Rainier extended their losing streak to three on Monday, dropping them down to 1-3. They were a single run away from ending the streak, but they lost a 7-6 heartbreaker at the hands of the Mossyrock Vikings. The Mountaineers were given a dose of their own medicine in this game as the Vikings apparently hadn't forgotten their defeat the last time these teams played back in April of 2025.
Ryleigh Cruse put in work while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over nine innings while giving up just one earned (and six unearned) runs off seven hits. Cruse was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
In other batting news, Gracie Lantz and Layla Hill stepped up to the plate in a big way. Lantz went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI, while Hill went 3-for-5 with three runs and one stolen base.
As for Mossyrock, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 3-4. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.0 runs over those games.
Like Rainier, Mossyrock also got a great game from a two-way player: Zoella Zavodsky. She struck out 17 batters over ten innings while giving up four earned (and two unearned) runs off eight hits. With that strong performance, Zavodsky is now averaging an impressive 6.8 strikeouts per game. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, one run, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Brooke Schwartz, who went 4-for-5 with three stolen bases, two runs, and two doubles. Kaylee Parker was another key player, getting on base in three of her five plate appearances with one stolen base.
Looking ahead, Rainier will look to defend their home field on Tuesday against Toutle Lake at 4:00 p.m. The Mountaineers' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Ducks have averaged an impressive 14.3 runs per game this season. As for Mossyrock, they will take on Onalaska at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The Loggers have struggled to contain batters this season (they've allowed 8.6 runs per game on average), something the Vikings will no doubt try to take advantage of.
