As the 2026 season approaches, the Moses Lake Mavericks (15-1) are gearing up to defend their title after clinching the program's first-ever 4A slowpitch state championship in 2025. With a new mindset, the Mavericks are no longer in pursuit of a championship but are now focused on maintaining their status as the team to beat.
Head Coach Mike Hofheins expressed the excitement within the team, noting the unique opportunity that comes with defending a state title. "The girls are excited. Defending a state title is not something that a lot of people get the opportunity to do. It’s a really cool opportunity, challenge, and responsibility for us to see if we can get there again and make some noise," Hofheins stated.
Reflecting on last season, Hofheins recognized the special chemistry among the players, which he believes was pivotal to their success. "I’ve been part of a few winning teams, and there’s a vibe, a confidence, a swagger — I don’t know what the word is, but the girls really had most of the season. Probably starting with our first couple of games, it crescendoed throughout the year, their confidence and just how well they played. I hope we can replicate that again," he added.
In previous years, the Mavericks were in the position of chasing teams like Chiawana, but now they find themselves in the spotlight as the defending champions. Hofheins acknowledged the shift in dynamics, stating, "Every time we play Chiawana, it’s an easy pep talk. You’re facing the defending state champs. You got to get up. Now we’re going to get that, and there’s a responsibility to not let up. There’s a responsibility to work hard, and I think it’ll be a fun challenge for us."
Despite the graduation of key players such as Hayden Morris and Samantha Kling, the Mavericks are optimistic about their depth this season. Hofheins emphasized that a strong team is characterized by its supporting players. "If you’re that caliber of team, you’re supporting players, and even the subs are pretty darn good. If you’re not starting on a state championship team, you’re probably starting on every other team in the state," he remarked.
This season, the Mavericks will feature a younger roster but retain several key contributors from last year’s championship lineup, including Maya Martinez, Avery Getzinger, and Avanie Avalos. Hofheins highlighted Getzinger's significant impact last season, noting, "Getzinger had a huge year for us last year. Kind of came out of the woodwork and shined in the latter half of slowpitch and then all through fastpitch. Her confidence is going to be huge. Obviously, Maya, her swagger doesn’t match her physique; she’s very confident. She’s one that I call a gamer for sure."
With a wealth of talent at their disposal, Hofheins is excited about the potential challenges of lineup decisions. "We’ve got so many girls that it’s like just where are we going to put their bats in the lineup," he said, indicating the depth of talent available to him this season.
Looking ahead to the Big Nine Conference, Hofheins anticipates a competitive landscape, particularly with Eastmont and West Valley also vying for top spots. "Just like always, it’s going to be us three fighting for two spots to state," he stated, underscoring the competitive nature of the conference.
Beyond the accolades, Hofheins finds joy in the process of coaching, from field maintenance to fostering team camaraderie. "It’s just fun to be out here with the girls. It’s fun to drag the field. It’s fun to be out playing. So getting to compete again, it’s a weird deal because no other coach really gets essentially two seasons with a pretty similar group of girls. Other sports don’t really have that — it’s fun. I’m excited to meet the dozen newbies that I’ve never met, other than seeing them at Lake Lifts and stuff in the summer," he shared.
The Mavericks will kick off their season with a doubleheader against Sageview on September 10, starting at 4 p.m., as they embark on their journey to defend their championship title.
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