Softball sweep helps Chiefs' playoff cause

MOSES LAKE — Right here, right now. This is what matters and the Moses Lake Chiefs softball team has figured out that theory loud and clear.

The Chiefs recorded their second consecutive resounding sweep of Big 9 competition by pounding visiting Sunnyside 12-2, 18-6 in a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon to cap off an ideal Senior Night.

Moses Lake (14-7, 9-3) cemented at least a third place finish in the Columbia Division of the Big 9 and await their playoff fate against a yet undetermined first round District playoff opponent.

The two five-inning mercy rule victories started off with the strong pitching performance of Karly Stoltman as she threw four innings, recording six strikeouts while allowing one earned run.

“It’s good that we put them away and build that confidence,” Moses Lake catcher Jessica McIntyre said. “We know we can play with anyone and play to our potential when we need to.”

Freshman Haylie VanLaethem closed out the 12-2 game with one inning of two strikeout relief.

Moses Lake scored three in the first innings and five in the second to build the early lead and they would cruise from there.

Lacey Padilla went 3-for-3 with an RBI, Bailey Ritchie ended up 3-for-3 with two doubles and five RBI.

In the nightcap a nine-run fourth inning put any hopes of a Sunnyside comeback in the “not going to happen” category as the Chiefs cruised from there.

Padilla went 3-for-4 with two doubles and five RBI while Marina Rubio completed a 2-for-4 day with a three-run homerun and four RBI.

Tasha Gentry added a 2-for-3 performance which included a double, homerun, and four RBI.

Stoltman got the win with four innings of six strikeout ball.

Recording the final inning of work was Taylor Richardson who wrapped things up in the fifth.

“If we play are game we can beat anyone, we just need to clean up some mistakes and we will be okay,” Chiefs coach Dave Gregory said. “We have a week to get ready for the playoffs and I feel we will be okay.”

Gregory said he believes his team will probably travel to play on of the Tri Cities-area teams in their district opener but that still had not been determined as of press time.

Either way they enter the post season with back-to-back, dominating, doubleheader sweeps at the right time of the year.

“It’s very important that we win these games because we won’t play doubleheaders anymore,” McIntyre said. “By the end of the season we should be able to work together as a team especially going into the playoffs where we can go in strong.”