Mavs suffer loss in districts, conclude season
MIKE MAYNARD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months AGO
Caitlin Decubber (8) throws her next pitch against West Valley. The Mavericks suffered an 11-1 loss to the Rams in the district tournament Saturday, bringing an end to their season.
MIKE MAYNARD/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
The Mavs’ Hayden Morris (2) celebrates her home run on the way to home plate.
Mya Martinez (22) steps up to bat for the Mavericks against West Valley on Saturday
Avanie Avalos (25) steps into her next throw in the pitcher's circle.
Caitlin Decubber (8) tracks down a West Valley runner before eventually tagging her out during their game Saturday.
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (16-4) fell 11-1 to the West Valley Rams Saturday, bringing an end to their season.
“Sucks to lose,” Head Coach Mike Hofheins said. “We obviously didn't play very well today. We got our butts beat, and the finality of it sucks, especially for the seniors. We had a really good year; they had great careers. We just picked the wrong day to have a bad day. Obviously, you got to tip your cap to West Valley.”
The game started hot for the Mavs with an opening home run by Hayden Morris, putting them up 1-0 in the first inning. However, offense struggled to get home the rest of the game while West Valley added more each inning. With a 9-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth, a pair of home runs by Danika Gaethle and Madisen Statler sealed the win for the Rams and punched their ticket to the 4A state tournament.
An additional highlight for Moses Lake was a stolen base by Caitlin Decubber in the top of the fourth inning. Despite Josie Carlstrom and Avery Getzinger also getting on base, the Mavs couldn’t get home.
Despite the bitter ending, Hofheins comes away proud of what his team accomplished this season, he said.
“We knew it was going to be a fun, competitive year going in, and we knew we were super talented and senior loaded,” he said. “The three way tie for first, that's an accomplishment that I think going into the season, just because we had graduated the league MVP (Paige Richardson), everybody's like, ‘Oh, they're probably going to be down and be third or fourth or whatever,’ and for us to basically be co-league champs and put ourselves in a position to go to state was great, and we knew it was going to come down to two of the three of us, and we're the odd man out.”
The 2026 Mavs crew will graduate seven players from their varsity roster, and 10 overall. As they close out this chapter of their athletic journey, they leave behind a legacy which includes the programs first ever slowpitch state championship, which came in October 2025.
“They’re a group that you want on your side in a street fight,” Hofheins said. “I appreciate that competitive spirit they have, that drive, their ability to flip the switch.”
BOX SCORE:
MLHS: 1-0-0-0-0: 1
WVLY: 0-2-3-4-2: 11
MAVS VARSITY SENIORS:
Name, Jersey
Hayden Morris, 2
Samantha Kling, 4
Lila Johnson, 7
Caitlin Decubber, 8
Amilia Borchert, 16
Alina Lopez, 20
Addi Reffett, 21
The Mavs’ Hayden Morris (2) celebrates her home run on the way to home plate.
Mya Martinez (22) steps up to bat for the Mavericks against West Valley on Saturday
Avanie Avalos (25) steps into her next throw in the pitcher's circle.
Caitlin Decubber (8) tracks down a West Valley runner before eventually tagging her out during their game Saturday.ARTICLES BY MIKE MAYNARD
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