Walleyes win three of four at Summer Slammer

Moses Lake pitchers come up huge with four complete-game performances

MOSES LAKE — In a busy weekend of Junior American Legion baseball play, the Moses Lake Walleyes made a good showing of themselves as tournament hosts.

The Walleyes hosted the Summer Slammer tournament at Moses Lake High School and the Paul Lauzier Athletic Complex, finishing 3-1 overall for second place in pool A. Moses Lake was kept out of Sunday's championship game after losing its opener to the Pasco Sun Devils, who lost the title game to the Richland Knights.

Moses Lake began the tournament Saturday with a 4-1 loss to Pasco, a loss head coach Ed McNamara blamed on a "comedy of errors." The Walleyes committed five errors in the contest, and all of Pasco's runs were unearned, spoiling a complete game from Blaine Myers, who struck out five. Aaron Morice and Myers each finished 1 for 2 at the plate for Moses Lake.

In game two, the Walleyes atoned for the loss with a dominating 11-3 victory in five innings over Sequim. Kurt Hickman picked up the complete-game win, striking out five. Josh Martinez drove in four runs with a 2 for 3 effort. Troy Stephens and Myers each went 1 for 3. Moses Lake had just one error on defense.

The Walleyes finished up pool play on Sunday with a pair of victories, the first a 6-4 decision against the Prairie Sox of Vancouver, Wash. Stephens struck out six to get the complete-game win. Morice led an offensive explosion, going 3 for 3 with two RBIs. Tyler Sage and Myers each went 2 for 4 and Brock Lybbert finished 3 for 3.

In the tourney's final game, Moses Lake knocked off South Kitsap 7-6. Drew Martin pitched all seven innings and struck out six to earn the win. Myers and Kyle Hickman each went 3 for 3, while Morice went 2 for 3 with a double.

"We had four complete games from our pitchers," McNamara noted. "I was really happy with how the guys pitched."

Myers finished the tournament with seven hits in 12 at-bats, while Morice went 6 for 8.

The Walleyes return to the diamond Thursday for a doubleheader at West Valley-Yakima. They'll return home Friday to host Eastmont in a doubleheader that takes place at Moses Lake High School and begins at 1 p.m.