Moses Lake softball splits in East Wenatchee

EAST WENATCHEE - Moses Lake softball finished its abbreviated non league schedule with a split at the Eastmont Mix and Match.

The Chiefs put on a batting clinic in the first game against Mount Si and cruised to a 13-2 victory.

"Our bats were just on fire," head coach Dave Gregory said. "They're a quality team and I think the placed last year at state in 3A so I was really happy to see that."

Pitcher Payton Reece returned to the bump after being sidelined with a back injury. The sophomore gave up two hits and struck out two batters in five innings of work.

Several Chiefs enjoyed multi hit days as Marnie Skinner, Tressa Radach, Jazmynn Jesse and Sierra Nevares combined for nine hits and eight RBIs.

Skinner and Radach both homered in the rout.

Radach has had a scorching start to the season and is currently batting .666 after three games.

In its second game, Moses Lake stumbled against Woodinville, 14-6.

Woodinville finished fourth in state last season and sent Moses Lake to the consolation bracket with a 12-2 win in the quarterfinals.

The game was close early, but Woodinville pushed ahead with six runs in the third inning.

Moses Lake narrowed the gap to 9-6 entering the seventh inning, but the Chiefs committed three straight errors to load the bases.

"You just can't do that against good teams because they're going to break it open," Gregory said.

Skinner continued her effectiveness from the lead off spot, finishing 2-3.

"Overall I was really pleased," Gregory said. "We didn't make mental mistakes like we did against University which really helped. Kids are going to make errors but it's the mental errors is what we've got to eliminate."

The Chiefs won't play again until April 15, which should allow Gregory and his staff to nail down a permanent lineup for the league schedule.

However, it won't be easy as this is - according to Gregory - the deepest team he has ever had.

And with Hailee Bishop returning to the lineup after recovering from a car accident an already explosive offense should get even more potent.

"We get her back in the lineup we're just going to get tougher," Gregory said.

Last season, the Chiefs finished 20-4, won a league championship and won a district championship.

But Gregory also remembers how the team dropped its first league game against Eastmont.

A repeat performance against Davis figures to be unlikely.

"It will be interesting and I remember last year we came out for that and we were down and we were a little cocky," Gregory said. "We went into Eastmont and they knocked us off that first game. The only game we lost in league play and needless to say I wasn't too happy ... We'll be ready this time."