Young Mav slowpitch team prepares for season

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake has qualified for each of the four state slowpitch softball tournaments since the WIAA sanctioned the sport in 2018; this season, it’ll come down to having the youth on the team stepping into new roles.

“On paper, people are probably going to say that we graduated a lot and might take a step down, but I think we’re going to be right in the mix to win the league and be a high seed at the state tournament if we stay healthy and play like I think we can play,” Head Coach Mike Hofheins said.  

A year ago, Moses Lake earned both league and district titles with a 17-7 season, making its way to the 4A State Slowpitch Softball Tournament. At the state tournament, Moses Lake fell 11-4 to Skyview and 15-17 to Central Valley. 

The Mavericks had seven players graduate off last season’s slowpitch roster, including all-leaguers in Kendall Reffett, Trinity Nations and Mikayla Schwartz, the latter of the three being named the Big 9’s Offensive Player of the Year. Two more positions in the outfield will also need to be filled with Morgan Ross and Emmie Olsen graduating. 

Returning in 2024 are all-leaguers in sophomore Amelia Avalos, senior Jenika Balderas, junior Alina Lopez and senior Paige Richardson. 

“We definitely have a lot of spots to fill, a lot of new faces,” Richardson said. “It’ll be good – it's exciting to see new faces, where everyone’s going to play and how we’re going to build it back up.” 

With only three seniors and a handful of juniors, a good bulk of this year’s Maverick players will be underclassmen. 

“A lot of them have been in the varsity dugout, but having expectations on them will be new,” Hofheins said. “I feel good about our lineup.”  

Outside of the pitching style, there are a handful of other rules that separate slowpitch softball from fastpitch; for starters, there are four outfielders compared to the typical three that play in the spring, and batters can’t bunt while baserunners can’t steal bases. 

“It’s great, all the baserunning reps that we get and intensity part of it – the camaraderie that you build by being together another nine or 10 weeks,” Hofheins said. “All of those things have been nothing but positive for our overall program.” 

Hofheins said the team’s defense has been a standout through early practices. 

“That’s the name of this game, everyone’s going to put the ball in play,” Hofheins said. “The more you can defend, the better shot you’ve got.” 

Defensive play is also one of the key facets of the game players can take from slowpitch season in the fall into fastpitch season in the spring. Junior Lila Johnson added that team chemistry translates to the spring as well. 

“Especially outfielders, you get so much action in the outfield,” Reffett said. “It can get you a spot on (fastpitch) varsity; more reps will get you that much better.” 

Transportation to and from games along with field maintenance are some of the concerns that have arisen due to the Moses Lake School District’s failed educational programs and operations levy in April, Hofheins said, who added that the team will power through the off-the-field issues. 

“Transportation’s going to be an adventure – a lot of parent help with that,” Hofheins said. “Maintenance is down, so our field is needing some TLC. Those are things that we’ve been working on in practice, we turn the water on and work around it. It is what it is; you can complain about it, or you can embrace it. We’re just going to compete.” 

Moses Lake begins the 2024 season at home in a doubleheader against Walla Walla on Sept. 12. First pitch is at 3:30 p.m. 

    Moses Lake junior Lila Johnson throws a ball back toward the infield during a Sept. 3 practice.
  

    Moses Lake senior Paige Richardson pitches during a game against Hermiston last season. Richardson is one of the team’s three seniors this season.
  

    A Moses Lake player throws the ball to third base to record an out during a Sept. 3 practice.