Basin softball season kicks off in Moses Lake

Lady Chiefs host Royal, Othello and Warden in round-robin jamboree

MOSES LAKE — Basin softball teams took over the Larsen Playfields Friday afternoon.

In an effort to get teams ready for the season, the Lady Chiefs played host to three other teams from the Basin.

Moses Lake's team is adjusting to a new coach and after winning their first two games, the two-inning jamboree setting was a little frustrating for the team as a whole.

"You can see the girls aren't happy right now," said Moses Lake head coach Dave Gregory. "It's tough in two-inning games because you might only get to bat once the whole day and if you don't get on base you went 0-for-1."

Gregory is no stranger to high school softball having coached for 17 seasons prior to this year. He says the real adjustment is going to be for the players.

"It's not my first season at the high school level," said Gregory. "I think it'll be harder for the team to get used to how I coach."

Despite the adjustment Gregory is confident his team will play hard and have some fun this season.

"We're a pretty good team and I am expecting to see the whole team lead," said Gregory. "We don't have any all-league returners, so I'm looking for anyone to step up right now."

Royal, a perennial powerhouse in 1A softball, brought a split squad for Friday's games.

Coach Bill Barker, who is entering his 21st season with the Lady Knights, was quietly optimistic about his team.

"We're a young team," said Barker. "We've only got three starters but I think we are going to be very competitive."

Barker said his team was a little behind their regular training schedule because of the weather this spring.

"We've just had a crumby spring," Barker said. "So, we're about a week, a week and a half behind where I'd like us to be."

Despite the slow start, Barker said he wasn't worried.

"I'm not worried yet," Barker said. "If we're still this far behind halfway through the season, I'll start to worry."

Warden coach Wes Richins said his team was looking good early in the season.

"We're returning most of our players from last year," said Richins. "We should be right in the thick of things."

Richins said the league realignment has toughened Warden's league this year but he was still optimistic about the Lady Cougars' chances to be competitive.

"Ashton Stott is an all-league player that we're returning and Jenn Whitaker, a four-year starter, is coming back for us too," said Richins. "We also have a good crop of young kids that play a lot of summer ball."