Chiefs softball drops games to Kamiakin

MLHS Moses Lake Chiefs Baseball

by BOB KIRKPATRICK & Herald Sports Editor
| March 23, 2012 6:00 AM

KENNEWICK - The Chiefs hit the road Tuesday looking to pick up a couple of wins in CBBN action. But unfortunately, lost both of their games to the Braves as the team had trouble producing runs.

Kamiakin 1

Moses Lake 0

Game one was battle between hurlers on the mound as the Chiefs Haylie VanLaethem and the Braves Lindsey Kamphuis, didn't allow a runner to cross the plate for the first five and a half innings. Kamiakin did however, manage to score in the bottom of the inning. The lone run was all it took as Moses Lake was unable to score in the top of the seventh, and lost the first game of the doubleheader to the Braves.

"It was a real pitchers dual between Haylie and Kamphuis, one of the best pitchers in the state who has already signed with a D1 school," coach Dave Gregory said. "The game was a big improvement over Saturday. If you can play well with a young team against one of the best teams in the state, you can play with anyone if you don't make any errors."

Braves 17

Chiefs 4

The second game of the twin bill saw a lot more offense generated as 21 runs crossed the plate.

The Chiefs took an early 1-0 lead, but the Braves answered back with a run in the bottom of the first to even the score 1-1.

Moses Lake failed to score in the top of the second. However, Kamiakin had four runners touch home to go up 5-1. The Chiefs closed the gap to 5-2 in their half of the third inning. But the Braves produced five runs in the bottom of the inning to break the game open, 10-2.

Moses Lake got one back in the top of the fourth. Seven runs by Kamiakin in the bottom of the inning broke the back of the Chiefs as the Braves increased their lead to 17-3. Moses Lake scored once in the top of the fifth to push the score to 17-4. Neither team scored in the last two innings of the ball game.

A couple of performances worth noting for Moses Lake were turned in by sophomore Hailie Bishop who went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, one RBI and two runs scored. Junior Yvette Moreno was 1-for-2 with a dinger in the fourth inning. Sadee Smigaj and Tressa Radach were battery mates for the Chiefs.

"I think the team has improved, but you have to be able to play defense and if your pitcher keeps the ball down you can play with anyone," Gregory said. " We have a tough schedule this year, but it will only make us better. But it doesn't get any easier with Richland coming to town a week from Friday (March 30). They placed 7th at state last year."

The Chiefs get a chance to hone their skills prior to facing the Bombers when the travel to Eastmont Tuesday for a doubleheader against the Wildcats.