Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@yelmonline.com
Despite enjoying — or maybe enduring — 11 hit-by-pitches, and 10 walks on top of that, Rainier fell to non-conference opponent Raymond-South Bend by a final of 17-14 at Rainier Elementary School on Thursday, May 1.
After giving up a grand slam to Ava Pine in the top of the first, Rainier settled into a back-and-forth affair that included runs from at least one team in all seven innings. In the end, it was the Ravens’ bats that made the final difference, as they tallied 15 total hits and three home runs off Elaina Henry.
Henry pitched a full seven, striking out four and walking none, while giving up 11 earned runs. The Ravens, meanwhile, struggled to find the strike zone all game, and chose to use three different pitchers.
It didn’t matter much. Rainier batters were hit by pitches 11 times and walked another 10.
Ironically, the lack of hittable balls limited Rainier’s chances to score runs in bulk. Top-of-the-order batters Mia Naval, Elaina Henry, Ryleigh Cruse and Keira Anderson combined for just two hits in 12 at-bats.
Much of the trouble for Rainier, however, came from errors in the field — seven of them.
“That’s hard for Elaina (Henry),” Rainier head coach Katie Qualls said after the game. “Like, it’s tough when a routine flyball turns into a triple.”
The Mountaineers were forced to shuffle their positions early in the week after second baseman Ellyana Henry broke her finger against Mossyrock on April 28. Henry is out for the rest of the season.
“So, that being said, you know, we only had a couple of days of practice to even work on that, and then get some more outfield work for the newer kids and stuff,” Qualls said. “So, all in all, I’m pretty impressed with the way they stayed up and how they played.”
And nearly won.
Up 14-13 in the seventh with just one out to go, Rainier surrendered a line-drive single to center field, allowing Maddy San to score from second. In the next at-bat, Emma Glazier hit a two-run home run to put the Ravens up 16-14. They’d add another run before Rainier could retire the side.
Mia Naval started the seventh-inning rally attempt with a one-out double to left field. But a pop out and a ground out left the Mountaineers with no outs to spare.
As of May 5, Raymond South-Bend was ranked fourth in RPI in WIAA Class 2B. Rainier was No. 16.
Layla Hill continued her strong play at the plate and in center field, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and tracking down multiple pop flies. In the five games before facing Napavine on Monday, May 5, Hill batted 9-for-17 with seven RBIs.
Qualls thinks the switch to slapping has boosted Hill’s confidence. Hill said it lets her use her speed.
“They just thought that if I could hit left and I could get on base, like more than I do on right, then it’d work out,” Hill said. “And so we just started practicing left and it did well, and so I just stuck with it."
Even if the ball stays on the ground, Hill said, slapping allows her to be closer to first base.
Qualls said the game against Raymond-South Bend came at a great time, as the Mountaineers prepared to face Napavine in a critical conference game that could affect playoff seeding.
“That’s our biggest focus right now,” Qualls said before the Monday matchup.
“I think we just need to really work as a team like we did today,” Hill said after playing the Ravens. “I remember when we played Adna… we were kind of like a little too serious about it, and I feel like we have more fun when we’re working together and not just, like, more of an individual thing. So, I think we just need to work together and stay positive.”
The Mountaineers ultimately lost to Napavine 11-7 at Rainier Elementary School on Monday, May 5. Rainier battled late into the game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Tigers scored runs in all seven innings.
Elaina Henry took the loss for the Mountaineers, giving up nine runs (seven earned) in five and one-third innings. Ryleigh Cruse entered the circle in the sixth. Hannah Fay earned the win for the Tigers, throwing 136 pitches across seven full innings. Fay allowed seven runs, all of them earned.
Eight Rainier batters recorded hits during the game. The Mountaineers even outhit the Tigers, totaling 13 to Napavine’s 10. Leadoff hitter Mia Naval went 3-for-4 and scored two runs. Gracie Lantz batted in three runs to go with her two hits. Lucy Wolfe went 2-for-3 in the seventh spot.
Rainier (9-6, 4-3 Central 2B League) visited Cascade Christian on Tuesday, May 6, at 4 p.m. Results were not available before press time.
The Mountaineers finish the regular season at home against Winlock on Thursday, May 8, at 4 p.m.
