Columbia High takes a three-game win streak into tomorrow afternoon's Trico Division opener at La Center.
The Friday double-header starts at 3 p.m. However, at deadline, there was still talk of the games being moved to White Salmon because La Center's field may not be in game condition.
"Their field's under water," Bruins Coach Larry McCutcheon said. "We'll decide Friday morning whether we're going there or they're coming here. If I had my druthers, I'd just as soon play 'em here."
In any event, Columbia (4-2) seems to have turned a corner offensively.
Since losing an inter-league double-header to Rochester almost two weeks ago, the Bruins have been finding their groove at the plate.
In their last three games, they have connected for 37 hits; 12 have gone for extra bases.
Moreover, they've struck out just three times in their last 18 innings. (They fanned 19 times in 14 innings against Rochester.)
"We've been working on changing some habits, and it's starting to pay off," McCutcheon said. "We're doing a much better job of making people get us out. It definitely makes a difference."
Columbia's pitchers also are doing a better job of getting opposing hitters out. In its last 18 innings, the staff has allowed nine runs (two earned) and 12 hits.
Only one of those earned runs has been charged Bruins starters Jared McDonald, Daniel Giron and Kyle Reeves, who've yielded five hits, struck out 12 and walked seven as a group.
"Our pitching has been solid," McCutcheon said. "We've gotten leads and we've held them. I can't complain about that."
At Columbia 14, Corbett, Ore. 3:
Kyle Reeves drove in three runs and David Giron had three hits and scored four runs in the Bruins' five-inning non-league victory here Monday.
The Bruins spotted the Cardinals a 3-0 lead after the first half-inning but struck back with four runs of their own in the home half. They never trailed again.
Eleven of Columbia's 14 runs were knocked in by six different players. Daniel Giron (1/3, double) and Jared McDonald (2/3, 2 doubles) each had two runs batted.
Austin Krentz and Greg Tellez also had two hits each for the Bruins, who finished with a season-high 13 hits.
Reeves picked up the win--his first--working three innings of two-hit ball. The right-hander struck out five.
At Columbia 7, Stevenson 2:
Greg Tellez's first career home run triggered a four-run first inning last Friday that propelled the Bruins to the non-league victory over the Bulldogs.
The solo shot to left field came with two out, on a 1-0 delivery from Stevenson left-hander Tyler Nielsen.
Daniel Giron (2/2) followed with a single up the middle and scored on a double by Nick Reeves (2/4). Reeves and McDonald also scored, giving the Bruins a 4-1 lead.
Giron (2-1) got the win, going the first three innings. The lefty allowed one hit and one run (unearned); he struck out three and walked three.
Kyle Reeves and Jared McDonald limited the Bulldogs (1-3) to three hits and one run in relief.
Columbia High 13, at Woodland 5:
Austin Krentz went 3 for 4 with a home run, double and four runs batted in March 21 to lead the Bruins to the non-league win of a game that ended after six innings because of darkness.
Daniel Giron also had three hits for CHS--which outhit Woodland 12-4--and knocked in two runs.
Greg Tellez and Jared McDonald contributed two hits each, and Taylor Champion slugged a run-scoring triple.
Rees Stevenson scored a team-high four runs, reaching base in each of his four at-bats; he walked three times and was hit by a pitch.
McDonald earned his first victory over the season, limiting Woodland to two hits and three runs (none earned) in four innings.
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