18/19U River Dogs make move to American Legion baseball

MOSES LAKE — The 18/19U Columbia Basin River Dogs will have a new home this year, leaving the Babe Ruth League and playing in the American Legion under Moses Lake Senior Baseball. 

The move stems from MLSB recently separating from the Moses Lake Youth Baseball Association after it was acquired by the MLYBA last year, as well as the River Dogs seeking a new home.

“We decided to bring it all together this year; some of the (MLYBA) board was a little split over whether they wanted Legion to come on board, just because Moses Lake Youth Baseball had grown so much and they weren’t sure if they could have the full eyes on the older kids,” said Jason Avila, president of Moses Lake Senior Baseball.

Avila said he was approached by Quintz Whitaker, a River Dog coach, about merging into Moses Lake Senior Baseball. After resigning from his previous position as president of the MLYBA, Avila said he brought the idea to the association’s board. From there, MLSB and the MLYBA separated.

“They agreed that cutting ties would probably be the best thing so we could focus on Legion,” Avila said. 

Whitaker and former River Dog player Jeremy Martinez will take on the coaching of this year’s 18/19U team. The River Dogs will play 16 league games over the summer, which will determine seeding for a district tournament at the end of the season.

“The Legion league is set with two teams out of the Yakima area and two teams out of the Tri-Cities area,” Whitaker said. “It’s a five-team league that we’re set to play in for this coming year.”

American Legion baseball also has a different playoff format than the River Dogs previously had with the Babe Ruth League.

“That will allow us the ability to play some more playoff-type games,” Whitaker said. “Have a state tournament, regional tournament, World Series — that route may be a little bit more better defined at this point.”

Avila also left the door open for Moses Lake Senior Baseball to field an 18/19U Spuds team this summer as well as the 18/19U River Dogs, depending on player turnout.

“We’re hoping to get some more kids dialed in, and then we’ll see what range they are and if we’re capable of having a Spuds team,” Avila said. 

With the upcoming season about six months away, Avila said Moses Lake Senior Baseball is seeking sponsors for the 2024 year; money donated by sponsors is added on top of player fees, going toward travel costs and uniforms for players.

“These teams don’t run on themselves,” Avila said. “We absolutely need community support; we do charge player fees, but not enough to get these kids around the areas they need to play baseball in. We do want to reach out to our local community: Business owners, local citizens. If they do want to help out, they can reach out to anyone on our board.”

Money leftover from last year’s Moses Lake Spuds team was left with the Moses Lake Youth Baseball Association, Avila said.

“We figured that those kids deserve to use that money,” Avila said. “There wasn’t much left over, but we figured that would probably be the best so we’re not splitting funds.”

Those interested in donating can contact Avila at 509-760-1030, Moses Lake Senior Baseball Treasurer Oscar Ochoa at 509-760-3415 or the organization at MosesLakeSrBaseball@gmail.com. 

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

    The 18/19U Columbia Basin River Dogs begin their 2024 season just days after the high school baseball season concludes in May.