MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Mavericks Softball team came out on top in their game against Southridge on Monday evening winning 11-1. 

“What stood out to me was everybody contributed,” said Mavs coach Mike Hofheins. “That’s always super rewarding when everybody is a part of the win, and it doesn’t feel like you’re being carried by just one person or two people.” 

The Mavs played a pretty complete game, according to Hofheins, getting the 11-1 win in six innings with the team both pitching and batting very well. Mavs were able to collect 18 hits in total by the end of the game with Lila Johnson, Addi Reffett and Mya Martinez each hitting multiple. 

“I think almost the entire lineup had at least one RBI and at least a hit,” said Hofheins. 

The Mavs' Hayden Morris got four hits at five bats, doubling in the fourth inning and singling in the second, fifth and sixth. Jenika Balderas put the Mavs on the board in the second inning with a single scoring one run and was followed by Paige Richardson in the third who tripled to center field and Mya Martinez who tripled to right field. 

Richardson pitched all six innings, where she surrendered four hits and one run, striking out eight and walking one.  

“As a team, everybody was mentally present, it was super good,” said Hofheins. “Something we need to bottle up and continue to have for sure.” 

Hofheins looks to continue to work on the team's ability to keep their mental focus and to fine-tune and make the team more complex on both defense and offense. 

“I think this team is a mature group with a pretty high softball IQ so I think we’re ready to take another step in terms of what we can be,” he said. 

The Mavs will be playing their next three games at home with a doubleheader against Eisenhower and then an earlier game Tuesday against Jackson High School out of Everett. Jackson High is a two-time defending state champ at home, which will make that game a good test for the team’s abilities, said Hofheins. 

Hofheins said Monday’s 11-1 win against Southridge and last Friday’s doubleheader 25-5, 23-5 victories against Sunnyside have really built up the team's confidence as the team heads further into the season. 

“I think our trajectory is heading in the right direction and I think we just need to embrace getting better every day and everything else will take care of itself,” said Hofheins. 

The Mavs will face off against Eisenhower in a doubleheader Friday at 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. and will face Jackson High School on Tuesday at 11 a.m. 

    Jenika Balderas was able to put the Mavs on the board hitting a single and scoring a run in the second inning.
  

    Paige Richardson pitched all six innings where she struck out eight and walked one. She also had a successful day batting a triple to center field in the top of the third inning.