Moses Lake's rallies come up short at state
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake pitcher Savannah Ashley delivers to the plate against Tahoma.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Kaylee Valdez makes a throw from third base to Paige Valdez at first base.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake's Gina Skinner (1) rounds second base against Battle Ground.
SPOKANE — Throughout the season, Moses Lake had the propensity to come back from any kind of adversity.
A team comprised mostly of freshman and sophomores showed a grit well beyond their years.
But, at a state tournament that features the most talented teams across Washington, it’s difficult to constantly be playing from behind.
Moses Lake trailed by as many as 10 runs in both of its state tournament games, losing to Battle Ground in the first round 17-4 and Tahoma in the consolation bracket 13-7.
“My team, the Moses Lake Chiefs, never quit,” outfielder Cheyenne Walker said. “We, honestly, once one person is up everyone’s up. When someone’s knocked down we pick each other back up. Especially this year, no one’s down ever no matter what’s going on. We could’ve lost by 30 and we still would’ve been up cheering.
“I love that it’s always positive. There’s no negativity at all and it really helps in game time.”
Having played only one district playoff game between the end of the regular season on May 12 and the first day of the state tournament on May 26, it took Moses Lake a couple innings to really settle in.
Battle Ground took full advantage of that shaky start.
Haley Buck hit two three-run home runs and the Tigers sprinted to a 12-0 lead after two innings.
Freshman pitcher Gina Skinner took her lumps figuratively and literally. For the second game in a row, a line drive was hit off of Skinner’s legs and she was replaced by Savannah Ashley in the third inning.
Ashley allowed a solo home run to Battle Ground starter Danyelle Joli, but did mitigate the damage with three innings of solid relief.
Brooke Richardson doubled in two runs in the seventh and Hadleigh Cranston had an RBI single.
Ashley got the start in Game 2 against Tahoma and did her best to navigate a lineup that was only two years removed from a state championship.
“I hope they’re (Skinner and Ashley) here for the next three years,” head coach Mike Hofheins said. “We’re only going to get better.”
The Bears scratched out a 4-0 lead after four innings, but were able to pull away with a six-run fifth. Center fielder Tia Radach did her best to keep the ball in play, crashing through the fence, but Danika Dennis hit a two-run blast to begin the Bears’ run.
Trailing 10-0 and down to their final three outs, Walker led the bottom of the fifth off with a double, Radach reached on an error and Michelle Turned walked to load the bases with no outs.
Richardson ensured the Chiefs at least one more at-bat with an RBI single. Ashley and Paige Valdez followed suit with consecutive RBI singles to make the score 10-3.
“They don’t quit,” Hofheins said. “We weren’t sharp defensively all day, but our pitchers didn’t get frustrated, they didn’t hang their head, they didn’t get on their defense. They just kept battling and then offensively we just kept playing.”
Moses Lake tried one more rally down 13-4 in the bottom of the seventh. Turner hit an RBI single and Skinner hit a two-run single to pull the Chiefs within six runs before the final out was recorded.
“We showed a little bit of our youth today, but I like our spirit a lot,” Hofheins said. “I had a dad from another team come talk to me and he’s like, ‘Your girls play until the last out. They don’t quit.’”
Game 1
BG — 6 6 4 1 0 17
ML — 0 0 0 1 3 4
Highlights: Richardson 3x3, 2 RBI; Ashley 1 RBI
Game 2
T — 0 2 1 1 6 2 1 13
ML — 0 0 0 0 3 1 3 7
Highlights: Turner 1 R, 1 RBI; Skinner 2x4, 2 RBI; Richardson 2 RBI; Ashley 1 RBI; Kaylee Valdez 1 R; Paige Valdez 2x4, 1 RBI; Gabi Rios 2x4; Walker 2x4, 2 R