Chiefs sweep Vikings

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chiefs baseball team kicked off their 2009 season Tuesday afternoon with a pair of victories over the visiting Coeur d’Alene Vikings at Larson Playfield.

Moses Lake rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the third inning to knock off the Vikings 11-10 in game one before holding on to an early 3-1 lead to win game two 4-3.

The Chiefs took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning of game one, but the Vikings rallied to take a 4-1 heading into the home-half of the third.

After the first two batters reached base for the Chiefs, Moses Lake’s Dylan Signorelli stepped up to the plate.

With two runners, Signorelli ripped a double into the left-center field gap to knock in two runs for the Chiefs and Moses Lake pulled within a score of the Vikings at 4-3.

Moses Lake head coach Ed McNamara said Signorelli had a solid day at the plate for the Chiefs.

“Dylan is a good hitter and a good hit-and-run hitter,” McNamara said. “I put a hit-and-run on and he got a hold of one.”

After Signorelli helped the Chiefs pull within a run of the Vikings, senior catcher Matt Harris came two the plate with a pair of Chiefs on the base paths.

With his team trailing by a run in the third, McNamara put on a suicide squeeze play with Harris at the plate.

As the Coeur d’Alene pitcher made his delivery to the plate with the pitch, Harris squared to bunt.

Harris put the ball in play, scoring a pair of Chiefs, and he beat out the throw to first base to put another runner on base.

McNamara said he had confidence in Harris’ ability to come through in the clutch.

“That bunt was great,” McNamara said. “We executed some things (Tuesday). (Harris’) bunt put us back in the lead. That was a big deal.”

After the Chiefs took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the third inning, Moses Lake held late on for the victory.

McNamara said it was nice to put multiple pitchers on the mound during the first game.

“My plan was to throw a bunch of guys,” he said.

While his team came away with the victory, McNamara was more concerned with how his team perservered.

“It’s a big deal for these guys to learn to just hang in there and make something happen,” he said. “I was pretty happy with the way the guys battled back (in the first game). We got an early lead there and gave it up. I thought we fought and battled pretty good to get the win.”

Signorelli went 2-for-2 in the victory with 3 RBIs.

Game Two

Chiefs 4, Vikings 3

MOSES LAKE — After holding on to an 11-10 victory in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader with Coeur d’Alene, the Moses Lake baseball team held on for a 4-3 victory in game two.

The Chiefs scored a run in each of the first three innings to jump on the visiting Vikings early and Moses Lake head coach Ed McNamara was pleased to see his team start the season 2-0.

“We had a couple of decent wins,” he said. “They walked some guys and committed some errors. It feels like we have been on (that) end of (the game) enough. It feels nice to take advantage of that.”

Moses Lake’s Dylan Signorelli continued to stay hot at the plate in the second game of the doubleheader, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs.

With Moses Lake holding the Vikings to just three runs in the second game, McNamara said he was pleased to see his team come together on the mound.

“(Coeur d’Alene) has a pretty good hitting ball club,” McNamara said of the Vikings. “Cole Samuels did a good job out there (on the mound) and Blaine Meyers did a good job pitching.”

Following Moses Lake’s win over Coeur d’Alene, McNamara said it was nice to see his team perform well during their preseason schedule.

“I am more concerned with seeing what (our) guys can do (than winning the game),” he said. “We have only four non-league games. From there it is like a sprint to the finish line. It was really good to see the kids battle.”

Girls Softball

Warden 6, Chelan 3

WARDEN — The Warden Lady Cougars softball team got off to hot start to the 2009 season with a 6-3 victory over visiting Chelan.

Warden jumped on Chelan early, scoring runs in each of the first three innings to pace their way past the Goats.

The Lady Cougars scored a pair of runs in the first and added another in the second to take a 3-0 lead after the first two innings.

Chelan responded in the third with a pair of runs of their own to cut Warden’s lead to 3-2 before the Lady Cougars exploded on to the scoreboard with three runs in the third to take a commanding 6-2 lead.

Chelan wouldn’t score their final run until the sixth inning, thanks to the solid pitching from Warden’s Randi Wright. Wright kept the Goats off balance all afternoon with eight strikeouts in the victory.

While Warden earned the win, head coach Wes Richins said his team still has some work to do.

“We are very rusty,” he said. “We kicked the ball around with five errors. We have been cooped up in our gym and on the field with limited access (because of the weather).”

Cassandra Kisler led the Lady Cougars going 2-for-3 with a double and 2 runs scored. Kaitlyn Yamane also went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.

Although Richins said his team needs to improve, he was grateful for the chance to take to the field.

“The game gave us an opportunity to see where we need to improve,” he said.