Patient at-bats and timely hitting in the middle innings gave Elma a win in the season opener as the Eagles beat North Mason 9-4 Monday on the road.
The Eagles scored eight of their nine runs in the fourth and fifth innings with three in the fourth and five in the fifth.
The Eagles also showed patience at the plate earning five walks off of starter Troy McCormick, who left the game in the fourth inning.
Brady Shriver was a big part of Elma’s offense with three hits, including a double.
“We got off to a good start and North Mason played some good defense on us after that,” Elma head coach Jim Hill said. “We got rolling in the fourth and fifth we couldn’t score late, but a couple of nice big innings is always good.”
Elma also benefited from a solid pitching performance from Cobey Moore, who surrendered only two hits in four innings of work.
Hill also cited shortstop Brody Rustemeyer and catcher Carter Jacobson for helping out the pitching staff with strong defensive play.
Elma 100 350 0 – 9 11 0
North Mason 100 12 – 4 5 1
Top Hitters: Elma – Shriver (3H, 2B), Raiden Aho (2H), Justin Elliot (2H, 2B), Noah Huttula (2B)
Winning pitcher: Moore, (4 IP BB, HBP, 2H)
Losing pitcher :Troy McCormick (4 IP, 5h 5k 5 bb)
Montesano 8, Rochester 2
Payson Parker changed the momentum with one swing of the bat as his solo homer kicked off a scoring eruption in Montesano’s season-opening 8-2 win Monday at Rochester.
Parker’s home run was the first run of a six-run rally in the fifth inning that allowed the Bulldogs to put the game out of reach.
Monte also benefited from solid performances on the mound from starter Ben Wills and reliever Trace Ridgway.
Montesano head coach Mike Osgood said he was proud of the way everyone contributed to the victory in despite the wet conditions.
“Pitching was the difference for us. It kept us in the game early, and once we scored those runs, (our pitchers) minimized opportunities,” he said. “With the weather and field conditions, it got a little sloppy, and we had a few errors and mental mistakes. But, everybody contributed to the win, and we got back to playing our brand of baseball, which I was very pleased with.”
Rochester 000 002 0 – 2 4 2
Monte 000 260 0 – 8 7 2
WP — Ben Wills (4 IP, 5 BB, 6 K, H); LP — Nolan Eyles (1 IP, 3 BB, K, 2H, HR)
Top Players: Montesano – Parker (HR), Teegan Zillyet (2-2, 2 BB), Aaron Lano (2-4); Rochester – Tyler Soderback (2-R HR).
To reach Ryan Sparks send an email to rsparks@pugetsoundpublishing.com or call 360-537-3933.
Aberdeen’s Logan Glanz slides safely into second base in the second inning against River Ridge. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group) Aberdeen’s Logan Glanz slides safely into second base in the second inning against River Ridge. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)
Aberdeen’s Kacie Powell delivers a pitch in the second inning against against River Ridge. Powell struck out seven batter sin 2.1 innings of work. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group) Aberdeen’s Kacie Powell delivers a pitch in the second inning against River Ridge. Each of Powell’s seven recorded out came via strikeout. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)
