Samantha Stanfield supplied the arm and Annie Cristelli the power in another league championship performance for Montesano’s girls.

Stanfield pitched a three-hitter and Cristelli slugged a two-run home run as the Bulldogs edged Elma, 3-1, in an Evergreen 1A League softball showdown on May 3 at Montesano’s field.

Taking what amounted to a winner-take-all showdown between league co-leaders had more than the customary benefit for the Bulldogs (13-2 overall), who completed Evergreen 1A League play at 7-1. It will put them in the opposite half of the bracket from reigning state champion La Center at district. Contrary to rumors that District IV would be allotted only two state berths this year, three state slots will be on the line at district.

Elma fell to 5-2 and 7-2 with one league game remaining.

Coming off a three-inning perfect game against Tenino earlier in the week, Stanfield began with four hitless innings on Wednesday. The junior right-hander struck out 10 while walking only one and hitting a batter.

Bulldog coach Pat Pace said Stanfield’s rise ball was particularly effective.

“They were swinging at a lot of high pitches,” Pace noted. “When her rise ball is working, it’s really deceiving.”

Stanfield was backed by errorless defense. Center fielder Cheyann Bartlett threw out Chloe Velasco at second attempting to stretch a long single (Elma’s first hit) in the fifth inning. Pace also commended the defensive play of shortstop Katie Granstrom.

“I thought (defense) was the key,” the Monte coach said.

Cristelli’s HR was also pretty big.

After Allyssa Gustafson opened the Montesano fourth with her second double of the contest, Cristelli sent a drive over the low fence in center field to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 advantage.

Montesano had taken advantage of one of the few defensive miscues in a well-played game to open the scoring in the first.

Miscommunication in left-center enabled Lindsay Pace’s one-out fly to drop for a single. Pace scored all the way from first on Gustafson’s two-out double to right-center.

Otherwise, Elma freshman pitcher Quin Mikel changed speeds nicely to keep the Bulldogs off-balance. She finished with a six-hitter and did not allow a walk.

Molly Johnston spoiled Stanfield’s shutout in the sixth inning when her drive hit the top of the fence in left-center and bounced over for a solo homer.

The Eagles brought the potential tying run to the plate in the seventh when Kali Rambo spanked a one-out single to left field. But Stanfield retired the final two batters on an infield fly and a grounder to second baseman Morgan Kersker.

“We did all right,” Elma coach Roger Elliott said. “We’ve got to get our bats going (but) that’s the toughest pitcher they’ll see this year. I’m happy, they played well.”

Elma infielder-pitcher Destry Dineen missed the contest due to a knee injury of as-yet undetermined severity.

This was the first time in this ultra-wet spring that Montesano played a varsity game on its high school field (the Bulldogs had staged previous home games on the turf at Rottle Field). Some portions of the field remained soggy, but the game was contested in mid-70s temperatures.

Elma 000 001 0 — 1 3 0 Monte 100 200 x — 3 6 0

Mikel and Elliott; Stanfield and Poler.

RBI: Elma — Johnston. Montesano — Cristelli 2, Gustafson. Two hits: Montesano — Pace, Gustafson. Home runs: Elma — Johnston. Montesano — Cristelli. Doubles: Montesano — Gustafson 2, Pace.

Winning pitcher — Stanfield (walked one; struck out 10). Losing pitcher — Mikel (walked none; struck out two).