Both the Montesano and Elma High School dance and drill teams competed at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association State Championships on Friday and Saturday at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima.

Competing in the 1A/2A classification military (drill) and pom (cheer) competitions, both schools had teams that achieved an excellent rating (210-239.9 points).

Montesano’s pom team earned the highest marks, placing sixth with 235.45 points, just outside of an exceptional rating (240-269.9).

Elma’s pom team also placed with an exceptional rating, finishing 10th with 212.30 points.

In the military competition, Montesano placed fourth with 222.90 points while Elma placed fifth with 204.30 points, which is considered a Good Rating (150-209.9).

For full results, visit wiaa.com/subcontent.aspx?SecID=325.

PHOTO BY SHAWN DONNELLY The Elma High School cheer team competes at the WIAA State Championships on Saturday at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASEBALL

Grays Harbor College wins one of four in Yakima

Grays Harbor College took one of four games against Yakima Valley College over the weekend in Yakima.

The Chokers (7-12 overall) opened Saturday’s doubleheader with a 6-4 victory.

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the sixth, GHC scored a pair of runs on a single by right fielder Reese Shioji followed by an RBI base hit by left fielder Cameron Denny to take the lead.

Leading 4-3, the Chokers scored two runs in the top of the ninth on an RBI single from shortstop Ian Winterhalder followed by a run scored on a fielder’s choice groundout by catcher Alex Zang.

Trevor Barth picked up the win for GHC, allowing three earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and a walk in six innings pitched.

Camden Ryan picked up the save, allowing a run on two hits with two strikeouts and a walk in three innings.

In the nightcap, GHC was no hit in a seven-inning 10-0 loss.

Yakima Valley starter Carson Judd and reliever Quentin O’Connor combined for six strikeouts in holding the Chokers offense scoreless without a hit.

Denny was the only Choker to reach base with a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth inning.

Chokers starter Colin Hoover took the loss, allowing five earned runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings pitched.

In the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, a GHC rally fell short in a 7-3 loss.

The Chokers fell behind 5-0 but got back into the game with three runs on a two-run single from Chase Cleveringa and RBI groundout by Zang in the top of the sixth.

But Yakima Valley (12-8) scored a run in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings and held GHC scoreless the rest of the way to pick up the win.

Cleveringa went 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead GHC.

Wyatt Smith took the loss for GHC, allowing four runs — two earned — on three hits with five walks and two strikeouts in three innings pitched.

The Chokers defense committed five errors in the game.

In the nightcap, GHC fell behind 4-0 after the first inning but rallied with three runs on an RBI double from shortstop Ozzy Zawislak, an RBI single by Cleveringa and a run-scoring groundout by first baseman Nolan Baugher.

Down 6-3, GHC scored a run in the top of the sixth on a single by third baseman Aidan McMurdo.

Yakima Valley would add a run in the bottom of the seventh to hand GHC a 7-4 loss.

Cleveringa (3-5, R, RBI), Shioji (2-5, 2B, R), Baugher (2-5), Zawislak (2-5, 2B, R, RBI) and McMurdo (2-4, R) each had multiple hits for the Chokers.

Winterhalder took the loss, allowing five earned runs on eight hits with a walk and pair of strikeouts in three innings pitched.

GHC opens NWAC West Region play at noon Saturday at Green River College before hosting Pierce at 1 p.m. Sunday in a home opener at Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam.

PREP SOFTBALL

Yelm 5, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 4

Playing a competitive non-league schedule, the Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans lost to 3A class Yelm 5-4 on Saturday at the Auburn Riverside Fastpitch Invitational on Saturday in Auburn.

Yelm (5-2) jumped ahead with four runs in the first on two costly Titans errors to take an early lead, but PWV (2-2) rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning.

In the frame, Lauren Matlock led off with a single and later came around to score on a single by Olivia Matlock.

Raegan Portmann cut the Yelm lead in half by driving in Rilyn Channell with a base hit up the middle.

Each team scored a run in the second before Olivia Matlock belted a moon-shot home run to pull PWV to within a run in the fourth.

Despite outhitting Yelm 12-4, PWV failed to get any more runs across the plate in the 5-4 loss.

The Titans were led by Olivia Matlock (2-2, HR, 2RBI), Lauren Matlock (2-4, R, RBI) and Merissa Frasier (2-4).

Olivia Matlock took the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts and eight walks in six innings pitched.

“All game long it was great to see every player square up on balls,” PWV head coach Ken Olson said of his high-powered offense.

Yelm 410 000 — 5 4 0

PWV 210 100 — 4 12 2

Bellevue 3, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 1

In PWV’s second game on Saturday, the Titans lost a pitcher’s duel 3-1 to 3A Bellevue.

PWV scored a run in the top of the first when Lauren Matlock — on board with a double — was driven in by an Olivia Matlock RBI single.

Bellevue (5-2) scored three in the bottom of the second and were threatening in the third with runners on second and third with one out, but PWV infielder Raegan Portmann snagged a hard line-drive and caught the runner off third for an inning-ending double play.

But after the first inning, the Titans offense was shut down by Bellevue starting pitcher Rachel Treves. The Pacific Lutheran University-bound senior allowed one earned run on four hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in seven innings.

Olivia Matlock was nearly as impressive, allowing three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and a walk in seven innings.

Portmann led the Titans offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate.

“We decided to challenge ourselves with this year’s schedule and this was the real beginning,” said Olson, who has guided the PWV program into a perennial state-championship contender in the 2B classification. “All of our non-league games but two are with upper classification teams. After seeing how we competed, I like where we are at. … As a team, to get 16 hits in these two games was great to see against this level of competition.”

PWV 100 000 0 — 1 4 0

Bellevue 030 000 0 — 3 4 0

PREP TRACK & FIELD

Ocosta’s Idso, North Beach’s Langston named Athletes of the Week

Ocosta senior William Idso and North Beach senior Skyler Langston were named WIAA Athletes of the Week for their efforts on the track last week.

Below are excerpts from the WIAA website (wiaa.com/subcontent.aspx?SecID=347).

William Idso

Ocosta Track & Field (SR)

In the first meet of the season, Idso won the 100m, 200m and high-jump at a five-school meet. He also anchored the 4x400m relay team to victory. Two days later, at the Icebreaker Invite with 19 participating schools, the senior won the high-jump and placed second in the 100m and 200m. Idso put in a ton of time this off-season preparing for track, along with always being humble and dependable to his team. He is a talented athlete who character and leadership shines even brighter.

Skyler Langston

North Beach Track & Field (SR)

Langston has had a great opening to her senior campaign. She has had top four finishes in the 3200-meter run in her opening league meet of the season and also in the highly competitive Rainier Icebreaker Meet on March 19th. Her most notable accomplishment thus far in the season is that she is currently ranked No. 1 in the 2B District 4 for the 3200-meter run. The senior is a strong student as well, and is a pillar of our school community. She is always working to do and be her best, both on and off the track.