The Kids become men’s softball upper division champs
The Kids come together after becoming upper division champions in the Moses Lake Men’s softball league. The championship round was between the number two seeded The Kids team and the number one seed Desert Dawgs.
CALEB PEREZ/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
A Dawgs player runs for first base during the second game of the upper division championships. The Dawgs earned a victory in their first game of the night against The Kids, which put the team into the final game to decide the division champs.
A Kids player bats during the first inning of the second game against the Desert Dawgs. The Kids will face off against an All-Star team made up of selected players from all the other teams in the league.
The Desert Dawgs pitcher tosses the ball from the mound during the upper division championships. The Dawgs entered this game following their victory during the championship qualifying bracket last Thursday.
From the outfield, a Kids player prepares to throw the ball back toward the diamond during the first game of the upper division championships.
A Dawgs player catches a high ball in the outfield during the team’s first game against The Kids in the upper division championships.
A player from The Kids prepares to hit the ball during the championship game against the Dawgs.
MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Men’s softball season ended Monday evening when the Desert Dawgs faced The Kids in a doubleheader for the upper division championships. The competition was close, but The Kids came out on top to become upper division champions.
“We did good. We hit the ball when we needed to. We locked down,” said The Kids team captain Sakiel Garza. “A lot of scoreless innings on defense, which was good. A lot of just taking our base one at a time.”
The Kids entered the night with the advantage as the higher placed team, only needing to win the first game to become champions. The Dawgs entered Monday’s matchup coming off of their Thursday victory against the Ten Pin Brewts.
Game one came down to the final innings as both teams kept the competition close throughout. The Dawgs held The Kids to zero runs in the final inning of the first game to earn a 13-12 victory and put the tournament into one final tiebreaker game.
“Game one, we were up and then they came back fighting,” said Kids player Kevin Garza. “But we said let's regroup, let’s restart this.”
The second game started very similarly with both teams keeping pace with each other throughout each inning. Both teams started off strong, making multiple scoring hits in the first few innings.
This time, The Kids held the Dawgs to a few scoreless innings, giving them the advantage and earning The Kids the 18-17 victory to become the upper division champs. Saki said that the team’s ability to lock down on defense was the key to their victory.
“Our sticks were there all game, but just locking down the defense,” he said.
The players said that the most important part of the men’s softball league in Moses Lake is the community that it creates.
“Getting together once a week is amazing,” said Kevin. “To come out here and play ball with other people, especially with family and friends, it’s kind of huge.”
Sakiel said that he appreciates that the league gives the players who have enjoyed playing baseball their whole lives the opportunity to keep enjoying the sport as they get older. He also said he would like to thank the sponsors Liftem, G-Force and Jab Fitness for their support this season.
The Moses Lake Men’s softball season will fully conclude with the All-Star game next Monday at 7:30 p.m. The Kids will face off against a team made up of selected players from each team.
A Dawgs player runs for first base during the second game of the upper division championships. The Dawgs earned a victory in their first game of the night against The Kids, which put the team into the final game to decide the division champs.
A Kids player bats during the first inning of the second game against the Desert Dawgs. The Kids will face off against an All-Star team made up of selected players from all the other teams in the league.
The Desert Dawgs pitcher tosses the ball from the mound during the upper division championships. The Dawgs entered this game following their victory during the championship qualifying bracket last Thursday.
From the outfield, a Kids player prepares to throw the ball back toward the diamond during the first game of the upper division championships.
A Dawgs player catches a high ball in the outfield during the team’s first game against The Kids in the upper division championships.
A player from The Kids prepares to hit the ball during the championship game against the Dawgs.