BBCC takes on Edmonds and Pierce in weekend tournament
Big Bend Baseball player Kalia Agustin (4) is up to bat during the double header against Edmonds College on March 18.
REBECCA PETTINGILL/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Big Bend Baseball player Brock Rindlisbacher (2) leads on first base as an Edmonds College player stays prepared on March 18.
Big Bend Baseball player Kai Jones (1) dives to get back to first base before the first baseman can get him out during the double header against Edmonds College on March 18.
Big Bend right-handed pitcher Timmy Williams (21) winds up during the double header on March 18 against Edmonds College.
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College hosted Edmonds and Pierce colleges for a three-team baseball tournament over the weekend.
BBCC head coach Chase Tunstall said he is excited for the season and is working with an even mix of fresh faces and returning players.
On Friday, the Big Bend Vikings lost to Edmonds College in a double header, 0-3 and 3-7. There was a moment in the second game where Big Bend had victory within reach.
Edmonds had three runs on the board, one in the first inning, one in the fourth and one in the fifth. The Vikings were behind 3-0 before bringing in two runs in the sixth inning. They were able to hold Edmonds back during the seventh inning and tie the score at 3-all with a run in the seventh inning. However, Edmonds made a big push in the ninth inning to score four additional runs and held the Vikings back to take the game.
Saturday Big Bend took on Pierce College and won 6-5. Big Bend took Pierce on again Sunday, but lost 11-4.
The Vikings are currently 5-7 overall. Their batting average is .300, on base percentage .450 and slugging percentage is .418, according to the Big Bend athletics website.
The team next takes on Tacoma Community College at Tacoma in a double header on March 26.
This season is Tunstall’s first year as head coach and has big aspirations for Big Bend baseball.
Tunstall grew up in Moses Lake and his father was the hitting coach at Big Bend from around 2002-2006. From ages 5 to 9, Tunstall was the bat boy for the team.
“It was an absolute dream of mine to be a Big Bend baseball player, which I actually did. After high school, I went and played two years here at Big Bend and then I went on and played in South Dakota at a Division II college. I came back and I realized while playing college baseball that I wanted to be a head coach,” Tunstall Said. “And so, when (Jameson Lange) stepped down this year, I thought this was a great opportunity for me to start on my dream.”
Tunstall said Moses Lake is where he wants to build a nationally-known baseball team and aid players in going on to bigger divisions or even the MLB. He added that both he and his wife have deep roots in the Moses Lake community and don't plan on living anywhere else. He said he does not see this team as a stepping stone for himself to go on to a bigger or better school, but instead a place to build upon.
“And that's the big thing is I want to build something special and if I'm given the opportunity to do that and build a foundation here and a culture. I'd love to stay here for 30 years.” said Tunstall.
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.
