Aberdeen’s experience showed on Wednesday, scoring four goals in the first 15 minutes of the game en route to a 10-0 win over Hoquiam at Sea Breeze Oval.
Aberdeen (2-0 overall) had nine different scorers and overwhelmed the Grizzlies (0-1) from the opening whistle.
The Bobcats opened their scoring blitz when senior midfielder Edwin Quintana sent a high cross from the deep wing toward the middle of the Grizzlies’ 18-yard box where senior forward Carlos Mendoza connected with a one-time shot for a 1-0 lead.
Photos by RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen senior midfielder Carlos Mendoza, center, connects on a cross for a goal in the first half of the Bobcats’ 10-0 win over Hoquiam on Wednesday at Sea Breeze Oval in Hoquiam.
From there the rout was on.
The Bobcats got a goal from senior winger Colby Mendoza and senior midfielder Giovanni Ambrogiani in the eighth and ninth minutes, respectively.
Aberdeen’s Colby Mendoza, left, dribbles against Hoquiam’s Santiago Martinez Ortiz during the Bobcats’ 10-0 win on Wednesday at Sea Breeze Oval in Hoquiam.
Alan Avalos scored in the 13th minute with Gilberto Lopez scoring in the 33rd minute to close out Aberdeen’s 5-0 first half.
Ambrogiani added his second goal of the game on a break less than a minute into the second half and teammates Javier Garcia, Evan Cone, Leo Garcia and Giovanni Castillo added a goal each in the second half for the 10-0 victory.
Aberdeen had 16 shots to just three for Hoquiam.
Bobcats head coach Larry Fleming was pleased to see his team finish its scoring chances.
“Good finishes, even on this field we were able to knock the ball around a little bit. … It was a good effort from everybody and we got some goals, which was nice,” he said.
Aberdeen senior defender Javier Garcia take a free kick during the Bobcats’ 10-0 win over the Hoquiam Grizzlies on Wednesday at Sea Breeze Oval in Hoquiam.
The Bobcats also appeared to have picked up right where they left off in Monday’s win over Elma, continuing the style of play that found them success in the second half of that game.
“I hope that’s a sign of things to come,” Fleming said. “That we are going to come out in the beginning of games like we finish in the second half. … We usually start off slow, but we started fast today and we really did a good job. Defensively, we were communicating and offensively, no matter who was playing what position, we did a really great job.”
“We came out strong,” said Quintana, who had two assists in the game. “It was a rivalry game and we wanted to beat them. … We’re just hungry for this whole season and hope for the best every game. … Before every game, we huddle up and talk about the meaning of every game and how important it is to us. … This was our last (Myrtle Street) rivalry game for most of us, so Alan (Avalos) said, ‘Let’s go out and make it fun,’ and we did.”
Aberdeen held a distinct advantage in experience, with 13 seniors on the roster to just three for Hoquiam, which was also hampered with four starters being unavailable due to lack of the required amount of practice time.
“We got a pretty loaded team and they’re a young group,” Fleming said of the mismatch in age and varsity experience. “We have 20 kids that can rotate in.”
Hoquiam head coach John Johnson said Aberdeen’s team speed was apparent throughout the contest.
“They had a lot of fast runners,” he said. “I think our offense has to find a way to break through that line a little bit better. Toward the end we started to find those breakthroughs. In the midfield, I just think we weren’t winning those second balls. We’d get a touch, but just wouldn’t get back to the next one. Our communication was decent but started off a bit rough. … I think with what we had today, our guys went out and played fairly well. … There’s a lot of stuff we have to clean up, but all in all, I’m happy with the way they played.”
Quintana said a big difference in Aberdeen’s first two games compared to last season has been a more active role across the lineup in communication.
“Everyone has been playing their part and communicating,” he said. “I think that’s really helped and it’s been a big step up from last year.”
Hoquiam was scheduled to play Forks at 6 p.m. on Friday at Forks High School. Aberdeen had a big 2A Evergreen League game against W.F. West at 7 p.m. on Friday at Stewart Field. Both games were scheduled for play after The Daily World press time.
According to Quintana, the Bobcats have their sights set on the Bearcats after W.F. West defeated Aberdeen in the district playoffs to keep the Bobcats from a state-tournament berth last season.
“We lost to them last year in our last game to go to state,” he said. “So we are hungry for them and want to beat them as bad as we could. Hopefully, we can blow them out. We’re hoping to come out strong.”
Aberdeen 5 5 – 10
Hoquiam 0 0 – 0
Scoring
First half – 1, Aberdeen, Carlos Mendoza (Quintana), 4th minute. 2, Aberdeen, Colby Mendoza, 8th minute. 3, Aberdeen, Ambrogiani, 9th minute. 4, Aberdeen, Avalos, 13th minute. 5, Gilberto Lopez, 33rd minute.
