Softball Recap: Chiawana Finds Playoff Glory Versus Mead

Riverhawks

Margin (Wins)

04/08/25 vs Pasco	17
03/25/25 @ Walla Walla	14
04/15/25 @ Pasco	13
04/01/25 vs Walla Walla	12
04/18/25 vs Hermiston	11

Two teams were on the hunt for playoff glory, but only Chiawana walked away with it. They put the hurt on the Mead Panthers with a sharp 11-5 win on Tuesday. The result was nothing new for the Riverhawks, who have now won 11 games by six runs or more so far this season.

Gabriella Garza spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and three unearned) runs on nine hits and racked up six Ks.

At the plate, Chase Wirt was a standout: she went 4-for-5 with three runs, one double, and one RBI. Those four hits gave her a new career-high. Amelia Smith was another key player, going a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs and one RBI.

Chiawana was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .444. They are a perfect 11-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.

Chiawana pushed their record up to 14-6 with the victory, which was their fourth straight on the road. The road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.8 runs on average over those games. As for Mead, their defeat dropped their record down to 16-4.

Chiawana and Mead are set to take part in some playoff action in their next matches. The Riverhawks will head out on the road to square off against Hanford on Friday. The Falcons will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each match than the last. As for Mead, they will challenge Lewis & Clark at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. The Panthers' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Tigers have averaged an impressive 8.3 runs per game this season.