Chiefs sweep aside Panthers

MOSES LAKE — The Chiefs began their Columbia Basin Big Nine baseball season on the right foot Friday, sweeping a doubleheader from the visiting Wenatchee Panthers and moving into the Columbia Division’s top spot.

Moses Lake capitalized on a complete game from pitcher Brock Lybbert to knock off Wenatchee 14-4 in a mercy-rule shortened game one. Lybbert led the Chiefs on the mound with seven strike outs, holding Wenatchee to just four runs on eight hits.

Moses Lake head coach Ed McNamara said his team came to play in their conference opener.

“We came out and hit the ball well,” he said. “Our goal is to score more than seven runs and to score every inning. We only missed (scoring) in one.”

After Lybbert shut down the Panthers in the top of the first inning, the Moses Lake bats came alive in the bottom half. Moses Lake scored four first-inning runs to help put the pressure on Wenatchee.

Lybbert continued to pitch well in the second inning, again keeping the Panthers from getting on the Larson Playfield scoreboard.

Following another strong defensive performance in the top of the second, the Chiefs offense came alive in the home-half. Moses Lake added to their 4-0 lead with a five-run second to take a commanding 9-0 lead after two innings of play.

While the Chiefs offense tried to put the game away early, McNamara said his team had an defensive lapse in the top of the third.

“We need to shore up on defense,” he said. “We had all (three of) our errors in the third inning where we gave up three runs.”

Although the Chiefs stumbled for a moment in the third, Moses Lake’s offense continued to roll and the Chiefs knocked off Wenatchee in six innings. Senior catcher Matt Harris led the Moses Lake offense finishing the night 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBIs. Lybbert helped his own cause, finishing the game with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with a pair of RBIs. Senior Blaine Myers finished the day 1-for-3 with also knocked in a pair of runs for the Chiefs.

After knocking off the Panthers in their Columbia Division opener, Moses Lake and Wenatchee took to the field to wrap up the doubleheader.

With the second game of the series on the line, McNamara turned to Myers to lead the Chiefs on the mound.

Despite an early run from Wenatchee in the top of the first inning, Myers kept the Panthers off balance, McNamara said.

“Blaine Myers pitched well into the until the sixth,” he said. “He only gave up two (runs).”

Wenatchee kept the Chiefs off of the scoreboard in the first, but Moses Lake’s scoreless streak wouldn’t last long. The Chiefs scored in each of the final six innings.

After Myers left the bound following five solid inning, Wenatchee scored four in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead. The Chiefs responded in the bottom of the inning to pull even at 6-6.

With the game tied 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh, Kurt Hickman led off the inning with a single. With Hickman representing the winning run, Moses Lake junior Ricco Moreno sacrificed Hickman to second — moving Hickman into scoring position with one out.

After Moreno’s sacrifice, Harris was intentionally walked to give the Panthers a double play situation. However, Kyle Hickman bunted to move the runners over and he beat out the hit to load the bases for the Chiefs.

With Kurt Hickman on third, a passed ball by the Wenatchee catcher brought the winning run across the plate and Moses Lake began their conference season with pair of victories over rival Wenatchee.