MOSES LAKE - With a solid core of returning players, Moses Lake softball figures to once again be the class of the Columbia Basin Big Nine.

The Chiefs finished last season 20-4, are the reigning Big Nine and district champions, and appeared in the state tournament.

After winning its first state game against Bellarmine Prep, 3-1, the team struggled and dropped two straight against Woodinville and Tahoma.

Head coach Dave Gregory expects Moses Lake to be competitive with the top programs in the state despite the early exit from last year's tournament.

"Coach always has high hopes," he said. "One thing we did last year was we lost our two senior pitchers, but on the positive side we got two sophomores coming up that are really pretty good ... We're going to be solid, very competitive."

Yes, the Chiefs will be without the pitching tandem of Haylie VanLaethem and Sadie Smigaj.

Last season, VanLaethem was named to the All Big Nine first team while Smigaj as named honorable mention.

However, Moses Lake does return the reigning Big Nine Offensive Player of the year, third baseman Jazmynn Jesse, and Defensive Player of the Year, catcher Tressa Radach.

"(Radach's) the real deal," Gregory said. "She's probably one of the best defensive catchers I've ever had."

Radach terrorizes base runners to the point of eliminating the opposition's willingness to steal.

"They don't," Gregory said. "If they do they usually get thrown out by about three feet and it's amazing how word travels. We were at that state tournament and I think she threw one or two runners out, but nobody tried to steal. Word gets around."

Moses Lake begins its schedule against traditional 3A power University. Right now, Gregory said the team is about a week behind in preparation due to inclement weather and the girls basketball team's extended run through the state tournament.

After University, it doesn't get any easier for the Chiefs.

"Our non-league schedule, that's one thing about Mr. Sandhop, he puts us up against the best just to see where we're at," Gregory said. "We play Woodinville that two years ago was state champs and then last year they were placed fourth. We play Mount Si. They're a 3A team ... They took third a couple years ago and I think they took fifth last year. Our competition at the start is going to be huge."

The brutal non-league schedule figures to prepare Moses Lake for a league schedule that will have at least three teams tugging at the Chiefs' cape.

"Moses Lake's been tough for years," Gregory said. "We're always in contention ... Even when we had the Tri-Cities schools too ... It's going to be the same four teams: Wenatchee, Eisenhower and Eastmont. Either one of them could knock somebody off. I feel real confident and it's important that we kind of win that league because we get a number one seed going into districts, which is huge."

Saturday's game against University is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Larson Field.