Hanford proves pitfalls in Walleyes' losses

HANFORD -  Two quick starts were nice but even better finishes were preferable yesterday for the Moses Lake Walleyes baseball team.

The American Legion U-17 team traveled to Hanford for a twin-bill and returned to the Columbia Basin on the heels of 7-3 and 13-7 losses to their hosts.

In both contests the Walleyes (0-4) took early leads only to see Hanford make them vanish almost as quickly as they appeared.

"We just got to have guys step up into leadership roles," Walleyes coach Quintz Whitaker said. "Most of these guys have to step up into leadership roles next year and hopefully we can have some of them kick some stuff around and kick up the intensity. Once we get that first win things should take off. I still think things will come around soon."

In the opener Drew Isaak (Almira/Coulee-Hartline) started and threw five innings before leaving with the team down 5-1.

"We came out and took an early lead but we couldn't get our bats going in that game," Whitaker said. "We just had difficulty playing from behind. It's hard to play aggressive when you have no one on base."

Brad Fox (Moses Lake) and Colton Kelly (Moses Lake) each batted 1-for-3.

The nightcap saw their bats liven up a bit but a four-run second frame gave Hanford the lead for good after trailing 1-0 early.

Fox went 3-for-4, Cody Kelly (Moses Lake), 2-for-3 and Colton Kelly 2-for-4 to lead the Walleyes batting attack.

Next up the Walleyes travel to West Valley, on Thursday.