Walleyes whack the opposition, win Hermiston Heat tournament

HERMISTON, Ore. — The Moses Lake Walleyes continued their summer of superb baseball last weekend, winning the Hermiston Heat wood bat tournament with a 5-0 record.

The Walleyes, who improved their overall record in Junior American Legion play to 22-10, dominated their opponents with pitching in the five games. Moses Lake surrendered just seven runs in the tournament and received four complete-game performances from its staff.

Moses Lake downed Pasco in the championship game 3-2 behind Drew Martin's complete-game seven-hitter. Martin struck out six, walked none, and shut out Pasco over the final six innings.

Trailing 2-0 in the sixth, the Walleyes scratched out three runs. Matt Harris singled and Brock Lybbert doubled with one out. The next hitter, Aaron Morice, lofted a fly ball into short left field that fell between two defenders, allowing Harris and Lybbert to scamper home and knot the score.

With two outs, Blaine Myers delivered a single and scored Morice with the game-winning run. Myers was named the championship game's Most Valuable Player and finished the tournament with eight hits in 16 at-bats.

The Walleyes earned a title game berth with a 7-2 victory against Umatilla, Ore. Morice finished 2 for 2 at the plate, with Alex Moncada and Dylan Signorelli chipping in doubles. Kurt Hickman got the win, giving up two hits in 4 1/3 innings with five strikeouts. Moncada finished up with a strong relief effort, fanning four in 2 2/3 innings.

Moses Lake opened the tournament with a pair of blowout victories, beating the Richland Raptors 7-0 and Mountain View, Ore. 12-2.

Against Richland, Troy Stephens led the way with a complete-game four-hitter. Stephens struck out seven. Lybbert finished 4 for 4 with a run batted in, while Myers was 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

Lybbert's complete-game five-hitter gave the Walleyes more than enough against Mountain View. Lybbert also struck out seven in his victory. Stephens was 3 for 4 at the plate with two RBIs. Morice drove in three runs on three hits, with Myers and Signorelli each adding two hits and two RBIs.

The Walleyes stayed undefeated with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph against the hosts from Hermiston. Myers tossed a complete game, scattering three hits and striking out seven. Lybbert was 1 for 2 with an RBI and Jacob Lacelle added a double.

Lybbert finished the tournament with seven hits in 13 at-bats, while Morice was 7 for 15.

Moses Lake returns home on Tuesday afternoon, facing Richland in a doubleheader at Larson Field. Game one's first pitch is at 5:30 p.m.