Split good enough for Moses Lake softball
Prep softball recaps
MOSES LAKE - With three returning all-league players on the diamond this spring, it might be easy to think the Moses Lake Chiefs softball team has some high expectations.
Sure, the Chiefs are excited about the possibilities, but their expectations are tempered by the fact that fellow Columbia Basin League 4A contenders Pasco, Richland and Walla Walla also have their best players back.
So when Moses Lake walked away with a doubleheader split against Richland on Friday afternoon, there wasn't much grumbling in the Chiefs' dugout.
"Richland's a state contender every year, so I felt pretty fortunate," Moses Lake coach Dave Gregory said. "We haven't beat Richland a whole lot."
The credit for Moses Lake's 2-1 win in the opener could largely go to a pair of seniors - pitcher Shayla May and third baseman Chelsea Allsbrook.
Allsbrook accounted for both runs. She led off the second inning by smoking a double to the right-field gap and scored on a pop fly, then homered over the left-field fence in the fourth.
"That was a career day for her," Gregory said of Allsbrook.
Meanwhile, May worked out of numerous jams to keep the Bombers in check. The only run Richland managed came in the fifth after two singles, an error and a fielder's choice grounder started the inning.
The Bombers had the tying run in scoring position in the sixth and seventh, but May stranded the runners on both occasions. In the seventh, the tying run reached third with one out before May coaxed a strikeout and a fly ball to right.
May went the distance, scattering seven hits while striking out seven and walking one.
The senior, who is also a star volleyball player for the Chiefs, hadn't pitched in nearly three years but showed some interest last summer. She focused on pitching after the volleyball season ended and now figures to be a solid addition to the Chiefs' rotation, especially since returning starter Vanessa Hernandez is out with an injury at the moment.
"Her dad knows a lot about the game and she just worked really hard in the offseason," Gregory noted. "We just need her to have a little more endurance. She keeps the ball low and has a good drop."
Richland rebounded to win the nightcap 4-0, holding the Chiefs to five hits. Returning all-league catcher Shelby Gonzales was 2 for 3 in the loss.
Sammy Smith, a returning all-league first baseman, will also see plenty of time at pitcher. Alexis Ballinger is a capable first baseman or designated hitter for the Chiefs, with the ability to provide power and run production on offense.
Allsbrook starts at third, with May at shortstop on most occasions. Katie Graham and Smith will split the duties at second, and Rubio Marino fills in at short when May is throwing.
"She's just a sophomore, but she's got a great glove," Gregory said of Marino. "The pressure of going from junior varsity to varsity is just a big jump, so she just needs more time."
The outfield is Moses Lake's youngest area, with freshman Kylie Martinez in left and sophomore Lacey Padilla replacing her cousin, Kelsey Padilla, in center. However, returning all-CBL player Shawnee Durbin anchors the group in right.
"We're really deep," Gregory said. "It's just going to be hard for me to find playing time for them."
Moses Lake hosts Walla Walla on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Royal 20-7, Kiona-Benton 0-11
BENTON CITY - In Saturday's South Central Athletic Conference opener, the Lady Knights ripped the Bears in game one by collecting nine hits and capitalizing on four errors.
Katrina Werlinger and Stephanie Bartlett shut out the Bears in the five-inning win, limiting Ki-Be to five hits. Werlinger got the win by pitching the first three innings, and Royal played error-free defense behind both pitchers.
Dani Callahan went 3 for 4 to lead Royal's offensive attack. Leslie Brown and Werlinger each had two hits, and Bartlett added a triple.
In game two, the Bears rallied to earn a split by taking advantage of five Royal errors.
Brown started, went four innings and took the loss before Werlinger relieved her for the final three frames. Werlinger was 2 for 3 and Olivia Cera was 2 for 4 with a triple for Royal, which totaled nine hits.
Royal returns home on Friday at 3 p.m., hosting the River View Panthers in a league doubleheader.
Warden 0-2, Connell 2-0
WARDEN - The Lady Cougars split their SCAC doubleheader with the Eagles. No details were reported.
Warden travels to Columbia-Burbank on Thursday for a 3:30 p.m. twinbill with the Coyotes.
East Valley 4-10, Ephrata 0-0
YAKIMA - The Lady Tigers couldn't get a single run off East Valley star pitcher Renee Cullier, who blanked Ephrata in both games by striking out 24 while allowing just five hits.
The Red Devils scored one run in each of the first three frames to win the opener. Ephrata's Sarah McMartin took the loss after giving up nine hits. East Valley's Ashlynn Valicoff was 3 for 4 with two runs scored, and teammate Hollie Thierolf was 2 for 2 with a run scored.
In the nightcap, the Red Devils enacted the mercy rule after five innings by scoring three times in the first and six times in the second against McMartin. Cullier struck out nine and Thierolf was 2 for 2 with two runs batted in for East Valley.
Ephrata hosts Prosser in a Central Washington Athletic Conference doubleheader this Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.