MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (8-1) were victorious in both doubleheader games against the Wenatchee Panthers on Friday. 

“Any time you can sweep a league opponent, it's a good day,” Head Coach Mike Hofheins said. “They're scrappy, I’ve got to tip my cap to them a little bit. Even though we won by six and then won by seven, I never felt super comfortable, because I always felt like they had a couple hits in them.”  

The Panthers were competitive in game one. After Moses Lake took a 3-0 lead, Wenatchee scored two runs to cut the deficit to one. However, the Mavericks scored eight runs across the fourth and fifth innings, which eventually helped them seal the win 11-5. MLHS carried their momentum into game two, this time jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning. They continued to stack runs through six innings while Wenatchee scored three. The Mavs earned the sweep with a 10-3 win in game two.  

“To our credit, we just kept grinding. We just kept playing, we didn't have any letup, and we just kept expanding the lead and got the two wins,” Hofheins said.  

The Mavericks offense was explosive, recording four home runs across both games. In game one, Avery Getzinger and Hayden Morris sent the ball out of the park. In game two, Alina Lopez and Morris drilled the homers.  

In game one, six Mavericks got home; a few did on multiple occasions. Alongside their home run plays, Morris and Getzinger scored an additional run. Joining them were Mya Martinez, Samantha Kling, Charly Walker and Lila Johnson.  

Caitlin Decubber worked from the pitching mound. She pitched all seven innings, allowing five runs, eight walks and struck out four batters. Despite some struggles, Hofheins said he was pleased with how she kept working throughout the game.  

“Our pitchers, like Avani Avalos, came in and really did a great job in game two for us. Caitlin obviously got the win (in game one), but she was struggling a little bit with her control. Even though she was struggling, she just kept grinding, kept battling, and that's the kind of competitor she is. Kids like that are pretty fun to coach,” he said.  

Avalos pitched all of game two, allowing three runs, one walk and struck out three batters.  

In that same game, the Mavericks ran the bases well, Hofheins said. Morris, Johnson and Kling were effective stealing bases. Morris recorded four in game two. Making a big play on a bloop to the outfield, Amelia Borchert knew the ball landed between defenders, giving her time to reach third base.  

“To her credit, because she was almost to second, knowing that if anybody's going to catch it, they're going to have to dive, and they're going to be on their belly, and she'd have plenty of time to get back. She only had 65 feet to go versus if she only would have been halfway. There's no way she would have made it. We work on those things, and I feel like we're pretty intelligent base runners, and Borchert was super heads up on that one for sure,” Hofheins said.  

Getting home in game two were Morris, Decubber, Lopez, Getzinger, Johnson and Walker. The Mavericks built a 9-0 lead before Wenatchee got on the board with three runs; however, it was not enough to stop the Mavericks from sealing the win in six innings. Decubber led the team in RBIs across both games, recording one in the first game and three in game two.  

The Mavericks return to the diamond on Wednesday when they host the Othello Huskies at 5 p.m. With the regular season finale creeping over the horizon, Hohfeins and the Mavs are focused on taking care of business.  

“West Valley and Eastmont are still on the horizon, and we know they're good. We just got to take care of business until those two teams come up and be playing our best softball. All three of us are good, and Wenatchee is a really good squad too, and we just have to be playing our best softball, come those days,” he said. 

BOX SCORES: 

Game one 

WNCH: 0-0-2-0-0-2-1: 5 

MLHS: 0-3-0-3-5-0-*: 11 

Game two 

WNCH: 0-0-0-0-3-0: 3 

MLHS: 0-4-1-4-1-*: 10 

    Caitlin Decubber (8) sprints toward third base during their game against the Wenatchee Panthers Friday.
  

    The Mavs’ Samantha Kling (4) heads for first after hitting the ball into the outfield against the Wenatchee Panthers Friday.
  

    Alina Lopez fields the ball in the outfield against the Wenatchee Panthers Friday.
  

    Avery Getzinger (15) is greeted at home plate by her teammates after hitting a home run in game one of their doubleheader against the Wenatchee Panthers Friday.
  

    Mya Martinez (22) throws the ball back to first base during their game against the Wenatchee Panthers.