WENATCHEE — The Moses Lake Chiefs softball team got off to a fast start to the 2009 Columbia Basin Big Nine season Thursday afternoon with a pair of victories over Columbia Division rival Wenatchee.

The Panthers of Wenatchee clawed their way to a 3-2 lead heading into the top of the final inning before Moses Lake pushed four base runners across home plate in the top of the seventh for a 6-3 lead.

The Chiefs kept the Panthers off of the scoreboard in the home-half of the inning and Moses Lake won their conference opener 6-2 in game one of Thursday’s doubleheader.

After sliding past the Panthers 6-3 with four runs late in game one, Moses Lake left little doubt in their 12-1 mercy-rule victory over Wenatchee in game two and the Chiefs improved to 2-0 in conference play.

The Chiefs ran out to a 9-0 lead before Wenatchee came to the plate in game two and Moses Lake held a 12-1 lead after just three innings to cruise past the Panthers.

Saturday

Ephrata 4-13, Wapato 3-4

EPHRATA — The Ephrata softball team got on track in Central Washington Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon with a two-game sweep over the visiting Wapato Wolves.

Ephrata junior Crystal Millard and Skylar Lund combined to hold the Wolves to just four hits in game one and the Tigers held on late for a 4-3 victory.

The Tigers scored two runs in each of the third and fourth innings to take a 4-0 lead over Wapato. Despite a late surge from the Wapato offense, Ephrata held on for victory in game one Saturday.

The Wapato offense carried their momentum from the end of game one into the beginning of game two, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. However, Ephrata scored four runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead after one inning of play. The Tigers scored six runs in the third and two more in the fourth to take a commanding 12-4 lead over the Wolves and Skylar Lund earned the victory in game two.

Thursday

Cashmere 11, Quincy 5

CASHMERE, Wash. — The Quincy softball team scored a pair of first inning runs on the road Thursday, but the Cashmere Bulldogs rallied to top the Jackrabbits 11-5.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the first and added five in the second for an early 8-2 lead. Quincy cut the deficit to four with a pair of runs in the third. The Jackrabbits pulled within 8-5 with a run in the fifth before the Bulldogs scored three runs late to earn the non-conference victory.

Othello 15-28, Wapato 0-0

WAPATO, Wash. — The defending 2A state softball champion Othello Huskies continued to roll Thursday night when they earned a pair of mercy-rule shut out victories in Wapato.

Othello cruised to a 15-0 victory in game one, capitalizing on 15 hits and four Wapato errors to earn the victory.

Wapato kept the Huskies off of the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, but the Huskies built a 3-0 lead after three innings of play. The Huskies and the Wolves played tight through four inning before Othello scored five runs in the fifth and another seven in the sixth to roll past Wapato in game one of the double header.

Although Wapato kept the potent Othello offense throughout the first half of game one, the Wolves were not so lucky in game two.

Othello scored in every inning during game two, including a 12-run burst to open the game. The Huskies continued to add to their lead in the second and third, taking a 21-0 lead after just three innings on their way to a 28-0 victory and two-game sweep over the Wolves.

Othello’s Eden Garza went a combined 6-for-9 with three triples and home run for the defending champions. Garza also added 10 RBIs for the Huskies.