Aberdeen’s boys soccer team got its season underway, and Montesano and Castle Rock softball programs met for the first time since the 2019 state-championship game in Tuesday’s prep sports events.
BOYS SOCCER
WF West 3, Aberdeen 1
A scoreless tie at the half quickly turned into the Bobcats playing catch-up in a season-opening loss to WF West in Chehalis.
Playing what Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming said was a “physical opponent on a tough grass surface,” the Bobcats defense held firm under a Bearcat offensive onslaught for the first 30 minutes of the game, keeping the score tied at 0-0.
Once the Bobcats got their legs under them, Aberdeen started winning possession and played much more evenly with WF West to keep the game scoreless heading into halftime.
But Aberdeen’s fortunes soured early in the second half. WF West came out aggressive and scored two quick goals within the first five minutes of play to put Aberdeen in a 2-0 deficit.
The Bearcats extended their lead to 3-0 with a goal in the 56th minute.
Aberdeen responded in the 65th minute, when junior forward Miguel Martinez scored off an assist from junior midfielder Logan Sias to cut the WF West lead to 3-1.
Martinez nearly made it a one-goal game five minutes later when his shot hit the crossbar.
Aberdeen kept the offensive pressure up the rest of the way, but failed to score and eventually fell, 3-1.
Aberdeen’s Carlos Campos (11) plays the ball against WF West on Tuesday in Chehalis. (Eric Trent | The Chronicle)
“We struggled with our communication and aggressiveness early, but I’m proud of the way the boys battled when down 3-0,” Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming said. “And playing a very physical opponent they just got themselves back in the game. That kind of mental fortitude will help us later on.”
Fleming noted the play of AJ Sanchez, Sias and Martinez for having quality games.
The Bobcats JV team defeated WF West JV, 5-2, on goals by Hugo Garcia (2), Daniel Guzman, Ruben Oropeza and Isaiah Johnson.
Aberdeen 0 1 — 0
WF West 0 3 — 3
Montesano infielder Cassadie Golding, right, attempts to turn a double play after recording the put out of Castle Rock’s Gracie Kimball during the Bulldogs 14-11 win on Tuesday at Montesano High School. (Ryan Sparks | The Daily World)
SOFTBALL
Montesano 14, Castle Rock 11
The last time Montesano and Castle Rock met on a softball field it was for the 2019 1A State Championship.
That seems like an eternity ago.
After the pandemic canceled the 2020 season, Tuesday’s meeting between the two powerhouse 1A programs had vastly different stakes — and rosters — compared to Monte’s 5-4 win back on May 25, 2019, that earned the school its 10th softball championship.
In what turned out to be a high-scoring slugfest, Montesano out-dueled Castle Rock to pick up the victory at Montesano High School.
Monte (3-0) trailed for the first three innings after giving up three runs in the top half of the Castle Rock first.
With the Rockets (0-1) leading 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bulldog offense got scorching hot. After Cassadie Golding tied the game on an RBI fielder’s choice, Grace Geer gave Monte the lead after blasting an RBI double that one-hopped the fence.
Then the floodgates opened as Monte scored a total of nine runs in the inning to take a 12-4 lead heading into the fifth.
Castle Rock clawed back in the game with five runs in the fifth off Montesano pitcher Reaghann Fairbaim, but the Bulldogs scratched across runs in the fifth and sixth innings and held a potent Rockets offense at bay to earn the win.
Monte’s offense hammered 12 hits that included five extra-base hits. Maddi Campbell tripled for Monte and had an RBI. Monte third baseman Jessica Stanfield doubled twice while Paige Lisherness and Riley Timmons each drove in two runs for the Bulldogs.
Montesano senior Jessica Stanfield heads for third base during the Bulldogs 14-11 win on Tuesday at Montesano High School. (Ryan Sparks | The Daily World)
Fairbaim got the win, allowing nine hits and a walk while striking out three.
Castle Rock’s Katay Montgomery took the loss, allowing 10 hits and two walks.
The Rockets totalled 18 hits in the ball game, with Raychel Squibb belting a home run, a double and driving in three runs to lead Castle Rock.
Castle Rock 301 005 2 — 11 18 5
Montesano 111 911 x — 14 12 3
Elma 10, Hoquiam 9
Eagle freshman Aaleigha Weld’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh drove home the winning run as Elma defeated Hoquiam in the first game of a double header in Elma.
Elma (1-0) was led by Brooklyne Swarts (3-3, 2B) and Emmie Spencer (3-3).
Gracie Spradline (3-4, 2B, 3B) led Hoquiam’s offensive effort.
Weld earned the win while Hoquiam pitcher Tauni Hillard suffered the loss.
Elma 10, Hoquiam 10 (game suspended)
In the second game of a doubleheader, Elma and Hoquiam were tied at 10-10 in the seventh inning but were unable to continue the game due to darkness.
The game will be resumed when the two teams meet again on Friday in Hoquiam.
Ocosta 10, Raymond 0
Ocosta’s Anika Hollingsworth struck out 14 and allowed no hits as the Wildcats defeated Raymond in five innings in Westport.
Ocosta (4-0) scored four runs in the first on doubles by Jessie Gilbert, Ryann Raffelson and an RBI single by Miki Ness.
The Wildcats added three more in the second on a Hollingsworth double and a fielder’s choice by Gilbert.
A two-run error in the bottom of the fourth followed by a bases-loaded walk extended Ocosta’s advantage to 10-0.
The Wildcats had nine hits in the game, with Hollingsworth (2-2, 3 R, 2B, RBI), and Zaida Morales (2-2) having multi-hit games.
Gilbert went 1-for-4 with a double and four RBI for Ocosta.
Hollingsworth threw 84 pitches, 59 for strikes and walked two batters in her five innings of work to pick up the victory.
Raymond 000 00 — 0 0 2
Ocosta 430 3x — 10 9 2
