Brooklyn Bailey has 7 RBI, Moses Lake routs West Valley in CBBN opener
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake's Brooklyn Bailey heads home after a 3-run home run against West Valley.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake center fielder Brooklyn Bailey connects on the first of two home runs against West Valley.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake third baseman Madison Olson fields a ground ball against West Valley.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake starter Gina Skinner delivers to the plate against West Valley.
MOSES LAKE — Brooklyn Bailey was unable to play in last year’s series against West Valley.
Welcome back.
Bailey, Moses Lake’s junior center fielder, went deep twice and drove in seven runs. Bailey’s gaudy RBI total accounted for half of Moses Lake’s runs in a 14-0 five-inning affair.
“We knew our expectations,” she said. “We knew that they got us that one game and that we knew to come back firing this season. I, personally, didn’t get a chance to play against West Valley last season because I was really sick, but I was excited. I haven’t played since freshman year against them and I really wanted to show it all I got.”
The Chiefs wasted no time lighting up their brand new scoreboard.
Savannah Ashley drove in two runs in the first inning when her line drive skidded past West Valley’s center fielder.
The Chiefs added four more runs in the second inning, most of which on the first of two 3-run blasts from Bailey.
“The girls have been talking about the fact that West Valley’s a team that probably could be in the list of teams that could challenge us for a league title and so they wanted to send a message,” head coach Mike Hofheins said. “Of course they beat us last year once... I’ve been hearing them talk about that and reminding themselves of that a lot. That’s certainly been in their minds, so they wanted to send a message and I think they did.”
Loud and clear.
Already with a comfortable lead, the Moses Lake lineup really found its groove against West Valley’s freshman pitcher Tori Espinoza in the fourth inning.
Cheyenne Walker and Gina Skinner began the frame with consecutive singles, setting up Bailey again. Bailey turned on the first pitch she saw and cranked another ball over the center field fence.
“We knew that we weren’t going to see too many kinds of pitches,” she said. “I, personally, went up there thinking my first pitch was probably going to be my best pitch. Most of the girls knew exactly what they were looking for, too, and I think that it’s good knowing what pitch you can hit best.”
The rest of the order followed suit.
Paige Valdez, Laurissa Martinez, Michelle Turner and Walker hit consecutive RBI singles to put the game out of reach.
Skinner, with her change-up working and her defense playing well behind her, navigated West Valley’s lineup with little issue. Skinner struck out six in five innings and allowed only three hits. No Ram reached third base.
“That change-up was pretty deadly,” Hofheins said. “I’m glad I don’t have to hit against it.”
Box score
WV — 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2
ML — 2 4 0 8 X 14 15 1
Highlights
Brooklyn Bailey 2 HR, 7 RBI; Savannah Ashley 3 hits, 2 RBI; Gina Skinner 5 IP, 6 K