Moses Lake routs West Valley, pulls within one win of CBBN title

MOSES LAKE — Heading into its match-up with West Valley last season, Moses Lake was a perfect 14-0.

But on a bitterly cold day in Yakima the Chiefs were upset by the Rams 10-9. That blip on a 19-1 season was present in the minds of the returning players during Tuesday’s series opener with West Valley at Larson Field.

After a scoreless first inning, Moses Lake (13-0, 13-1) pummeled the opposition with 13 second-inning runs for a decisive win 16-0.

“It was a lot of motivation,” Peyton Ries said. “We really wanted to win. This was the team that we wanted to beat pretty much the whole season. That’s been my goal, most of all. We knew Eastmont was going to be good, but I just personally wanted to beat them because it was just a heart-breaker last year.”

Ries started the second-inning rally with a lead-off single. Brooklyn Bailey and Brooke Richardson followed with back-to-back walks, loading the bases.

Kaylee Fowler-Valdez began her stellar day at the plate with a two-run double. Fielding miscues by the Rams allowed Richardson and Fowler-Valdez to come home, ending the initial flurry.

Tia Radach lined a RBI single into right field that scored Sierra Perales before two more runs scored when Marnie Skinner reached third base on an error.

7-0 became 8-0 after a Nikea Holman RBI single.

Still with no outs, Ries hit her second single of the inning. Bailey singled to load the bases again, allowing Richardson a chance to hit a RBI single and Fowler-Valdez to drive in two runs — totaling four RBI in the inning — on a fielder’s choice.

Fowler-Valdez was able to score on a steal attempt and Skinner hit another RBI single, capping the Chiefs’ hay-maker.

“This was huge today,” head coach Dave Gregory said. “You kind of wonder what kids are going to come with when we’ve had 10, 12 days off without a game. They came back and did it, nice easy strokes. I’ll take them singles any day. Just get the base hits, base hits and you put so much pressure on that other team and run the bases well. I thought we came out and had one great inning.”

Skinner, who has yet to allow an earned run this season, was her usual dominant self. Skinner allowed one hit — the first batter she faced — before striking out six in five shutout innings.

West Valley was able to move a runner into scoring position in the first and second inning with one out before Skinner ended the threat with two consecutive strikeouts in each instance.

Starting the third inning with an enormous lead, Skinner retired nine straight batters to end the game.

“There’s a lot of pressure just lifted off your shoulders from there,” said Ries, who also pitches. “You don’t have much to lose at that point, but it’s just nice to not have that pressure on you anymore”

Moses Lake tacked on three more runs in the third inning on a RBI fielder’s choice by Richardson and RBI singles by Fowler-Valdez and Radach.

With West Valley sitting at three losses in the Columbia Basin Big Nine, Moses Lake has a chance to wrap up the league championship Friday in Yakima.

“We need to keep that intensity and don’t get overconfident,” Gregory said. “I’m tired of everybody saying how weak our league is. Hey, maybe we’re that good.”

Ephrata swept at Selah

SELAH — Ephrata lost a pair of games at CWAC power Selah 14-0 and 19-2.

The Tigers (5-11, 5-13) finish the regular season against Toppenish May 12.