Montesano outfielder Aaron Lano had another multi-hit game, going 3-for-5 and driving in four runs to lead the Bulldogs to a 15-3 victory over the Aberdeen Bobcats on March 14 at Ken Waite Field in Aberdeen.

“Lano has been really good at the start of this year,” Montesano head coach Mike Osgood said. “He’s done really good things for us from the leadoff spot.”

Lano is 8-for-13 (.615) with five runs scored, four doubles and eight RBIs this season.

“He gets on base, knows the strike zone and is patient. He gets good pitches to hit and once he gets on base, he’s dangerous,” Osgood said on the keys to Lano’s hot start to the 2019 campaign. “He’s just having fun right now and just doing really well. … He’s accepted (the leadoff) spot and has been a really good teammate and player for us so far this season.”

Montesano right fielder Aaron Lano smacks a run-scoring single in the fifth inning against Aberdeen on Thursday. Lano drove in four runs in the game. (Ryan Sparks | Grays Harbor News Group)

Monte took an 1-0 lead in the first inning off an Evan Bates single that scored Parker Plato, who reached with a one-out double.

Aberdeen looked to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning when Eli Brown led off with a double to right field. Brown later advanced to third on a wild pitch from Monte starter Cyrus Parsons but was stranded there as Parsons retired the next three Bobcat batters.

That was as close as Aberdeen would get as the Bulldogs scored three in the second inning on an error and run-scoring singles from Lano, Plato and Teegan Zillyett to take a 4-0 lead.

Lano and Plato were at it again in the third inning, each driving in runs with singles and extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 8-0.

The Bobcats got on the board when the Bulldogs’ defense faltered. Brown walked with one out and advanced to second when Bobcats senior Christian Fraley reached on an error. Tye Williamson’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, and Brown scored on Monte’s second error of the inning.

Aberdeen junior Anthony Alexander then singled to score Fraley and cut the deficit to 8-2.

But Monte’s offense never let off the gas pedal, scoring four more times in the fourth inning, highlighted by Lano’s line-drive double to left field.

Montesano starting pitcher Cyrus Parsons makes a pitch during the third inning of the Bulldogs’ 15-3 victory over Aberdeen on Thursday at Pioneer Park. (Ryan Sparks | Grays Harbor News Group)

Facing a mercy-rule defeat, Aberdeen battled back to scratch across a run from sophomore Dylan Cribbs to make it a 12-3 ballgame.

But Aberdeen’s reprieve was short-lived as Monte scored three more runs in the top of the fifth inning, capped by Jack Anderson’s RBI single that scored Braden Dohrmann for Montesano’s 15th run of the game.

Anderson pitched a scoreless fifth in relief, striking out a pair of Bobcats while allowing one hit to secure Monte’s victory.

Osgood stated that while his team’s defense needs to improve, he believes they are right where they need to be this early in the season.

“I think we’re kind of right where we thought we’d be,” Osgood said. “We pretty much know who we are. … We just kind of expect to be a scrappy team that puts the ball in play and puts pressure on teams.”

Montesano 134 43 — 15 17 3

Aberdeen 002 10 — 3 6 1

WP — Parsons (3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 K, 2 BB); LP — Kobie Fall (2.2 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, K, 2 BB)

Top Players: Montesano — Lano (3-5, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI), Parsons (3-4, 3 R), Plato (2-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI), Carter Olson (1-2, 3 R), Anderson (2-2, 2 RBI). Aberdeen — Alexander (1-2, RBI), Cribbs (1-2, R), Brown (1-2, R).

Napavine 5, Elma 4

Elma fell victim to a late-inning rally as Napavine handed the Eagles a 5-4 loss Monday in Elma.

A clutch pinch hit from Napavine’s Jacob Crips and an error helped the Tigers put together the late-game rally that decided the contest.

Elma showed some fight in the bottom of the seventh down 5-2. Brody Rustemeyer came up with an RBI ground out that allowed Brady Shriver to score, which was followed by an RBI single from Carter Jacobson.

However, the comeback would fall short as a AJ Whipple grounded out and left Justin Elliot stranded on second to end the game.

Elma will be back on the field for another home game at 4:30 p.m. on today against Klahowya.

Napavine 000 010 4 – 5 7 2

Elma 002 000 2 – 4 6 6

Top Players: Elma –Tysen Richardson (2-4, RBI), Carter Jacobson (2 H, BB, RBI) ; Napavine – Crisp (2 RBI)