Softball Game Preview: Columbia River Rapids vs. Hockinson Hawks

The Columbia River Rapids will take on the Hockinson Hawks at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Columbia River is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 11 runs per game this season.

Columbia River had been on a three-game streak of scoring at least ten runs, but Mark Morris put an end to it on Monday. The Rapids lost 7-0 to the Monarchs. The match marked the first time this year in which the Rapids were not able to get on the board.

Meanwhile, it was a Battle of the Birds when Hockinson faced off against Hudson's Bay on Monday. The Hawks put the hurt on the Eagles with a sharp 23-3 victory. The result was nothing new for the Hawks, who have now won four games by ten runs or more so far this season.

Renee Waddle was incredible, going 1-for-3 with 11 stolen bases, four runs, and two RBI. Those 11 stolen bases gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Maggie Ritton, who went 1-for-2 with three runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.

Hockinson was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .391. They are 2-1 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.

Hockinson's win bumped their record up to 5-7. As for Columbia River, they moved to 5-4 with that loss, which also ended their three-game winning streak.

Hockinson's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Columbia River has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 8.8 hits per game. It's a different story for Hockinson, though, as they've been averaging 9.8 hits. Given Columbia River's sizable advantage in that area, the Hawks will need to find a way to close that gap.

Columbia River beat Hockinson 17-12 in their previous meeting two weeks ago. Will the Rapids repeat their success, or do the Hawks have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.