MLCA/CCS Lions baseball still finding its paws
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 6 months AGO
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | March 8, 2024 1:10 AM
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions are still getting their paws under them, but they’re making progress on the diamond.
“I think we’ll have a good season,” said Assistant Coach Zach Jennings Thursday. “It's only our third year for the program, so quite a few guys that are brand-new, that haven't played before. A lot of it's just fundamentals and working on that.”
The MLCA/CCS boys had a tough year last year, being eliminated in the first round at districts and finishing the season at 4-8. But inexperience is a temporary thing, and every team gets better as the players and coaches learn to mesh.
“Coach CJ (Cheatwood) and I are both new coaches,” Jennings said. “This is my third year coaching. So (we’re) just learning how to work together.”
The veteran players are the ones to watch, Jennings said.
“Jonah (Robertson) is pretty good,” Jennings said. “He’s super athletic and a natural leader, so it’s nice to have that out on the field for us.”
“So far so good,” Robertson, who moves between pitcher, catcher and shortstop, said. “A couple more practices and … we’re pretty good. We’re all pretty athletic, so it’s more just learning how to play the game.”
“I think we’ve got potential this year,” said pitcher/first baseman Branden Schober, another three-year veteran of the program.
Second-year right fielder Antonio Serrato was a little more guarded.
“I don’t think we’re completely ready, but I don’t think we’re bad,” Serrato said. “I think it’s kind of a clean slate sort of thing. A little buildup because we have some younger guys just coming up.”
Joel Martin may be reached via email at [email protected].
MLCA/CCS Baseball Schedule
March 19 - at Ephrata C-Team - 4 p.m.
March 22 - vs Concordia Christian - 4:30 p.m.
April 9 - at Bridgeport - 4 p.m.
April 11 - vs Cascade (Leavenworth) - 4 p.m.
April 13 - at Waterville-Mansfield (doubleheader) - 11 a.m.
April 16 - at Riverside Christian - 4 p.m.
April 23 - vs Bridgeport - 4:30 p.m.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Quincy National Night Out scales down
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Quincy Police retirements leave big shoes to fill
QUINCY — There are some big shoes to fill at the Quincy Police Department. “We’re losing 48 years of experience between them,” Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green said at the retirement party for Capt. Jorge Trujillo and Det. Damon Powell Thursday. Trujillo, who grew up in Sunnyside, has been with QPD for 19 years, he said, coming on as a patrol officer fresh out of the military. From there he served as a field training officer, a detective and finally captain. “I consider him my left-hand man,” Green said. “He runs the operations side of the house … He knows the agency very well, and he knows the community.” Trujillo has some projects around the house to tackle now that he’s retired, he said.
Big fun on a small scale
Wheat Land Communities’ Fair opens Thursday
RITZVILLE — The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair isn’t as big or as flashy as some of the county fairs around central Washington, but the folks who keep it going like it just the way it is. “It’s somewhere you can go and get an old-time traditional feeling, and you’re comfortable letting your kids roam the grounds and experience all that it has to offer,” said Board Member Lori Williams. “It’s more of a feeling than (one) specific thing,” The fair starts Thursday in Ritzville and runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, the 56th Ritzville Rodeo will take place alongside the fair at the rodeo grounds. This year the entertainment budget was expanded, Williams said, to be able to offer more fun that’s covered by the cost of admission. For the kids, there’s face painting, balloon art, Lego crafts, races, contests and games. Children can also ride on a little train towed around the fairgrounds behind a tractor.
