The Hoquiam Grizzlies are taking a road trip to take on the Montesano Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. Hoquiam has given up an average of 12.8 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Hoquiam lost 17-4 to Elma on Monday. The Grizzlies have struggled against the Eagles recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive lost meeting.
Meanwhile, Montesano waltzed into their contest on Friday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They put the hurt on the Spartans with a sharp 10-1 victory. The result was nothing new for the Bulldogs, who have now won eight matches by seven runs or more so far this season.
Grace Gooding was a major factor no matter where she played. She struck out nine batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits (and not a single walk). She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
In other pitching news, Violet Prince looked comfortable as she pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
Back at the plate, the team relied heavily on Addison Kersker, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBI. Those two RBI gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jaelyn Butterfield, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Montesano kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in 11 consecutive games.
Montesano's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 11-4-1. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.7 runs over those games. As for Hoquiam, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-9-1.
Hoquiam might still be hurting after the 13-0 loss they got from Montesano in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can the Grizzlies avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
