Chiefs make a statement

MOSES LAKE - The inning could've been over several times.

A routine throw to first base or a fielded ground ball and Moses Lake might've had to watch Wenatchee celebrate a district championship on its home field.

But after Brett Moser tripled and scored on a wild pitch and Wenatchee committed two errors in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Chiefs had new life and two runners on.

"He (Brandon Graves) got behind 2-0 then he tried to throw an inside fastball and I saw it and I just got my hands out in front and I drove it," Moser said.

Wenatchee's lead was cut to 3-2 when Blake Springer belted a two-run double that put Moses Lake ahead, 4-3.

"It was just crazy how it all started that inning coming up, the struggle with them and then just having two guys up," he said. "He throws two balls and so now I have two balls and I'm thinking, '2-0 fastball down the middle.' I just caught up to it and started going and it felt great and that was like the pump up right there."

Moses Lake tacked on two more runs, Hunter Boyd squelched a late Wenatchee rally and the Chiefs held on to win the 4A District 6 Championship, 6-5.

"This one feels 10 times better (than the league championship)," Moser said. "No doubt, it's unbelievable ... Last year was disappointing, but this year we made it."

The win also gave Moses Lake a No. 1 seed next weekend in Yakima to start the state tournament.

"I think the seeding thing's definitely important and then just to put us in a good spot," head coach Quintz Whitaker said. "Plus we want to get ourselves kind of back in that momentum and start building onto next weekend."

In the first innning, Moser lead the game off with a single and two batters later was driven in by Cole Raymond.

After allowing the one run, Wenatchee starter Trent Thompkins was promptly replaced by Graves who was able to negate further damage.

Moses Lake's lead was brief as Wenatchee was able to plate two runners in the second inning and a third in the fourth inning to pull ahead, 3-1.

Chase Tunstall pitched a strong four innings and struck out one batter before Hunter Boyd was called in for relief.

"We told the boys earlier it was all based on a matchup," Whitaker said. "Those guys to me are 1 and 1A ... Chase had a great game against them and it just ended up that when we saw we're going to face Wenatchee that's who went to start the game."

Boyd set the tone with an eight-pitch fifth inning that energized the Moses Lake bats entering the bottom half of the fifth.

"It started with Hunter that top of the fifth coming in throwing eight pitches and then just how it all happened," Springer said. "I think that just gave us the momentum and we were all hyped. It was just amazing."

Springer's go-ahead double gave the Chiefs the lead, but the rally wasn't finished.

Jaime Vela smashed a triple that soared into center field, scoring Springer. Wenatchee walked in one more run and Moses Lake led 6-3 after a five-run fifth inning.

Leading 6-4 and one out away from a district title, Moses Lake had to weather a final Panther rally in the seventh.

After two quick outs, Kaleb Woodring was able to reach first after a swinging third strike got away from catcher Erick Huberdeau. The game appeared to be over again when Woodring looked to have been caught stealing second base.

But after a brief conversation by the umpires, it was determined Moser had missed the tag.

Jacob Prater hit a double that plated Woodring to bring Wenatchee within one run before Boyd was able to induce the final out.

The Chiefs celebrated by giving Whitaker his first ever Gatorade bath.

Moses Lake will travel to Yakima May 24 for a matchup with Union in the first round of the state tournament, 1 p.m. at Yakima County Stadium.

With clutch hitters up and down the lineup and a solid rotation, the Chiefs have as good a chance as any to make noise over the next two weeks.

"No other group of brothers I'd rather go to war with right now," Springer said. "That's what I've been saying all year."