Lions split doubleheader with Waterville-Mansfield

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions (3-6) split their home doubleheader against Waterville-Mansfield on Tuesday, earning an 18-8 victory in the first game and falling 2-17 in the second. Lions Head Coach Todd Gregory said the victory in the first game was the team’s most convincing win this season. 

“The first game was the best game I’ve seen them play all year. It was great,” said Gregory. “If they play like that, they can play anybody, so you just got to figure out how to do it in two games.” 

Waterville was the first to score in game one with a homerun that scored three runs in the first inning, but the Lions responded with two runs of their own. In the second inning, Waterville added five runs to the scoreboard and MLCA/CCS trailed just behind with three runs to put the game at 5-8.

After a scoreless inning from both teams in the third, the Lions flipped the game on its head and scored 10 runs on five hits to pull ahead 15-8. Junior MLCA/CCS player Taylor Starnes had the biggest contribution in the inning as she hit a triple that drove in three. 

MLCA/CCS added another three runs in the bottom of the fifth which ended the game on the 10-run rule 18-8 in favor of the Lions. 

Liana Spike led the Lions offensively as she drove in four runs on two hits, she was followed by Kaylie Schmidt, who also collected two hits, and Starnes, who drove in four runs. Emma Collins earned four walks during the game, adding to the team's total of 19 walks. 

Mattie Whitaker earned the win for MLCA/CCS on the mound, allowing three hits and eight runs over five innings while striking out 11 and walking six. 

“The first two innings we gave up some runs and then shut them out the rest of the game, so they played really well,” said Gregory. 

The Lions’ momentum took an unfortunate shift in game two as Waterville-Mansfield put up six runs in the first inning. The Lions followed up in the bottom of the inning, driving in two, one from Whitaker and another from Schmidt.  

Adversity mounted for MLCA/CCS in the second game as both catchers had to be taken out of the game due to a forearm injury from a loose bat and a recurring thumb injury, putting Whitaker in the catching position and allowing Spike to fill in as pitcher.  

Gregory said the loss of those two teammates stunted the Lions’ drive and slowed down their pace. With Waterville-Mansfield adding six runs in the second, three runs in the third and two runs in the fourth, the Lions fell 2-17 as the game ended after the fourth inning. 

“I think just the cold and losing your starters, everyone was kind of down,” said the coach. “The plus to that is there at the end they started hitting the ball, they didn’t give up on it, so that was good to see.” 

MLCA/CCS has a few days before their next matchup and Gregory said the team will be focused on finding a replacement catcher if the two catchers don’t recover in time. Another focus for the players will be getting more aggressive on the base paths. 

“There are times when we’re not taking the extra base scoring,” he said. “When you play good teams, you’ve got to take advantage of all the runs you can, so we need to get more aggressive on the base paths and they need to understand what they’re seeing when they’re getting leads and jumping off the base.” 

The Lions head on the road Saturday to face Wilbur-Creston-Keller in a doubleheader with the first game starting at noon. 

BOX SCORES 

GAME ONE:  

WVMF: 3-5-0-0-0: 8 

MLCA: 2-3-0-10-3: 18 

GAME TWO:  

WVMF: 6-6-3-2: 17 

MLCA: 2-0-0-0: 2 

    MLCA/CCS player Mattie Whitaker gears up to pitch the ball during Tuesday afternoon’s matchup against Waterville-Mansfield.
  

    Kaylie Schmidt from MLCA/CCS rushes to home plate to score a run in game two against Waterville-Mansfield.
  

    Lions player Kimberly Monforton runs to first base after making a hit during Tuesday’s doubleheader.
  

    After making a hit, Crystal Lambert from MLCA/CCS heads for first against Waterville-Mansfield.
  

    Liana Spike from the Lions steps up to bat against Waterville-Mansfield during Tuesday afternoon’s doubleheader.