MLHS fastpitch battles Eastmont

EAST WENATCHEE — The Moses Lake High School girls fastpitch team took on Eastmont High School on April 1 and walked away with one loss and a tie.

“I just think we weren’t ready to play. I don't know if we just thought we were going to waltz in there and just win and kind of not be in it mentally. But Eastmont, we knew they were going to be good, and they played well,” said Moses Lake High School head coach Mike Hofheins.

In game one Friday afternoon, the Chiefs struggled to get going and ultimately lost 15-5 to the hosting Wildcats.

The game was tied at 1-1 until the second inning when the Wildcats plated four runners and ultimately pulled away after scoring another four runs in the third inning. Sophomore Morgan Ross started in the circle for Moses Lake and then was relieved by junior Annalyse Hernandez in the second inning after going two-and-two-thirds innings and giving up eight runs. Hernandez finished out the game before the 10 run rule was invoked in the fifth inning as the Wildcats’ bats caught fire early in the game making it tough for Moses Lake to keep up. Offensive leaders for the game were sophomore Reagan Hofheins who went 2-3, one RBI, senior Riley Sanchez who went 2-3, one RBI and sophomore Mikayla Schwartz who went 2-3 with two runs scored.

In game two, freshman Paige Richardson pitched Moses Lake to a tie. The freshman pitched an eight inning gem to secure a tie with the Wildcats in the nightcap. The pitcher's duel between Richardson and Eastmont’s Brittany Howe kept fans on the edges of their seats as they kept each team off the board the first two innings.

In the third inning, Moses Lake got on the board first when Hofheins drove Schwartz in on a double to left field. Eastmont matched with Emily Osborne and Howe to load the bases. Richardson was able to get Eastmont’s Ellise Holben to pop up to the catcher, MLHS junior Katelyn Kriete and then struck out Eastmont’s Hallie Pierce to end the threat.

The score remained knotted at one until the eighth inning when MLHS sophomore Kendall Reffett drove in Schwartz to take the lead. Eastmont would tie the game on a sacrifice fly from Heinz. Moses Lake would get the Wildcats to fly out to Hernandez to end the inning and ultimately the game.

The game would end in a tie of 2-2 as the sun had gone down and it wasn't safe for players to continue playing. The game could remain as a tie on the two teams records or could be finished at a later date. That decision will be made jointly by both schools’ respective athletic directors.

“I think it's going to be a shame if they leave at a tie and that (could) determine first and second (in the league),” said coach Hofheins.

Offensive leaders for Moses Lake included Hofeheins with one hit, one RBI, Schwartz 2-3, two runs and Reffett with one hit, one RBI.

“We didn't really get off the bus and we kind of got punched in the mouth. We responded in game two, which I was super proud of. Hopefully we can build on that moving forward,” said coach Hofheins.

The Chiefs are 5-2-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the league. They next take on Davis High School in a doubleheader on April 15 at Moses Lake High School.

Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.