Moses Lake gets pinned down

MOSES LAKE - After starting off the season with two straight, non-league wins, the Moses Lake Chiefs bowling team opened up Big 9 play last night against Wenatchee at Lake Bowl.

A nip-and-tuck affair didn't quite fall in the Chiefs' favor as they lost to Wenatchee on pin count, 1,828 - 1,794, after the teams each won a regular and baker game on the evening.

In the opening regular game, Moses Lake won 783-770.

Shanice Brice had a 188 to lead the team, while Crystal Balderas had a 162, including a strike in the 10th frame to help Moses Lake (2-1, 0-1) erase a 60-pin deficit.

Ashlann Starkweather added a 160 with a strike out 10th frame, and newcomer Andrea Moreno finished with a 134.

"Andrea came up and had a three-bagger in the ninth and the tenth to set us up for the win," Moses Lake head coach Billy Brice said.

Wenatchee took the lead after the pulled out a 759-724 second regular game win.

"The girls struggled and we missed a lot of spares," Billy Brice said.

Shanice Brice had a team-high 205.

Moses Lake lost a chance to make up pin-count ground when they won the first baker game, 115-114, but came away with the lead, albeit short lived.

"It was absolutely disappointing since we had no spares and we were all over the place," Billy Brice said.

Needing to win in order to avoid the match being decided by pin count, Moses Lake fell late as Wenatchee came-from-behind to win the second baker game 185-172, and the match.