Mavs make a run at state softball

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Mavericks Softball team finished their run at the 4A state tournament in the first round of consolation Friday afternoon. The Mavs fell to Issaquah 1-12 in the initial bracket and 3-4 to Tahoma in consolation. 

“I’m super proud of how they fought to the very end, the last pitch, last play, and I mean that’s all you can ask for,” said Mavs head coach Mike Hofheins. 

The Mavs were placed as the fourteenth seed overall in the tournament, which put them against third-seeded Issaquah in the first game of the tournament. Paige Richardson and Amelia Avalos each collected two hits in the game, with Mya Martinez earning the one run batted in during the bottom of the second. 

Richardson started on the mound for the Mavs, striking out one and allowing nine hits and nine runs. Caitlin Decubber came in to pitch in the fourth before the game ended 1-12 in the fifth from the ten-run rule. 

“We played with great energy and great effort,” said Hofheins after game one. “We just never seemed to get that clutch hit to get them in.” 

As the team went into their next game, they hoped to continue putting in the same effort that they had put out against Issaquah, said Hofheins. They faced the No. 6 seed, Tahoma, in the first round of the consolation bracket.  

Tahoma came out early, scoring runs in both the first and third innings. The Mavs in tied the game up in the fifth inning when a double down the left field by Addi Reffett scored two runs. Tahoma put up another run in the bottom of the fifth and in the top of the seventh, Hayden Morris hit a home run to tie the game back up at 3-3 before Tahoma scored their final run in the bottom of the seventh to end the game 3-4. 

Richardson started on the mound for the Mavs once again, where she struck out eight batters. Reffett led the team with two runs batted in, with Morris and Decubber each collecting two hits for the team. 

“The effort that we had, the grit, we couldn’t be more proud of our girls on how they competed,” said Mavs assistant coach Jake Berthoff. “You can tell our girls wanted it, we do belong here. I loved how they responded after game one, kind of regrouped, pulled things back together.” 

Looking back on the season, Mavs’ pitching coach Bob Richardson said that while it started off slow for the team, they came up stronger as the months progressed and finished strong. Each of the coaches highlighted the leadership that the three seniors on the team brought on as well this year. 

“Overall, the girls grew and that bodes well for next year,” said coach Richardson.  

Going into next season, the Mavs will have multiple new senior players but will mostly be the same team as they were this year. 

“We have a core group of juniors that are just really good softball players,” said Hofheins. “I think we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with next year, they set the bar high, so the expectations are to get back here.” 

As the spring season closes, the players will continue to expand their softball careers, whether that be through summer and fall ball or with their high school or college next year. 

“Anytime you’re coaching players who just want to work and get better, it’s pretty fun,” said Hofheins. “If you come to work every day to try to get better, then good things will happen, and you’ll get to the state tournament and once you’re here, anything can happen.” 

    Paige Richardson prepares to pitch with Hayden Morris on defense in the back. Richardson struck out one batter in game one and racked up eight strike outs as the pitcher in game two.
  

    The Mavs’ Caitlin Decubber makes a catch in the outfield for a third out in game two against Tahoma. She also pitched relief in the final inning of game one.
  

    Hayden Morris makes a throw for first in game two against Tahoma. Morris hit a home run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game up 3-3.
  

    The Mavs’ Amelia Avelos catches a strike pitched by Paige Richardson. Avelos collected two hits in game one against Issaquah.