After weather delay, Moses Lake takes care of Sunnyside 17-0
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake's Tia Radach, right, high-fives Brooklyn Bailey after scoring in the first inning against Sunnyside.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake starter Gina Skinner delivers to the plate against Sunnyside.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Brooklyn Bailey jumps over the ball on her way to third base.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Brooke Richardson heads home after her first-inning home run.
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake brought the thunder — literally and figuratively.
After a 30-plus minute delay due to thunder and lightning, it was the Chiefs’ turn. Brooklyn Bailey and Brooke Richardson both homered and Moses Lake routed Sunnyside 17-0.
Most of the damage was done in a 12-run first inning.
“It’s sometimes hard to lose focus a little bit and we’ve been preaching that,” head coach Mike Hofheins. “We knew we were better than them coming and we just wanted to make sure we stayed sharp — still swinging at the right pitches and seeing the zone and still being fundamentally sound on defense and base running.”
Gina Skinner and Savannah Ashley pitched a combined no-hitter. Skinner walked one batter, but otherwise cruised through the first three innings with four strikeouts.
Off a quick warm-up, Ashley had a bumpy fourth inning with two walks and a hit batter. However, she was picked up by her defense when Skinner fielded a blooper in shallow center field and fired to third base for the force out. The heady play resulted in a fielder’s choice, preserving the no-no.
“They’re similar personalities,” Hofheins said. “Savannah’s a little quieter than Gina, but they kind of have that same attitude on the mound and they just go get it.”
A three-run jack by Bailey followed by Richardson’s third home run in as many games highlighted the first-inning barrage. Bailey got just enough of her offering to muscle a high pop up over the left right fence. Conversely, Richardson hit a screamer to right-center.
“Everyone’s getting reps in and hitting the ball well,” third baseman Kaylee Valdez said.
Michelle Turner, Paige Valdez and Tia Radach also drove in runs during the first inning.
Skinner knocked in a run in the second inning; Turner and Sydney Balderas both hit RBI singles in the third.
The win pushed Moses Lake’s (6-1, 6-3) streak to five in a row with two more games at Sunnyside on Friday. Wenatchee surrendered first place in the Columbia Basin Big Nine to Moses Lake and Eastmont after a 14-5 loss to West Valley on Tuesday.
“We have to look forward to next week and stay focused,” Kaylee Valdez said.
Box score
ML — 12 3 2 0 17
SS — 0 0 0 0 0 0
Highlights: Brooklyn Bailey three-run home run; Brooke Richardson home run; Paige Valdez two-run single; Michelle Turner two RBI; Gina Skinner three innings pitched, no hits; Savannah Ashley two innings pitched, no hits