Hoquiam got its first taste of outdoor work on Monday afternoon, taking the muddy field at Gable Park against Centralia for the first time this year in a season-opening non-league softball game.

The visiting Tigers took advantage of a rough Grizzly start, posting 10 runs in the first two innings before finishing the game with a 14-3 win in five innings.

“It started out bad and then it snowballed,” HHS head coach Keith Reynvaan said. “I saw some good things out there. I feel better about a couple of positions out there. However, like I told the kids, we are going to be on a dirt infield after being on blacktop and gym floor and the ball isn’t going to bounce.”

After spending the first couple of weeks inside Hoquiam Square Garden to practice, the Grizzlies got their first true experience on the dirt. They struggled a bit and the Tigers took advantage.

Centralia posted three runs on Hoquiam starter Payton Parshall in the first for a 3-0 lead. Hoquiam got one back in the bottom of the frame on a Kylee Bagwell RBI fielder’s choice and loaded the bases with one out. However, the Grizzlies stranded the bases loaded in what was their best chance to jump ahead of the Tigers.

The visitors sent 12 batters to the plate in the second inning, but only one of the runs were earned. Three errors for the hosts allowed Centralia to move the runners along for runs and knock Parshall out of the circle after 1 1/3 innings of work.

Junior English Hyde, who is working back into her pitching mode after a knee injury, got out of the second and finished the game for Hoquiam. Hyde struck out seven and walked four.

“Payton deserved better; we had four errors in the first two innings,” Reynvaan added. “English threw well. There are so many things we need to work on. In five innings, we let the leadoff runner on and four times, that runner scored. We can’t do that. We didn’t look ready (hitting).”

Down 12-1 in the fourth inning, Hoquiam had its chance to take advantage of a Centralia miscue — a two-out throwing error with the bases loaded to score twice for a 12-3 lead. Overall, Hoquiam stranded eight runners on the day.

The Tigers posted two runs in the top of the fifth and the mercy rule was invoked after five innings.

Today, Hoquiam is scheduled to take on Rochester.

Centralia 370 22 — 14 14 3 Hoquiam 100 20 — 3 6 6

Bailey and Porter; Parshall, Hyde and German.

RBI: Centralia — Smith, Reyna 2, Bailey, Powell, Erb, Leifer, Duffy. Hoquiam — Bagwell.

Winning pitcher — Bailey (one strikeout, four walks). Losing pitcher — Parshall (one strikeout, one walk).