Senior night sweep
Pam Robel/Columbia Basin HeraldCurrin Redal sprints for first in the Chiefs' first game against Kamiakin Friday.
Chiefs bumped out of playoff contention by Kamiakin
MOSES LAKE — Nine seniors made their last appearances as Chiefs Friday against Kamiakin in the Braves' sweep of Moses Lake.
The Chiefs battled in both games, holding off Kamiakin for four innings in the first game and going into extra innings in the second.
"We had to win both games to have a shot at the playoffs," said Moses Lake head coach Ed McNamara. "I think we just ran out of gas."
Currin Redal pitched a complete second game striking out nine batters in nine innings.
Both teams went two full innings without scoring a run and earning just one hit a piece before Kamiakin made it 1-0 in the top of the third on a single and skidded past second.
In the top of the fourth the Braves scored three more runs to make it 4-0.
Second in the batting order Josh Munoz was walked in the bottom of the fourth and brought in on a long ball that saw Zane Bator tagged out at third.
Moses Lake inched a run closer in the bottom of the next inning after holding Kamiakin scoreless in the top of the fifth.
Chase Hunter was walked and advanced on an infield single by Tyler Fredrickson before crossing the plate on a line single by Pablo Correa.
Adrian Villa earned a line single to center in the bottom of the sixth and rounded third on a line double by Derik LeFave. Daniel Collins signaled Villa in on a wild pitch by Kamiakin and advanced LeFave to third before being tagged out at first.
Hunter gave Moses Lake the game tying run with a single down the third base line to bring in LeFave.
Both teams battled with the tie until the ninth.
In the top of the inning, Kamiakin went up 8-4. Correa had the only answering hit for Moses Lake with an infield single but it was not enough to jump start the Chiefs for a win.
Moses Lake ended the second game with four runs on nine hits and five errors.
"Currin (Redal) pitched a great game," McNamara said. "We had timely hits and battled back."
In the first game, senior Villa started on the mound for Moses Lake, pitching through four innings and striking out four batters.
Moses Lake scored first, striking in the bottom of the first, and earning the run on a wild pitch from Kamiakin. Correa set up the run with a bunt single and was replaced by courtesy runner Collins.
Collins was advanced on a line single from Munoz and rounded third on a looping single to left by Bator. Collins crossed the plate during LeFave's at bat to make it 1-0.
Neither team would score again until the fourth inning when Kamiakin brought in two runs to take over the lead. The Braves earned two more in the top of the fifth and again in the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Bator put a barrel on a pitch and earned a double down the third base line for Moses Lake. Bator was brought home on a line out ball for the second out of the inning.
In the same inning, LeFave crossed the dish, after being walked through his at bat, during Tyler Sage's at bat. Sage struck out but LeFave was able to earn the run to cut in the Kamiakin lead to 6-3.
The Braves earned six runs in the top of the seventh to cement their lead.
Moses Lake scored two runs in the bottom of the inning. Redal was walked in the lead off position and rounded second on a wild pitch to Correa.
Munoz hit a line single to left to get on base and advance Redal before Bator hit a single to center that brought Redal home.
Villa lined up for his at bat and hit a line single of his own to drive Munoz home for the final score of the game for the Chiefs.
Moses Lake ended the first game with five runs on 11 hits and five errors.
"I have enjoyed coaching these guys," said McNamara. "They have all played above their potential and been right in there all season."
Moses Lake's seniors are: Redal, Correa, Munoz, Bator, Bryan Sanchez, LeFave, Villa, Collins and Frederickson.
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