Facing a five-run deficit at the first half-inning, the Montesano Bulldogs — propelled by an opportunistic offense and a breakout pitching performance — rallied to earn a 9-8 victory over Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) on Tuesday at Dick Tagman Field in Montesano.

On the heels of an uncharacteristic lackluster start to the season, the Bulldogs (3-4 overall) struggled early on.

Lakeside’s first three hitters belted doubles and an error followed by a two-run single put the Eagles up 5-0 before Montesano recorded an out.

Sophomore pitcher Riley Timmons replaced Monte starter Reghann Fairbairn in the circle and, after allowing a walk, got the next three batters to stop the bleeding.

Montesano, a team that was missing several key starters due to injuries and Spring Break, began to claw back into the game in the bottom of the first.

With two outs and two on, Montesano’s Adda Potts bunted just in front of home plate. The fleet-footed center fielder hustled down the first baseline and enduced an error, scoring Addi Kersker and Timmons, who were aboard on an error and double, respectively.

Two batters later, Potts scored Monte’s third run on an Eagles error off a ground ball by Kylee Fairbairn.

The Eagles scored a run off Timmons in the second, but with a runner on third and one out, the sophomore right-hander found her groove, striking out the next two Eagles batters to retire the side and keep the Monte deficit at 6-3.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano pitcher Riley Timmons allowed just one earned run and two hits in leading the Bulldogs to a 9-8 win over Lakeside (Nine Mile) on Tuesday in Montesano.

With one out and Liv Robinson on third in the Monte half of the second, Kersker singled to cut the Eagles lead to 6-4.

Bulldogs designated player Ali Parkin — who is normally the Montesano starting third baseman but could only hit on Tuesday due to a minor leg injury — followed with a line-drive single to left, scoring Kersker to make it a 6-5 ballgame.

Parkin’s courtesy runner, Alli Mills, later scored on a ground out by Potts to tie the game at 6-6.

Timmons shut down Lakeside over the next two innings, including an efficient five-pitch inning in the top of the fourth to keep the game knotted at six apiece.

Reghann Fairbairn led off the Monte fourth with a single and advanced to second after Kersker reached on another Eagles error. After both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch, Parkin grounded out to score Fairbairn and an Eagles error on the play allowed Kersker to cross home and give Monte an 8-6 lead.

Lakeside finally got to Timmons in the sixth, scoring two runs on a single and sacrifice fly to tie the game at 8-all.

With one out in the seventh, Potts used her speed once again, reaching on a bunt base hit, stealing second and then moving to third on a passed ball.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano outfielder Adda Potts (1) steals second during the Bulldogs 9-8 victory over Lakeside (Nine Mile) on Tuesday in Montesano.

Kylee Wisdom followed with a groundout to first, scoring Potts with the go-ahead run.

Timmons did the rest, striking out the side in the Lakeside seventh in spectacular and efficient fashion. With a 1-1 count to the first Lakeside hitter of the inning, eight of Timmons’ next nine pitches were strikes — with one foul ball — to set down the side and secure the Montesano victory.

“Riley just has to clear her head and go out there, play the game and do what she has been practicing since she was seven years-old,” Montesano head coach Pat Pace said of Timmons. “I think (the victory), hopefully, is a building block for her.”

It was a breakout performance for Timmons, who entered the season with much promise but has had some shaky outings early in the season as she gains experience at the varsity level.

On Tuesday, Timmons showed just how spectacular she can be, allowing one earned run on just two hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

Timmons also got better as the game wore on, retiring the side in order in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings and threw 60 strikes in 94 pitches.

Montesano’s defense, another aspect of the 1A class’ premiere program that has been sub-par this season, committed just one error after the five-run first.

That fact was not lost on Pace, who told his team after the game, “from the third inning on, that’s the team I know we can be.”

“(This win) is something that the defense can get behind as well,” he said. “Our defense has brought our pitchers down a little bit because we are making errors on pretty fundamental plays. That’s been common for us this year and I think it’s just that youth and inexperience. … As soon as we can shake those bugs out we’ll be pretty good by the postseason.”

Potts (2-4, 2R, RBI), Timmons (2-4, 2B, R) and Reghann Fairbairn (2-4, 2B, R) led the Bulldogs at the dish.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Montesano’s Reghann Fairbairn smacks a base hit during the Bulldogs’ 9-8 win over Lakeside (Nine Mile) on Tuesday at Montesano High School.

Montesano was without the services of several players that figure to be featured prominently in the lineup this season, including Madi Campbell, Jordan Karr, Alyssa Maldonado and Paige Lisherness, who has yet to play this season after suffering an ankle injury in the state basketball tournament in March.

Montesano will host Timberline at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 15.

Lakeside 510 002 0 — 8 7 6

Montesano 330 201 0 — 9 11 3

Lakeside — N/Z

Montesano — R. Fairbairn (2-4, 2B, R), Potts (2-4, 2R, RBI), Timmons (2-4, 2B, R), Kersker (1-4, 3R, RBI), Parkin (1-4, 2RBI), K. Fairbairn (1-4), Wintrip (1-4), Robinson (1-2, R). WP — Timmons (7 IP, 3R, ER, 2H, 8K, 4BB).

PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

Gardner shines at Washington-Oregon all-star game

Raymond High School and future Washington State guard Kyra Gardner wowed basketball fans across the state this season and turned heads with her outstanding play at the WIAA State Tournament in March.

On Saturday, Gardner wowed the entire Pacific Northwest.

In a matchup of some of the top high school girls basketball players in Washington and Oregon, Gardner stood out in leading Team Washington to a 126-91 victory over Team Oregon in the WAVOR All-Star Game on Saturday in Hillsboro, Oregon.

The event, formerly known as the Northwest Shootout, made its return after two years off due to COVID and featured multiple NCAA Division I players and college signees.

Gardner — the reigning Gatorade Washington Girls Basketball Player of the Year — led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.

Gardner’s future WSU teammate, Mount Si’s Lauren Glazier, scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and added four assists to earn the game’s MVP honors.

It was the first time Glazier had the opportunity to share the court with Gardner, and the Raymond phenom impressed her soon-to-be roommate in Pullman.

“How high she can jump, and just float?” Glazier told scorebooklive.com regarding Gardner, who is the reigning state 2B high jump champion and currently holds the second highest mark in the state this season. “It just amazes me.”

Team Washington owns a 17-9 record over Team Oregon in the series.

Washington 62 64 — 126

Oregon 49 42 — 91

Scoring

Washington — Kyra Gardner 24, Lauren Glazier 20, Tatum Thompson 17, Camille Jentzsch 14, Libby Stump 13, Veronica Shelley 12, Ella Gallatin 11, Keira Marsh 9, Meagan Karstetter 4.

Oregon — Sage Kramer 20, Reese Erickson 11, Lindsey Wilson 10, Charlotte Richman 9, Elka Prechtel 9, Sarah Lamet 8, Abby Graham 7, Cali Denson 7, Brooklyn Strandy 6, Gracie Arnold 4, Alison Kantor 0.