Little League 11-12s: Montesano Defeats Chehalis 8-4, Rematch on Saturday

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    MONTESANO — The bad news was that the Chehalis 11-12-year-old Little League All-Stars lost to Montesano, 8-4, in the District 3 Tournament title game on Thursday in a chance to clinch a state berth. The good news is they get a another crack at Monte on Saturday since the tournament is played under a double-elimination format, and it was the first loss for the Mint City kids.

    "Drive was the biggest thing," Chehalis manager Eric Lopez said. "Montesano brought the drive."

    Chehalis got to the title game by defeating Centralia 7-1 in the winner's bracket on Tuesday, while Montesano got to the title game by defeating the same Hub City team 10-0 in a loser-out contest on Wednesday.

    The Mint City boys used two singles and a walk along with some Montesano miscues to score 2 runs in the bottom of the first, but Montesano would answer back in the next frame with a 2-run homer. Chehalis would score 2 more unearned runs in the bottom of the second but would muster just one hit after that.

    "Our hitting wasn't as sharp and then we had one bad inning defensively where we threw around the ball," Lopez said. "That was uncommon for us."



    That bad inning was the top of the third, when a walk, two singles and another walk turned into a 4-run rally for Montesano, including 3 runs on one play, helped along by a few errors.

    It spoiled an otherwise solid start for Chehalis' Leandre Gaines, who struck out six in three innings of work. Josiah Johnson came in and struck out four in the next two innings.

    Montesano added 2 more insurance runs in the top of the sixth and Chehalis couldn't rally in the bottom of the frame.

    Carver Brennan, Drew Reynolds, Garrett VonMoos and Bryce Cline each had a hit for Chehalis.

    The rematch between these two squads will take place Saturday at 4 p.m., back on Montesano's Nelson Field.