Richardson's two home runs, seven RBI help Moses Lake complete sweep
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake's Brooke Richardson rounds the bases after the first of her two home runs against Davis.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake pitcher Savannah Ashley delivers to the plate against Davis.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake's Brooklyn Bailey (24) is caught in a rundown trying to score against Davis.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake courtesy runner Cheyenne Walker begins her slide into third base against Davis.
MOSES LAKE — “That’s gone,” a Davis coach murmured from inside the dugout as Brooke Richardson’s third-inning home run sailed over the center field wall.
That was only the beginning.
Richardson capped her day with five RBI in Game 2, seven total with two home runs, and Moses Lake swept Davis 16-0 and 20-4.
“She kind of continued where she left off on Tuesday,” head coach Mike Hofheins said. “It was crazy. She’s been a hot bat for sure... That was nice. She kind of sparked our offense, you could say.”
Moses Lake (5-1, 5-3) scored at will, building double digit leads by the third inning in both games.
Brooklyn Bailey and Kaylee Fowler-Valdez kick-started the offense in the early game with a two-run triple and two-run double, respectively, in the second inning. Poor defense by the Pirates — seven errors altogether — allowed the Chiefs to plate five more runs in the third inning.
Richardson’s seven total RBI was backed up by Bailey and Skinner’s three RBI each in the first game; Sydney Balderas — described by Hofheins as a player who could start on most teams in the league — came off the bench in Game 2 to double twice and drive in four.
“Sydney’s contribution primarily is as a bat off the bench and she kind of proved that’s where she is,” Hofheins said.
There was no rust on the Chiefs after a two-week break, scoring 56 runs in the three games with the Pirates.
Savannah Ashley did her part from the circle in Game 1. The freshman threw a one-hitter with one walk and no base-runner made it past first. Audree Montmeny hit a lead-off single in the second inning, but was thrown out trying to steal second base by Bailey.
“If something goes wrong they (our pitchers) just shrug it off and go get the next hitter,” Hofheins said.
The defense slipped a bit in the second game as Moses Lake committed four errors that Davis took advantage of. Skinner pitched a complete game with zero earned runs and seven strikeouts.
Offensively, Moses Lake led 13-1 after two innings. Richardson smacked a three-run double in the first inning and a two-run homer in the second. Tia Radach also went deep in the late game.
Moses Lake is currently tied with Eastmont for second place in the Columbia Basin Big Nine and trails Wenatchee by one win for the league lead.
“We want to win our fifth league title in a row,” Hofheins said. “That’s our goal.”
Game 1
ML — 4 4 5 3 16
D — 0 0 0 0 0 0
Highlights: Ashley one-hitter, shutout, eight strikeouts, one RBI; Richardson home run, two RBI; Bailey triple, three RBI; Skinner double, three RBI, Valdez two RBI
Game 2
ML — 6 7 4 3 20
D — 0 1 2 0 1 4
Highlights: Skinner seven strikeouts, one RBI; Richardson home run, five RBI, Tia Radach home run, two RBI; Sydney Balderas two doubles, four RBI; Kaylee Valdez one RBI; Paige Valdez one RBI; Sjuana Rose one RBI; Cheyenne Walker one RBI; Gabi Rios one RBI