – LaBounty (1-2).

Ocosta 13, Onalaska 0

Ocosta opened its season similar to how it ended last season – winning behind a dominant pitching performance from Jessie Gilbert.

The hard-throwing junior right-hander struck out 15 Onalaska Loggers and didn’t allow a hit in a 13-0 five-inning victory on Saturday in Onalaska.

The Wildcats (1-0) took the lead with three runs in the second on run-scoring doubles by Zaida Morales and Noel Cuzdey.

In the top of the fourth, Ocosta scored two runs, highlighted by an RBI single by Samantha Schlegel.

Ocosta put the game in 10-run rule territory with eight runs in the fifth, including a Joanah Rosander leadoff triple and a two-run double off the bat of Gilbert.

In the circle, Gilbert showed why she is one of the top pitchers in the state as she allowed no hits with just one walk to pick up the five-inning victory.

Eight of nine Ocosta starters got a base hit and the Wildcats had five extra-base hits in the game from five different players.

Second baseman Brynn Rasmus led the Wildcats with three hits while Cuzdey had a pair of hits and three RBI.

Ocosta hosts North Beach for a double header starting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

Ocosta 030 28 – 13 13 0

Onalaska 000 00 – 0 0 2

WP: Gilbert (5 IP, 0R, 0H, 15K, BB). LP: Smith (2.1 IP, 8R, 5ER, 6H, K, BB).

Leading hitters: Ocosta – Rasmus (3-4, R, RBI); S. Schlegel (2-3, R, 2 RBI); Cuzdey (2-4, 2B, R, 3RBI); J. Schlegel (2-4, 2R, RBI); Gilbert (1-3, 2B, R); Rosander (1-3, 3B, R); Morales (1-3, 2B, 2R, RBI); Olive (1-3, 2B, R); Ness (0-1, 3R).