Chiefs end season with sweep of Ike

YAKIMA - Moses Lake had back-to-back Big Nine championships well in hand before taking the field Friday for its regular season finale against Eisenhower.

However, head coach Dave Gregory still wanted two more victories to push his team's win streak to six in a row entering postseason play.

The Chiefs didn't disappoint.

Behind a 3 for 4 day from Jazmynn Jesse, Moses Lake (14-1, 16-3) took the opener 9-2. In the nightcap, the Chiefs continued to swing the bat well and came from behind to win 7-2.

"We had it wrapped up going in, but I didn't tell the kids that," Gregory said.

Peyton Ries got the start in Game 1 and only allowed one earned run while striking out three Cadets. Ries finished league play with an unblemished 7-0 record.

Marnie Skinner completed Moses Lake's one-two punch from the circle in Game 2 with a dominant showing of eight strikeouts and no earned runs.

The sophomore tandem has given Gregory an embarrassment of riches in his pitching staff.

"It's hard to say who's number one, really," he said. "We go into the postseason it's going to be a tough decision for us. But they'll both be ready to go. One gets in trouble the other one will be ready to go."

Ries and Skinner finished a combined 15-1 in Big Nine play. Skinner, more of a power pitcher, recorded 71 strikeouts in 42 innings of work. Entering the season, Moses Lake's starters were a question mark with zero varsity experience between the two.

But so far it hasn't been an issue.

"It's different playing at varsity level," Gregory said. "First time they come in there and they didn't even miss a beat. They thought they belonged their all their life."

In the Chiefs' final game, Gregory shuffled his lineup and inserted more upperclassmen.

Moses Lake trailed 2-0 after one inning in the nightcap before the Chiefs were able to tie the game in the fourth inning.

A four-run sixth inning put the Chiefs up for good.

Cierra Nevares was 1 for 3 with two RBIs while Baylie Signorelli was 2 for 4.

Moses Lake has already clinched a berth in the 4A State Softball Tournament, but a win May 24 will give the Chiefs a district championship and a higher seed.