Second half – 6, Aberdeen, Ambrogiani, 41st minute. 7, Aberdeen, Javier Garcia, 33rd minute. 8, Aberdeen, Cone, 46th minute. 9, Aberdeen, Leo Garcia (Castillo), 54th minute. 10, Aberdeen, Castillo (Quintana), 67th minute.
Other scores
King’s Way Christian 2, Elma 0
PREP SOFTBALL
Elma 11, King’s Way Christian 2
Elma opened the season with its second straight win, handing King’s Way Christian an 11-2 defeat on Wednesday in Elma.
The Eagles (2-0) scored six runs over the first two innings and were bolstered by three triples in the victory.
Emmie Spencer led Elma at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a triple and four runs scored.
Nicole Johanson had two hits, a triple and two RBI and Elma’s Brooklyne Swarts had a triple and two RBI in the victory.
Elma starter Delayne Hanson picked up the win, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and a pair of walks with four strikeouts in four innings pitched.
KWC 110 000 0 – 2 3 6
Elma 331 301 x – 11 9 4
WP: Hanson (4 IP, 3 H, 2R, 0 ER, 4 K 2 BB). LP: Crate (6 IP, 9 H, 11 R, 5 ER, 7 K, 4 BB).
Leading hitters: Elma – Spencer (4-4, 3B, 4 R); Johanson (2-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI); Swarts (1-3, 3B, R, 2 RBI); Calligan (1-4, 2 R, RBI), Mia Monroe (0-3, 2 R, RBI); Hanson (1-4). KWC – Gaudet (1-4, 2B, RBI); Crate (1-3 R).
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Aberdeen’s Zoe Vessey connects on a pitch during the Bobcats’ 11-1 victory over Hoquiam on Wednesday at the Bishop Sports Complex in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen 11, Hoquiam 1
Aberdeen turned a close game into a walk-off victory after downing Hoquiam 11-1 in five innings on Wednesday at the Bishop Sports Complex in Aberdeen.
One day after losing a 1-0 pitcher’s duel to Olympia, the Bobcats (1-1 overall) were locked into another close game with the Grizzlies (0-2) through the first three innings.
Hoquiam broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third when senior infielder Graci Bonney-Spradlin drove home Chloe Dietrick – aboard on an error – with a double to center field, giving the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead.
But in the bottom of the fourth, the floodgates holding back the Aberdeen offense burst open.
Aberdeen tied the game when outfielder Alyssa Yakovich was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Britten Neal. Two batters later, Zoe Vessey singled to drive in two runs and stake the Bobcats to a 3-1 lead.
Scotlyn Lecomte followed with an RBI single to score Yakovich for a 4-1 lead.
The hit-parade continued with two outs when Neal drove in Vessey with a single up the middle.
Smelling blood, the Bobcats finished off the Grizzlies in the fifth.
With two outs and the bases empty after Hoquiam second baseman Ella Folkers turned a double play, six consecutive Aberdeen hitters reached base. Starting pitcher Lilly Camp began the rally with a triple followed by a Vessey walk. Lecomte then singled to drive in pinch-runner Jenny Stopsen for a 7-1 lead. Shyanna Patrick then doubled to left, driving in Lecomte and Vessey.
Three Hoquiam errors then sealed the Cats’ victory, with Abby Mainio scoring the walk-off winner after an error on a grounder off the bat of Neal.
Camp picked up the victory with a dazzling performance. The sophomore right-hander allowed one run – none earned – with a walk and seven strikeouts in five innings pitched.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Aberdeen pitcher Lilly Camp surrendered just one hit in an 11-1 victory over Hoquiam on Wednesday at the Bishop Sports Complex in Aberdeen.
Carron Blood took the loss for Hoquiam, allowed six earned runs on 12 hits and four walks while striking out three.
The Bobcats offense was led by leadoff hitter Aili Scott (3-4, R), Vessey (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI), Lecomte (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Parick (2-3, R, 2 RBI), each with multi-hit games.
The two team will square off again on Friday at John Gable Park in Hoquiam.
First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Hoquiam 001 00 – 1 1 4
Aberdeen 000 65 – 11 13 1
WP: Camp (5 IP, H, R, 0 ER, 7 K, BB). LP: Blood (4.2 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 3 K, 4 BB).
Leading hitters: Hoquiam – Scott (3-4, R, 2 SB); Lecomte (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI); Patrick (2-3, 2B, R, SB, 2 RBI); Vessey (2-3, 2 R, 2 SB, 2 RBI); Neal (1-3, R, SB, 2 RBI); Yakovich (1-2, R); Camp (1-3, 3B); Mainio (1-4, R, 2 SB).
