Chiefs softball clobbers Sunnyside
Coach Dave Gregory congratulates Vanessa Rodriguez after she hit a 3-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Briana Valdez fouls off a pitch in the first inning against Sunnyside Tuesday at Larson Field. The Chiefs beat the Grizzlies 17-1 to move into a first place tie with Eastmont.
MOSES LAKE - A week-long layoff had little impact on the Chiefs performance in a single game against Sunnyside last night at Larson Field.
Moses Lake jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning of play and never looked back as they whipped up on the Grizzlies 17-1.
"It was good to get a win coming off spring break," coach Dave Gregory said. "We play Sunnyside again Saturday, then have another week off before we play some tough games in the latter part of the month. This is one of the craziest schedules I've seen in a long time."
Haylie VanLathen got the start in the circle for the Chiefs and retired the Grizzlies in order in Sunnyside's first at bat. Brianna Valdez singled to left in the bottom of the inning, then came around to score off a past ball to put Moses Lake up 1-0.
A one out base hit by Sadee Smigaj with runners on first and second made it 2-0 in favor of the Chiefs. Gabby Alamos pushed the lead to 4-0 on a hard hit double to left to round out the scoring for Moses Lake.
Sunnyside threatened in the top of the second with a leadoff single and a walk, but was unable to bring a run across the plate.
Hailie Bishop singled to start the second inning for the Chiefs, but was out on a questionable call as she tried to stretch the hit into a double.
A two-out single by Smigaj, a Texas-leaguer by VanLathen, and a single by Alamos gave Moses Lake an 8-0 lead and the rout was on.
The Grizzlies failed to score in the top of the third, but the Chiefs brought 4 runs home in their half of the frame to make it 12-0 Moses Lake.
With a sizable lead, Gregory was able to take out most of his starters in the top of the fourth. Smigaj came on in relief of VanLathen and never skipped a beat.
Sunnyside did manage to push a run across the plate however, and avoid the shutout.
The Chiefs tacked on 5 more runs in the bottom of the inning on the strength of a 3-run home run by Vanessa Rodriguez to go up 17-1.
"That was Vanessa's second home run of the season," Gregory said. "She's been doing real well at the plate on the JV and varsity team. We are real deep this year ... our JV team is the best we've ever had, so that bodes well for our program the next couple of years."
The game was called after the Grizzles were held off the board in the top of the fifth inning by virtue of the 10-run mercy rule.
The win over Sunnyside extends Moses Lake's win streak to four games, and puts the Chiefs at 4-0 in the Big 9 league standings, and into a tie for first place with Eastmont.
Moses Lake is back on the diamond for doubleheader action at Sunnyside Saturday.