Baseball Game Preview: Rainier Columbians vs. Horizon Christian Hawks

Rainier is 0-7 against Horizon Christian since May of 2018 but things could change on Friday. The Columbians will host the Hawks at 4:00 p.m. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Rainier is headed into the contest having just posted their closest victory since April 17, 2024 on Wednesday. They skirted past Neah-Kah-Nie 9-8. The Columbians haven't had any issues with the Pirates recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.

James Watkins looked comfortable as he tossed 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Rainier let Angel Becerra and Easton Marsh run wild. Becerra went 3-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base, while Marsh got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base and two RBI. That's the most runs Becerra has posted since back in May of 2024. Another player making a difference was Q Jackson, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run.

Rainier was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .419. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Horizon Christian, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Saturday. They put the hurt on Valley Catholic with a sharp 10-3 victory on Wednesday. The high-scoring effort was just what the Hawks needed considering they were shut out in their previous game.

Horizon Christian's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-5. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.7 runs over those games. As for Rainier, their win bumped their record up to 4-12.

Rainier suffered a grim 10-0 defeat to Horizon Christian in their previous matchup back in April. Will the Columbians have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.