Moses Lake 9U All-Stars second at State
The Moses Lake 9U All-Stars. Pictured in the front row from left are Reise Raymond, Leo Cortez, Jackson Fair, Carter Visker, Merit Jansen, and Jackson Purcell. Back row from left are coach Jaime Vela, Miguel Vela, Chance Connahan, Carson Janke, head coach Rick Raymond, Everett Ashley, JJ Martinez-Baez, Julian Egia and coach Josh Visker.
OTHELLO - The Moses Lake 9U All-Stars took four of six games to finish runner-up at the state tournament last weekend.
The team fought back from a 5-0 deficit against Stanwood on Sunday in the championship game, but couldn't push enough
runs across to get the win. Strong defense throughout with Jackson Fair making seven putouts in the field, kept the
game within reach. Down five runs going into the sixth inning, RBI singles by Carson Janke, Chance Connahan, Julian Egia and Everett Ashley brought the game within one run before Stanwood was able to stop the bleeding, stranding the tying run on second base to win the title.
Moses Lake began the tournament unceremoniously Friday morning with an 8-0 drubbing by Stanwood, as the team only mustered one hit by Reise Raymond. But Moses Lake caught fire, scoring 73 runs over the next four games to force a rematch with Stanwood in the Championship.
Friday afternoon Moses Lake pounded Othello 22-2. Miguel Vela opened up the scoring in the first inning with an RBI
triple and Moses Lake never looked back. Ashley led the offensive attack going 3-for3 at the plate with two doubles. Connahan and JJ Martinez-Baez combined for the win for Moses Lake.
Saturday morning was much of the same with Moses Lake out scoring Eastmont 28-16 in a slugfest. Carter Visker ripped off four hits and Connahan added three.
Moses Lake beat Spokane 9-5 in the Saturday afternoon loser out game putting the All-Stars in a semi-final match up with Eastmont from Wenatchee. RBIs by Egia, Connahan and Jackson Purcell gave Moses Lake an early 9-2 lead as they cruised to victory.
Moses Lake turned back Eastmont a second time, winning 14-6 with a strong effort on the mound by Merit Jansen as he struck out eight batters over five innings of work.
Leo Cortez had a strong appearance at the plate with two double to lead Moses Lake to the championship game.