Walleyes blacken Blues, split Legion doubleheader

MOSES LAKE — After a less-than-ideal start to their Thursday doubleheader with the Apple Valley Blues, the Moses Lake Walleyes decided to play their brand of baseball.

The Walleyes struggled in game one of the Junior American Legion twinbill at Larson Field as the Blues plated nine runs in the fourth inning en route to a 13-7 victory. While the Blues did plenty of damage off Moses Lake hurlers Troy Stephens and Drew Martin, belting out 14 hits, the Walleyes' defense committed three crucial errors that led to five unearned runs.

But Moses Lake played much better in the nightcap, a style of play that was more indicative of their previous four games. The Walleyes were also the benefactors of a solid pitching performance from Brock Lybbert, who limited the Blues to three hits and struck out 10 as Moses Lake won 12-1 in six innings.

"Through the year he kind of pitched for us in relief situations," Walleyes coach Ed McNamara said of Lybbert's role during Moses Lake High School's season. "He's got a decent little curve ball but he's been working hard on trying to get the ball down."

Lybbert, who just completed his sophomore year, threw 79 pitches to get the victory.

Dylan Signorelli capped an impressive offensive performance on the day, going 3 for 3 in game two. Troy Stephens and Aaron Morice both finished 2 for 4. The Walleyes enacted the mercy rule with four runs in the sixth, with Kurt Hickman and Josh Martinez delivering RBI singles.

Apple Valley 13,

Moses Lake 7

In game one, the Walleyes grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning, using a one-out double from Tyler Sage and two wild pitches to score.

But Apple Valley responded with two runs in the top of the second off Moses Lake starter Troy Stephens with a single, hit batter and a two-run double to the left-field gap. In the third, the Blues made it 4-1 on a single, a walk and a two-run triple down the right-field line.

The Walleyes regained control in their half of the fourth, answering McNamara's call.

Drew Martin reached on an error and scored on a Signorelli's double. Chris Jackson followed with a single to left to score Signorelli, and Lybbert plated Signorelli with an RBI double to knot the score. Sage's fly to right brought in Lybbert for a 5-4 Moses Lake lead.

But whatever momentum the Walleyes thought they picked up in the bottom of the fourth was quickly and devastatingly erased the Blues' nine-run fifth. Apple Valley scored three times off Stephens to grab the lead, then piled on six more against Martin in relief. The Blues had seven hits in the frame, though five of the runs were unearned due to a pair of Moses Lake errors.

"We just made some mistakes in learning the game and that's what happens — you get taken advantage of," McNamara said. "These kids are good and they shouldn't have that happen to them."

Signorelli was the Walleyes' hitting star, finishing 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two driven in, and Martinez was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

However, Moses Lake missed opportunities to make the game closer, leaving 13 runners stranded, including bases-loaded situations in the sixth and seventh. Apple Valley's three pitchers walked seven and hit two others.

Stephens took the loss, giving up eight earned runs in 41/3 innings. He allowed nine hits and struck out three. Martin gave up five hits and struck out three in 22/3 innings of relief. None the four runs he gave up were earned.

The Walleyes return to action Saturday morning at 9 a.m., hosting a weekend-long tournament at Moses Lake High School.