Chiefs baseball takes twin bill from Cadets

YAKIMA - Two convincing wins on the road at Eisenhower Friday extends the Chiefs (9-0, 12-2) league winning streak to nine games, and moves the team into sole possession of first place in the Columbia Basin Big Nine standings.

Moses Lake turned back the Cadets 11-1 in game one, and 12-6 in game two of the doubleheader.

"We're off to best start I can recall," coach Quintz Whitaker said. "The guys played really well Friday despite a very fast infield that led to some errors by both teams."

Moses Lake 11

Eisenhower 1

Goose eggs were posted on the board after the first inning of play in game one of the twin bill. But things took a quick turn for the best for Moses Lake as the Chiefs scored four times in the second, and five in the third to race out to a 9-0 lead. The score held up until the Cadets got their only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth to avoid the shutout.

Moses Lake added two runs in the top in the top of the seventh to bring the tally to 11-1 Chiefs.

Jordon Hooper had the hot stick for Moses Lake with two hits in three at bats with a double and two runs scored. Jacob Price and Tyson Karstetter, who got his first varsity hit of the season, also doubled in the game.

Hector Zavala went the distance on the hill to pick up the win.

"Hector looked great on the mound again," Whitaker said. "It's nice to see the consistency he's giving us."

Moses Lake 12

Eisenhower 6

The Chiefs capped off an explosive first inning with a grand slam by Chase Tunstall to give Moses Lake a 7-0 lead out of the gate.

"What an exciting way to get your first varsity hit of the season," Whitaker said. "It was a fun moment for all the guys."

Moses Lake added a run in the top of the second to increase its lead to 8-1. The Cadets answered back with four runs in the bottom of the frame to make a game of it, 8-4.

The Chiefs determined not to let the game slip away, hung two runs on the board in the top of the third, and one in the fourth and fifth innings to stretch the score to 12-4. Eisenhower pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't get any closer and dropped the contest by six runs.

Several Chiefs came up big at the plate for Moses Lake. Colton Kelly had two triples in two at bats and three runs scored, Drew Loera went 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple and three RBI, and Gunner Raymond had two hits in three plate appearances with and two runs scored.

The Chiefs pounded out 12 hits on the game, but committed five errors in the contest. Hunter Boyd was the winning pitcher of record, giving up four runs off two hits in five innings of work. Tunstall pitched two innings of relief.

"We made things tough on Hunter with the five errors," Whitaker said. "But it was good to see him battle through it ... he really showed some toughness out there."

The wins over Eisenhower puts Moses Lake in the drivers seat with only six games left in the regular season. The Chiefs have already qualified for a spot in postseason play, but have a legitimate chance of winning the league championship and nailing down the No. 1 district seed, which means they'd host the first round of the playoffs.

"Our destiny is in our own hands," Whitaker said. "We have a three-game stretch with Eastmont over the next five days. If we take all three of them, we'll be the No. 1 seed."

Moses Lake hits the road Tuesday to take on the Wildcats, then hosts a doubleheader against Eastmont Friday. The Chiefs then go to Wenatchee April 30, and finish the regular season with a twin bill against the Panthers at home May. 3. The district playoffs get underway May 11.