Moses Lake softball looks to reload, not rebuild

MOSES LAKE — Every player that saw significant time in the field and in the batter’s box for Moses Lake was all-league a season ago.

Some returned, but most graduated, and perhaps after four consecutive league and district championships a drop off is due.

Just don’t tell that to new head coach Mike Hofheins.

“I just hope to continue his (former head coach Dave Gregory) success,” Hofheins said. “We’re at least four-time consecutive league champs, if not more, so I want to be five in a row. That’s what I want. I told the girls from the get-go — I said our goals are league title, district title, state title. Period. I don’t care if we graduated six girls off last year’s team. That doesn’t change our focus; that doesn’t change our mindset.

“This is a new year and we’re going to work hard to reach those goals.”

Hofheins is no stranger to the diamond, having coached five years of club softball in Moses Lake and nine years of baseball in Othello.

Despite being heavy in the freshmen and sophomore ranks, the cupboard certainly isn’t bare.

Varsity starters Kaylee Valdez, Tia Radach, Brooke Richardson and Brooklyn Bailey return. Valdez, Radach and Richardson are the three captains.

“I hope to show them (the younger players) really what it’s all about,” said Richardson, who started at shortstop last season. “Because we’re such a young team they’ll see how some of the experienced girls kind of work their way through everything and hopefully they’ll learn more from us.”

Infield is the strong suit for the Chiefs at this juncture with Richardson (shortstop), Radach (second base) and Valdez (third base) back. However, the big question is in the circle.

Pitchers Marnie Skinner and Peyton Ries — both three-year starters — graduated. Skinner was the Columbia Basin Big Nine MVP her last two seasons and accepted a scholarship to play for Iona College.

“Three of my four main pitchers are freshmen,” Hofheins said. “It’s kind of a big unknown right now so we’re going to throw them out there in the jamboree and see what we get.”

With young pitchers, a solid defense behind them is crucial.

“We have a strong infield, I believe, and with them pitching it will be a lot of grounders and line drives and we have a strong defense to back it up so I don’t feel like we’ll have any problems with it,” Richardson said.

A key component to that defense is rangy outfielder Brooklyn Bailey. Bailey started in center field as a freshman and equaled her defensive acumen with plenty of punch from her bat.

“The girl can run and hit and throw,” Hofheins said. “She’s a pretty versatile athlete. Even though she’s just a sophomore she’s got a ton of experience and she’s a leader on this team. We’ve got a lot of girls who are leaders even if they aren’t captains.”

Moses Lake hopes to begin its season at the Richland Jamboree on Saturday. Although, the abundance of bad weather during winter sports could taint the beginning of spring.

“I’m excited to be back outside playing, but seeing it’s supposed to rain all day Saturday let’s hope we still get to play,” Richardson said.