Tigers take third
Pam Robel/Columbia Basin Herald<br>Austin Chamberlain makes a relay throw to first after fielding a hit against Rochester during the semi-final game of the 2A State baseball tournament Friday.
Ephrata falls in first game, comes back for game two
YAKIMA — After some good breaks in the regional tournament, Ephrata appeared prepared for their last hurrah at state but it was not enough to hold off Rochester in game one.
The Tigers began the game retired in order in the top of the first inning on back-to-back-to-back fly outs to right, left and center and ended the inning giving up one run and two hits to Rochester.
Ephrata tightened up the defense in the bottom of the second inning but just could not get any hits to fall their way.
Rochester earned another run in the bottom of the third and the final two runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth to shutout Ephrata.
"We just couldn't hit the ball," said Ephrata head coach Dave Johnson. "We had just three runners on base during the whole game. Their (Rochester) pitcher just had a great game. It was disappointing because we'd been practicing against left-handed type pitching all week."
The Tigers had five at bats that went three up, three down and appeared to have pinned their hopes on a seventh inning rally.
"After about the third inning we knew it was just going to be tough to get any kind of offense going," Johnson said.
With an out in the top of the seventh, Michael Ratigan was walked to get on base.
Kevin Sieverkropp came to the plate looking at two outs with one on and doubled down the left field line but the rally was ended before it began when Danny Grass was tagged out at first.
Ephrata was sent into the consolation game to face East Valley of Yakima having lost 4-0.
East Valley entered the consolation game after losing to the eventual state champions, Granite Falls, 9-1.
The Tigers found themselves back at Parker Field, the site of their regional championship and appeared to be out for a victory in the consolation game.
Ephrata struggled on defense to begin the game, giving up two runs and four hits in the top of the first but then settled in in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at two runs apiece.
Austin Chamberlain, hitting second in the order after a shuffle by coach Johnson, hit a line single to center to be Ephrata's first base runner of the game.
"I think Lutz was just a little better in the lead-off position, maybe a little faster and he can bunt," said Johnson. "I don't know if the change really helped at all but Chamberlain came up big with two doubles and four RBIs. Chamberlain really delivered for us."
Ratigan followed Chamberlain with another single and made it a two on, one out situation for Reid Forrest.
Forrest rounded second on an East Valley fielding error and drove in Chamberlain for the Tigers' first run of the day. During the same at bat Ratigan was caught taking off for second at tagged out at the bag.
Sieverkropp then earned an RBI after singling to right field to send Forrest home.
Forrest returned to the mound in the top of the second to pitch two strike outs to help close out East Valley on defense.
"Reid didn't have much for a fast ball so he threw mostly breaking pitches," said Johnson. "He gave up ten hits but they were all singles. I was maybe going to take him out in the fifth or sixth inning. He looked like he was getting tired but he wanted to keep pitching."
In the bottom of the inning Ephrata broke away from the Red Devils, earning two more runs.
Derrick Webb was the lead off batter for the Tigers and got on base after wearing a wild pitch. Ephrata then recorded two outs before beginning their rally.
Aaron Lutz had a chip single to put two runners on for Chamberlain to score both Webb and Lutz on a long double that landed just shy of the left field fence.
Ephrata continued to tighten up on the defensive side of the ball, allowing just one runner on in the top of the third before taking to the plate again.
Forrest was walked in the lead off position in the bottom of the third and crossed the dish on a double to center by Sieverkropp.
Sieverkropp was, in turn, driven in by a line single from Grass that narrowly missed East Valley's pitcher.
"Having Yeager, Danny Grass, Sieverkropp and Derrick Webb, guys that are all in the bottom of the order, get hits for us was great," Johnson said.
The two runs put Ephrata up 6-2 with four innings of play remaining.
Both teams were held scoreless through the fourth and then the Tigers gave up one run in the top of the fifth but retaliated in the bottom of the inning to seal their victory.
In the bottom of the fifth, Grass was tagged out at first in the lead off spot.
Webb then hit a loop single to center that was followed by a single by Jim Yeager to put two on for the Tigers.
Thomas Bossert had a fly out to give Ephrata two outs and bring up Lutz.
Lutz was able to hit a line single past second base to score Webb and advance Yeager to third.
With two on, Chamberlain drove in Yeager and Lutz on another double to the left field fence to put Ephrata up 9-3.
Ephrata's final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth on a loop single to right by Yeager that brought Sieverkropp home.
The Tigers ended the game in the top of the seventh with a tough defensive stand that included two strike outs and a tag out at first.
The third place finish marked the end of the high school careers for seniors Lutz, Forrest, Ratigan, Nathan Nash, Grass, Sieverkropp and Bossert and also for coach Johnson.
"It's good to be done but at the same time it's sad," said Johnson. "Third in state isn't bad but it wasn't our goal. We won easily and played real well. It's sad to see the end of a time period but now we've got to go on and do other things."
Monday night was the awards banquet for the Tigers whose captains were Ratigan and Forrest. Forrest was also honored with the award for most inspirational player.
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