Mavericks open league play with double-win doubleheader

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (4-1) open league play undefeated after sweeping the Sunnyside Grizzlies 10-0 and 19-1 in a doubleheader Friday. Head Coach Mike Hofheins feels this will serve as a confidence booster going forward.  

“After the game, I just said, ‘Congratulations, you're tied for first in the league,’ which is where you want to be after your first doubleheader,” he said. 

The Mavericks controlled the first game on both sides of the ball. On offense, they jumped out to 4-0 lead before gradually building their lead over the next few innings. On defense, Caitlin Decubber struck out nine batters and allowed only one hit. In game two, Moses Lake broke the game wide open in the first inning with 10 runs. From there, they dug their heels in on defense while building their lead to secure the win in five innings.  

“What I'm really more pleased about is I feel like every time out, whether it be practice or a game, we just want to be better than the day before,” Hofheins said. “We got some freshmen that are playing some pretty big roles, and they're really stepping up, and the older girls are embracing them and bringing them in. They're getting valuable experience that come the end of the season is going to be huge.” 

Game one saw several highlights offensively for the Mavericks. Hayden Morris and Amilia Borchert scored two runs for the Mavs. Rounding out the final total with runs were Decubber, Alina Lopez, Charly Walker, Samantha Kling and Mya Martinez, who hit a home run.  

Putting in a shift at pitching was Decubber, who threw 90 pitches and 51 strikes. With Paige Richardson graduating last year, the Mavs needed to fill a void at pitcher. Decubber asked for the responsibility, Hofheins said.  

“She wants the ball, and usually there's not a lot of kids begging for the ball (or) to get in the circle, so we need that,” he said.  

However, the confidence to step up for the team and perform is thanks to the support her teammates provide her, Decubber said.  

“It's really good to have all the support behind me and my catcher believes in me. Having a great defense doesn't make me nervous to throw a pitch down the middle, because I know they're going to work with it, and they're going to do something positive with the ball, so just having that defense and support from my teammates is really what pushes me through,” she said.  

After securing a 10-0 win, the field was reset for game two. After being urged by Hofheins to find that second gear, the Mavericks didn’t waste any time taking the lead with 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning. This scoring run began with a homer by Morris who waved goodbye to the ball as she rounded first base. From there, Lopez, Kling, Josie Carlstrom, and Charly Walker got home. Decubber, Martinez and Morris scored twice in the same inning.  

Over the next four innings, the Mavericks held Sunnyside to one run while also building their lead with nine more runs spanning the fourth and fifth innings to secure their second win of the day. Avanie Avalos stepped into the pitcher's circle for game two, striking out six batters.  

Hofheins felt his team responded well and made the necessary adjustments in game two to erupt offensively the way they did.  

“I don't think we adjusted super well offensively to the pitcher (in game one). We gave them too many cheap outs. We almost played looser in the second game, and just kind of unleashed our bats. I think they kind of set out to prove, ‘Yeah, we're better than that, so let's go show it,’” Hofheins said.  

Throughout both games, the Mavs exuded a lot of confidence in and out of the dugout. Hofheins credits his senior players for their softball IQ and how it rubs off on the rest of the team.  

“I think it rubs off. Even our freshmen that played slow pitch, I feel like I've known them forever already, because I've been around them for so long – and that's valuable. That's what makes slow pitch so valuable. (If) we just keep making strides, I think we're going to be in the mix in the end,” Hofheins said.  

Decubber also credits the amount of time they have all played together as a contributor to their strong team chemistry.  

“We've all been playing together since we were young... we know everyone's potential. We trust each other and just having good practices every day, I think our confidence comes to practice every day and just believing in ourselves and our coaches believe in us and push us every day,” Decubber said.

The Mavericks return to the field on April 3 when they hit the road to play Eisenhower in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Their next home game is slated for April 17 in a doubleheader against Wenatchee starting at 3:30 p.m. 

BOX SCORE: 

Game One 

SNNY: 0-0-0-0-0: 0
MLHS: 4-1-1-1-3: 10 

Game Two 

SNNY: 1-0-0-0-0: 1
MLHS: 10-0-4-5-*: 19

    Caitlin Decubber (8) throws a pitch in game one against Sunnyside Friday. Decubber struck out nine batters in five innings.
  

    Avery Getzinger (15) steps up to bat for the Mavericks against Sunnyside Friday. Getzinger recorded a run and two RBIs in game two of their doubleheader.
  

    The Mavs’ Samantha Kling (4) throws the ball to third base when a Sunnyside player got caught leading off.
  

    The Mavericks Head Coach Mike Hofheins, left, commends Caitlin Decubber (8) after she executed a triple play against Sunnyside Friday.
  

    Charly Walker (26) eyes the pitcher as she steps up to bat for the Mavericks Friday.