MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Mavericks softball team earned a 10-2 victory over the Othello Huskies on Monday evening during the team’s senior night. 

“I think we came in with some good energy and we were ready to win,” said Mavs Pitcher Paige Richardson.  

Richardson pitched five innings for the Mavs, striking out 11 batters, allowing two hits and two runs and was followed by Caitlin Decubber, who pitched two innings of scoreless ball, allowing no hits, striking out two and walking two.  

Alexa Prochet started on the mound for the Huskie,s where she stuck out two in the first two innings and was followed by Lovie Franco, who struck out seven and walked one for five innings. 

The Mavs’ Hayden Morris collected three hits in four at-bats, singling in the first inning, tripling in the second and singling in the third. Mavs got on the board after Morris’s single in the first inning, along with a single from Mya Martinez, a double from Jenika Balderas and a triple from Richardson. 

“Right from the start when Hayden hit, she had a great hit, it kind of got the spark going,” said Richardson. 

Kiana Salazar and Emi Pruneda scored the two runs for the Huskies. Franco, Salazar and Pruneda each collected one hit for the team. They had success in running the bases as they accumulated four stolen bases in the game. 

This was the last game of the regular season for the Huskies before they head to district play. Huskies coach Dominique Martinez said the team was a little nervous coming into Monday’s game but felt it was a good way for them to prepare for the road ahead. 

“I think overall, despite how we ended, I really thought our girls did really good,” said Martinez. “We were able to bounce back after everything, and they kept their heads up and learned from their mistakes.” 

The Huskies are currently ranked fifth in the league, which puts them up against the eighth-ranked Toppenish today to decide who moves on in the tournament. This nonleague match gave them good preparation for what they can expect to see down the road in the tournament and to warm up for their game against Toppenish, said Martinez. 

“I know this is what the girls needed to see to help them prepare mentally and physically,” Martinez said. 

Mavs head coach Mike Hofheins said this game was also a good, competitive game for their team to prep for the end of the regular season. The Mavs will play in a league doubleheader against Eastmont for the number one spot in the Big Nine conference. 

“We know them pretty well, because we obviously meet up with them in the regular season and it seems like it’s always between us and them,” said the coach. “They’re talented, but so are we.” 

Moses Lake seniors Richardson, Balderas and Eryn Eckenberg were honored in their game Monday for senior night, with the field decorated and a large crowd of spectators to cheer them on.  

“It’s just cool for the seniors to go out with a solid game and a solid win,” said Hofheins. “And it’s fun to see that the other girls want to play hard for them.” 

The girls said it was a bittersweet moment for them as they look back on their softball careers and are headed toward their final few games playing for the Mavs. Looking back, they said, it felt like this season flew by much faster than they were used to. 

“We’ve been playing since we were like 10,” said Eckenberg. 

“I can’t believe that we’re at the end of our season, it’s crazy,” said Balderas. 

The girls are now only two games away from their final postseason push for the Mavs and are going into these next few games with a strong desire to win, they said. 

“I think we’re excited, I have a good feeling about it,” said Eckenberg. 

    While pitching for five innings for the Mavs, Paige Richardson struck out 11 batters and only allowed two hits and two runs.
  

    Jenika Balderas hit a double for the Mavs in the first innings resulting in their fourth run of the game.
  

    Emi Pruneda rounds third base towards home plate to score the first run of the evening for the Huskies.
  

    Lovie Franco pitched in five innings for the Huskies where she struck out seven batters.
  

    The Mavs’ Samantha Kling catches a high ball in the outfield for an out.
  

    Moses Lake seniors Paige Richardson, Eryn Eckenberg and Jenika Balderas are excited for what the postseason will bring in their last year with the Mavericks.