MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (13-2) split their doubleheader against West Valley on Friday 0-4 and 10-4 on senior night, setting up a tight race for first place in the Big 9 conference.  

“Obviously a sweep would have been great, but Ainsley (Johnson, West Valley) is a great pitcher, and she was definitely on her game,” Head Coach Mike Hofheins said.  

While the Mavs’ defense kept West Valley relatively limited offensively, their struggles at bat ultimately cost them in game one. From the third to sixth inning, the Rams scored a run to build a 4-0 lead; the Mavericks were unable to get anyone home, which resulted in them dropping the first game.  

Game two started with a 1-1 tie after the first inning. From there, it was a defensive standoff until the Mavs broke the game open on offense starting in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Rams scored two runs in the top of the sixth to make it a one-run game. However, six runs in the bottom of that inning by the Mavericks essentially sealed their win. West Valley scored one more run before earning three outs to give Moses Lake the win.  

“They manufactured runs (in game one) and we didn't seem to be able to, but I asked the girls to respond and fight back. In a two game series, if you can get a split and the league title is still out in front of you, those are all positive things. They responded; we're tied for first. The league title is still in reach. So that's what we're going to work on next week and see if we can go get it,” Hofheins said.  

Hayden Morris, Mya Martinez and Caitlin Decubber recorded hits for Moses Lake in game one but were unsuccessful in their effort to get home. Decubber recorded a double play on her hit, while Morris successfully stole a base.  

Avanie Avalos pitched all seven innings, allowing 10 hits, four runs and struck out four batters.  

After the loss in game one, Hofheins told his players to quickly put it behind them and focus on turning things around in game two.  

“As soon as that game ended, I'm like, ‘Flush it. Flush it now, because we got another game to play and it's important,’” he said.  

After West Valley got home in the top of the first inning, the Mavericks responded with Morris getting home after Mya hit a fly ball into the outfield. For the next two and a half innings, both teams were held scoreless by the opposing defense, but the Mavericks were starting to apply pressure.  

While Amaiah Martinez got home in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Mavericks offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth. They built their lead to 4-1 with runs by Mya and Decubber.  

However, the Rams were not going away quietly, as they strung two runs together in the top of the sixth to make it 4-3.  

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Mavs erupted with six runs string together by Morris, Mya, Decubber, Amilia Borchert, Lila Johnson and Alina Lopez to make it 10-3 heading into the top of the seventh. West Valley got one player home, but it was not enough to mount a late comeback and the Mavericks earned a win on their senior night.  

She’s back 

Making a return to the field just in time for the final home game was Addi Reffet, who suffered a broken lower fibula bone earlier this season. The recovery process was not easy, she said. Over the course of eight weeks, she worked her way through a cast, then a boot and lots of extra work in her free time to be ready for Friday. Despite the obstacles, she was thrilled to be back on the field. 

“I missed it so much, and I'm just so happy that I can be back with my teammates and doing what I love,” Reffet said.  

Even though there’s plenty of softball left to play for the Mavs, Reffet reflected on what it meant for her to be a part of the program. 

“My coaches have done so much for me, and I wouldn't be here without them. They have taught me so many life lessons outside of softball, and I'm just so grateful,” she said.  

Coach Hofheins was also thrilled to have her back on the field.  

“I wish we should publish her X-ray in the paper, it's pretty gnarly,” he said. “For whatever date she got hurt in late March, if you would have told me she'd be playing a game on May 1 (I would have) said you're nuts, but for her to come back and then got that huge RBI, that was huge. She lifts us up (the team), her energy is great. That was fun to have her back in lineup for sure.” 

As they look ahead, the Mavericks close the regular season on the road against Eastmont in a doubleheader May 8. Currently, it’s a tie for first between Eastmont and the Mavericks. However, Hofheins told his players at the beginning of the season that it would likely come down to those two and West Valley.  

“We knew going into the season that it was going to be West Valley, Eastmont and us just vying for it... and here we are coming into the last week, and that's exactly what's come to pass. Eastmont’s good, and we're going to have to play. We're going to get after it this week and go down there and see if we can steal a couple wins,” Hofheins said.  

BOX SCORES: 

Game one 

WSVY: 0-0-1-1-1-1-0: 4 

MLHS: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0: 0 

Game two 

WSVY: 1-0-0-0-0-2-1: 4 

MLHS: 1-0-0-1-2-6-X: 10

    Caitlin Decubber (8) and Avanie Avalos (33) celebrate getting home against West Valley on Friday.
  

    The Mavs’ Caitlin Decubber (8) takes a pause before her next pitch in game two of their doubleheader against West Valley on Friday.
  

    Hayden Morris (2) takes off for first base after hitting a line drive to the outfield against West Valley.
  

    The Mavericks’ Amilia Borchert (16) celebrates a double play against West Valley at second base.
  

    Alina Lopez (20) fields the ball in the outfield before throwing it back to center field.