Girls softball Big 9 champs

YAKIMA - Moses lake softball captured its first Columbia Basin Big Nine league title in over a decade with a 19-2 shellacking of the Eisenhower Cadets in Yakima Tuesday.

The win makes the Chiefs the No. 1 seed at the district tournament that will be played at Larson Field May 18.

"That sealed the deal for us with Wenatchee beating Eastmont," coach Dave Gregory said. "We could actually end up tied with Eastmont if we lose both games of the doubleheader against Ike at home Friday and Eastmont beats Wenatchee in their last game of the season. But we own the tiebreaker (over the Wildcats) because we beat them two out of three games during the regular season."

It was a muggy afternoon when the Chiefs and Cadets took the field as mercury reached 91 degrees on the thermometer. But that didn't seem to have much of an impact on Moses Lake as the team exploded for eight runs off seven hits in the top of the second inning to go out front 8-0.

The Chiefs pushed their lead to 14-0 with five runs in the third, and one in the fourth inning. Eisenhower finally got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to avoid the shutout.

But Moses Lake wasn't done as the team added another five runs in the top of the fifth to cruise to the lopsided win.

Brianna Valdez led the hit parade for the Chiefs who had 19 on the day, going three-for-four at the plate with three RBI. Haylie VanLaethem went the distance in the circle, allowing just two hits while fanning four Cadets to pick up the win.

"Haylie pitched another solid game," Gregory said. "We played solid defense too and everyone on the team got a hit. I think that's a first ... this just might be the best hitting team I've ever had."

Moses Lake closes out the regular season with a twin bill at home against Eisenhower Friday. The Chiefs host the single elimination district tournament May 18.

Moses Lake will take on the Cadets in the first game at 10 a.m. Wenatchee and Eastmont play game two. The time has yet to be determined. The winners of each game face off for the district championship later in the day with the winner moving on to State.

Admission to the tournament is $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors.