Ephrata victorious

Tigers weather tough first game to take regional title

YAKIMA — A triple play turned the championship tides for Ephrata in the bottom of the fourth inning against Lakeside.

The Tigers maintained a tenuous hold on what appeared to be a game well in hand after the first at bat of the game.

Austin Chamberlain hit a double to center on the first pitch against Lakeside in the championship game and rounded third on a loop single by Aaron Lutz.

Michael Ratigan cleared the bases with a 3-run homer that sailed over the left field fence to put Ephrata up 3-0 early.

Reid Forrest followed up the homer with a triple to the center field fence.

Lakeside's pitcher hit the next two batters in the order, Kevin Sieverkropp and Danny Grass, to load the bases for the Tigers.

After Lakeside installed a new pitcher on the mound, Derrick Webb earned a double on a Lakeside error and sent Forrest and Sieverkropp home to make it 5-0.

Jim Yeager recorded the first out of the inning for Ephrata but not before earning an RBI that saw Grass cross the dish.

Eric Tinnell batted in the designated hitter's position for the Tigers and hit a line single on his first at bat. He also recorded an RBI, sending Yeager home for the last run of the side.

With a 7-0 lead, Ephrata took to the defensive side of the field with a swagger in their step.

Lutz started on the mound for the Tigers. He struggled early, pitching just one inning before being replaced by Forrest, and allowing six runs.

In the top of the second, Lakeside walked Lutz and Ratigan. Forrest took a pitch to the back to load the bases for Ephrata. Sieverkropp was walked as well, forcing Lutz's courtesy runner, Kory Frank, home.

Grass sent Ratigan home before recording the first out of the side with a fly ball to right field.

Ephrata finished the inning with a tag of Forrest at the plate and a fly out by Webb.

Lakeside matched Ephrata's runs, earning two of their own in the bottom of the inning to keep the game a close 9-8.

Both teams were scoreless through the third.

The Tigers eked out a run in the top of the fourth to go up two runs.

Forrest was walked in the leadoff spot and stole second and third during Grass's fly out at bat. Webb hit a looping single to bring Forrest in before being stranded on base by a fly out to left by Yeager.

Ephrata scored their final run of the game in the top of the sixth.

Ratigan had a leadoff out that was followed by a triple that bounced off the center field scoreboard from Forrest. Forrest was driven home on a line single to left from Sieverkropp.

The Tigers' scoring ended with Sieverkropp being tagged out at second and a fly out by Webb.

Ephrata's defense allowed one run in the bottom of the inning, a steal of home, before they were able to shut down Lakeside with back-to-back strike outs.

Ephrata was held scoreless in the top of seven and managed a three up, three down close out to take the 2A regional championship and earn a berth to state in Yakima Friday. The Tigers will match up against Rochester at 4 p.m. in County Stadium.

The Tigers found themselves in the championship after a tough battle against Archbishop Murphy earlier in the day.

Ephrata was held scoreless until the bottom of the sixth after allowing three runs.

Facing elimination, the Tigers began the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff double down the right field line by Yeager. Yeager was driven home by a line single to center from Webb to cut the lead to two.

On the next at bat, Bossert was tagged out at first but got Webb to second on a passed ball.

Chamberlain was walked to put a runner on first.

Lutz had a bunt single that saw Webb tagged at third for the second out of the side.

Then Ephrata rallied.

Ratigan wore a pitch to get on base and was replaced by his courtesy runner, Tinnell.

Forrest then hit a line single to center that scored Chamberlain and Lutz to tie the ball game.

Sieverkropp was walked to load the bases. Lakeside allowed Tinnell to steal third and Forrest to take second during the at bat.

Grass was walked to give Ephrata the final run of the game and the 4-3 victory.

Ratigan tied up the final inning with two strike outs and got a boost from his infield when Webb snagged a line drive for the final out of the game.