Mavs win big in double header against Ike

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Mavericks softball team earned two big wins against Eisenhower on Thursday afternoon, putting the team 6-0 on the season. 

“I think our games went really well,” said Mavs player Hayden Morris. “We really played as a team, and I think our freshmen came up big for us today in both games.” 

In the first game, the Mavs got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Addi Reffett doubled to center field and Mya Martinez singled to center field, each scoring one run. The team went on to score nine runs on seven hits in the second with Lila Johnson drawing a walk, Reffett singling, Martinez tripling, and Morris hitting a home run. 

Anisa Valdez started on the mound for the Mavs and allowed three hits and zero runs over four innings, striking out none and walking two. The game ended in the fifth inning with the Mavs winning 21-0. 

The Mavs had similar success in the second inning with Morris hitting a home run in both the first and second innings. Valdez once again started on the mound for the Mavs, where she allowed four hits and zero runs over four innings, striking out zero and walking two, with the Mavs winning 19-0. 

“I feel like we all had solid hits today,” said Morris. “Our bats were moving and it worked.” 

Mavs head coach Mike Hofheins said the team came out ready to play Wednesday following a rougher start in their previous game. The Mavs showed strong defense throughout both games as they didn’t allow a single run to be scored in either game.  

"For the most part, I feel like we played solid defense. We pitched better than we did on Tuesday in general, and we hit the ball,” said the coach. “We kind of were playing well in all three phases.” 

He said one thing he wants to have the Mavs working on is keeping their focus even when they are ahead. He doesn’t want the Mavs to allow any mistakes on their end to result in scores, as that can turn the game around on them. 

“We’re a pretty good team and we’re going to have some lopsided scores if we play well, but we can’t lose focus when that happens,” said Hofheins. “We have to stay just as sharp because all that stuff is making deposits that we have to withdraw when the games are close in the postseason.” 

Morris said, moving forward, the Mavs will also need to work on their communication on the field and will work to become closer as a team. 

“We’ve grown a lot already and we’ve only played four games,” she said. “I’m excited to keep on the upward path.” 

The Mavs’ next game will be an on-the-road doubleheader against Grandview this Wednesday, with the first game starting at 3 p.m. 

BOX SCORES:  

GAME ONE: 

MLHS: 2-9-9-1-x-x-x: 21
ESNH: 0-0-0-0-0-x-x: 0 

GAME TWO:  

MLHS: 8-6-3-2-x-x-x: 19
ESNH: 0-0-0-0-0-x-x: 0 

    Anisa Valdez pitches for the Mavs during their first game of the afternoon against Eisenhower. Valdez threw four innings in the first and second games where she allowed zero runs overall.

    Mavs senior Lila Johnson catches a hit in the outfield for an out against Eisenhower. Head coach Mike Hofheins said the team did a great job on defense through both games.
  

    Samantha Kling, a senior with the Mavs, prepares to make a hit at a pitch during the second game against Eisenhower. The Mavs were strong at the plate, scoring 21 points in the first game and 19 in the second.
  

    Mavs player Ely Vela throws the ball back into the diamond following a catch. Head coach Mike Hofheins said the team will work on sharpening their skills into the future