Moses Lake Walleyes come up big

KENNEWICK - The Walleyes, Moses Lake's AA American Legion baseball team, went 5-0 to claim the Memorial Day Tournament championship in Richland May 26 to 28.

The Walleyes got by Hanford in game one, downed Richland in game two, turned back Pasco/Chiawana in game three, shutout Kennewick in game four and rolled over Hanford in the championship game to take top honors.

"It is a great way to start the season for us. The boys played well in all aspects," coach Quintz Whitaker said. "It was great to see them pull together against some tough opponents.  If they can continue to work hard and improve their skills, they will be a team to reckon with in this league."

Moses Lake 5

Hanford 4

The Walleyes jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Hanford Saturday. The score held up until Hanford brought a run across the plate in the top of the fourth to close the gap to 3-1. The Walleyes got two back in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase their lead to 5-1. Hanford hung a run on the board in the top of the sixth and two in the top of the seventh to get within one, 5-4, but it wasn't enough to pull out the win.

Moses Lake out hit Hanford 9-8. Jacob Price lead the offensive attack for the Walleyes with three RBI on three hits. Chase Tunstall got the win for Moses Lake.

Moses Lake 5

Richland 4

The second game on Saturday between Richland and the Walleyes was a see-saw battle as the lead changed hands four times. Richland got on the board first with a run in the top of the first. Moses Lake pushed two runners across the plate in the bottom of the inning to go up 2-1.

The Walleyes made it 3-1 with a score in the bottom of the third. Richland put a run on the board in the top of the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game 3-3, then pulled ahead 4-3 with a run in the sixth.

Moses Lake responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead 5-4, then held Richland off the scoreboard in the top of the seventh for the come from behind win.

Moses Lake 8

Pasco/Chiawana 4

Jacob Williams had two extra base hits, doubling in the second and third innings to lead the Walleyes to victory in game three of the tournament Sunday. Moses Lake blanked Pasco/Chiawana (PSCH) through the first four innings, while scoring two runs in each frame to take an 8-0 lead. PSCH bounced back with four runs in the top of the fifth, but was shutout the rest of the way and lost the game by four runs.

Price, Tunstall, Nick Baily and Williams combined for eight hits and three RBI in the game.

Anthony Rios was on the bump and was credited with the win for the Walleyes. He gave up four runs off four hits and fanned five batters over four and a third innings.

Moses Lake 8

Kennewick 0

Game four of the tournament saw the Walleyes cruise past Kennewick. Drew Lorea lead the offensive attack for Moses Lake with three hits. He singled in the first  and tripled in the third and fifth innings. Jacob Williams had a two-run double in the fifth inning as well. The Walleyes scored two runs in the first, one in the third, three in the fifth and two in the seventh to win in a cakewalk.

Tyson Karstetter went the distance on the mound for Moses Lake pitching seven innings of shutout ball, allowing no runs on seven hits while striking out four Kennewick batters.

Moses Lake 10

Hanford 3

The championship game between Hanford and the Walleyes was not much of a contest as Moses Lake won in a blowout.

The Walleyes took an early 2-0 after the first inning, added a run in the top of the third, three in the fifth and two in the seventh to win going away.

Price got the win for Moses Lake as he fanned five batters, walked four, gave up eight hits and two runs over six innings on the hill.

The Walleyes are back in action this weekend when the team hosts West Valley from Yakima at Larson Field Saturday at 3 p.m. They host Hanford at 1 p.m. Sunday.