MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (16-6) 2026 season came to an end after falling short 22-18 to the West Valley Rams on Saturday. The loss came in a play-in game for a state tournament spot after the Mavs originally suffered a 28-17 loss to Eastmont on Thursday in the district championship game.  

“We had a ton of errors, and we spotted them way too many runs,” Hofheins said. “We came back slowly in the last two innings, we showed some fight, but we had too big a hole to climb out of.”  

Against Eastmont, a shootout appeared to be brewing with both teams starting hot at bat. After the third inning, the Mavericks only trailed 17-14. However, low-scoring outings in the top of the fourth and fifth innings combined with eight home runs by Eastmont to fall 28-17. Moses Lake’s Amelia Avalos, Ely Vela, Kennadee Lyon and Mya Martinez also recorded their own homers, but it was not enough to earn the win.  

However, the Maves had one more shot to punch their ticket to the state tournament on their home field against the Rams, Hofheins said in a postgame interview.  

The Mavs got off to a rocky start Saturday, falling behind 8-2 after two innings. Despite their best effort to find a rhythm, the Mavs fell further behind, trailing 20-6 after the top of the sixth inning. However, Moses Lake showed they still had life as they strung together seven runs to cut the deficit to 20-13.  

MLHS only gave up two runs in the top of the seventh, giving them one last chance to complete the comeback campaign. Despite five runs and runners still on base, a ground out to first base sealed the win for West Valley and concluded the Mavericks season.  

“We dug ourselves too big a hole with poor defense and not consistent hitting, and then we finally started to play (well) there at the end. We were trying, we had too far to catch up, and we came close. We had the tying run (Mya Martinez) on deck, but couldn't get her to the plate,” Hofheins said.  

Despite the loss, the Mavs showed fight to the very end. Mya finished with two home runs that provided a much-needed spark on offense. Avanie Avalos recorded a triple while also leading the team with five RBIs, not far behind were Mya (3), Charly Walker (2), Amelia Avalos (2) and Julia Balderas (2).  

The Mavs showed their youth in their final two outings, the coach said. However, the way they finished in those final innings against the Rams gives him a lot of hope for the potential of this team going forward.  

“We knew we were young, and I think we showed it today,” Hofheins said. “We just weren't ready to play from the jump, and in the playoffs against good teams you got to go. I just told them hopefully it's a learning experience, makes us better competitors, whether it's for slowpitch or fastpitch or if they play a winter sport or whatever. We got to be more mentally prepared from the starting line, and I don’t think we were today.” 

Hofheins and the Mavericks knew they had a big season to follow after winning the 2025 state championship and losing a deep senior class. Despite the obstacles along the way, Hofheins feels his team exceeded any expectations coming into 2026. 

“The fact that we were in it in the district championship game and a game that arguably we should have won to go to state with such a young team, I mean, most people would have said going in it's going to be a down year,” said the coach. “They're a year away or whatever phrase you want to use, but I feel like we thought we could get there the whole year, and I still thought we could get there in the bottom of the seventh. We were close. We just didn't get it done.” 

For now, the Mavericks will go their own ways into winter sports or preparing for the spring season when they return for fastpitch. After the game, Hofheins encouraged his players to carry this season with them going forward.  

“The first positive is just to fight back at the end. The other thing that's kind of cool about slowpitch is whatever we've learned from this season, we can apply to spring,” he said. “It's not like we have to wait a year, hopefully we're tougher mentally (and) we just learn from this opportunity that every rep matters, every pitch matters, and all those things.” 

BOX SCORE: 

District Championship 

MLHS: 3-7-4-1-2: 17 

ESMT: 5-8-4-6-5: 28 

Saturday 

WVLY: 5-3-1-1-5-5-2: 22 

MLHS: 2-0-2-0-2-7-5: 18 

    Amaiah Martinez (11) reaches out to make the catch in the outfield against West Valley on Saturday.
  

    The Mavs’ Ely Vela (left), Clarie Michelbook (middle) and Charly Walker (right) celebrate after getting home during a late rally against West Valley.
  

    Mya Martinez (22) steps into her swing while at bat for the Mavericks on Saturday against West Valley.