Chiefs succumb to rough third inning

MOSES LAKE — They started slow, hung in there, and then the avalanche hit.

The Moses Lake High School Chiefs baseball team, trailing 3-0 after two innings were rocked by a 12-run Eastmont third inning and fell to their guests from East Wenatchee 15-0 in five innings last night at Larson Field.

The Chiefs (2-10, 1-3) committed five errors in the inning and gave up seven unearned runs on two outs following a missed double play that would have ended the frame.

However the error kept Eastmont’s string alive and they continued to build their lead.

“It was just a disease that was contagious,” Chiefs coach Ed McNamara said. “We’re still in this thing and the guys have the ability to play. It’s not that they are not a good team it just seems like we have a mental block.”

Moses Lake committed five errors in the deciding frame but no others in the innings prior or after.

Still they were unable to mount any type of rally as they were stymied by Eastmont pitching, knocking out only one hit, by Tanner Lowry.

“They are still young, especially defense-wise,” McNamara said. “A lot of guys might have been hitting but not play in the field on a regular basis.”

“If we can turn it around we are still in the division. If we can play well against Southridge on Saturday and with Wenatchee beating them already, that gives us hope.”

Royal 11, Kittitas 10 (11 inn.)

ROYAL CITY — Either Royal will find a way to win a lot earlier of coach Mike Buster’s hair may be a lot less darker in the next few weeks.

The Knights won their third consecutive come-from-behind decision last night, beating Kittitas 11-10 in 11 innings.

Royal (7-2, 2-0) had to fight back from two deficits to pull out the win.

“They are definitely a resilient group and we are proud of them battling back,” Buster said. “They never gave up and tonight they did it with all hits. It would make my hair stay browner if we didn’t have to win like this. I hope we don’t make a habit of it.”

Kittitas jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the top-of-the third inning before Royal got on base in their half of the frame, scoring two runs.

Royal would cut the deficit 7-5 at the end of the fourth but still trailed 8-5 going into the bottom of the seventh.

There, Danny Vermeer — who finished 4-for-7 with four RBI — hit a two-out triple to clear the bases and tie the score, sending the game into extra innings.

Royal would then struggle to put the game away despite outhitting Kittitas 23-10.

They left three runners on in the eighth inning and two each in the ninth and 10th innings.

“We left a ton of guys on base all game long,” Buster said. “I haven’t even counted it up but I’d be afraid to see the total. We would have guys on with less than two outs and couldn’t get them in. That was a part of the reason why we didn’t win earlier.”

After Kittitas took a 10-8 lead during the top of the 11th inning, Royal rallied again and finally won it when Justin Edwards’ single brought Ernie Garza in from third.

Garza finished 5-for-6 with one double and two RBI.

Tanner Whitaker went 3-for-7 and Ben Singer completed a 3-for-4 day for Royal.