Youth baseball and softball season kicks off with parade
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 weeks AGO
The Orioles prepare to move out for the annual Youth Day Parade in downtown Moses Lake Saturday.
MIKE MAYNARD/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
The Lady Mariners softball team rolls up Third Avenue in the annual Moses Lake Youth Day Parade Saturday morning.
A googly-eyed pickup carries baseball players down Fourth Avenue at the Moses Lake Youth Day Parade Saturday.
Softball players cheer as their trailer rolls through downtown Moses Lake at the Youth Day Parade Saturday.
The Pirates are suitably menacing with eyepatches and the Jolly Roger in the Youth Day Parade Saturday in Moses Lake.
The Starbursts are ready to play some ball at the Youth Day Parade Saturday in downtown Moses Lake.
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. | April 22, 2026 3:25 AM
MOSES LAKE — The youth baseball and softball season kicked off in Moses Lake with the traditional Youth Day Parade downtown Saturday morning.
The parking lots at McCosh Park and the Surf ‘n Slide Water Park were filled with pickup trucks and trailers, each decorated in team colors and bearing a team of eager young players from the Moses Lake Youth Baseball Association and the Columbia Basin Girls Softball Association. The parade wound down Fourth Avenue to Division Street, jogged north to head back up Third Avenue to Ivy Avenue, then returned to where they started.
“The object is just to get as many kids playing as possible,” said MLYBA vice president Leo Cortez.
The Lady Mariners softball team rolls up Third Avenue in the annual Moses Lake Youth Day Parade Saturday morning.
A googly-eyed pickup carries baseball players down Fourth Avenue at the Moses Lake Youth Day Parade Saturday.
Softball players cheer as their trailer rolls through downtown Moses Lake at the Youth Day Parade Saturday.
The Pirates are suitably menacing with eyepatches and the Jolly Roger in the Youth Day Parade Saturday in Moses Lake.
The Starbursts are ready to play some ball at the Youth Day Parade Saturday in downtown Moses Lake.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Students make 250th anniversary quilt and learn American history
MOSES LAKE — Mount Rushmore, Uncle Sam, the White House and the Statue of Liberty are among the American icons immortalized in thread by the students at AIM School in Moses Lake. Students at the school made a star-spangled patchwork quilt with American historical scenes and symbols embroidered on it. “One of our subjects is history so this year, because of the 250th celebration, we’ve been doing the top 10 events in history from the time,” said School Director Kortni Nelson. “We’ve covered 10 major events from signing the Declaration of Independence to national landmarks.”
Rotary gives more than $70,000 in scholarships
MOSES LAKE — The Rotary Club of Moses Lake gave 15 local students a boost with more than $70,000 in scholarships, according to President Sean Jenks. “(We want) to recognize these kids for their hard work, and the sacrifice of past Rotarians that have made this possible in our community,” Jenks said. “Rotarians are just glad to be able to help people succeed in life.” Five of the students are set to graduate high school this year, according to an announcement from the Rotary Club, and another 10 are already enrolled in some kind of post-secondary education. It can be a traditional four-year college or university, Jenks said, but it doesn’t have to be. Students can also be enrolled in a technical or trade school.
Spring Fest coming May 21-24
MOSES LAKE — Spring Fest just keeps on growing. According to the city of Moses Lake’s cell phone-counting data, the city’s population more than doubled last year at McCosh Park over Memorial Day weekend. “Fifty-four thousand people attended our venue last year,” said Spring Fest Committee member Lori Valdez. “And that’s not including kiddos who do not have a cell phone.” Just about everything you could hope to find at a community festival is at Spring Fest. There’s a carnival. There’s a car show. There are lots and lots of food and crafts. There are athletic tournaments, fun contests, homegrown entertainment and free concerts from some well-known entertainers