Chiefs split with Suns

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chiefs kept pace in the Columbia Basin Big Nine softball standings with a doubleheader split against Columbia Division rival Southridge Friday at Larson Playfield.

Moses Lake senior catcher Shelby Gonzales helped lead the Chiefs to a victory in game one with a triple and a pair of RBIs in the 3-2 victory. Jessica McAntyre and Katie Martinez each went 2-for-3 at the plate with doubles and junior pitcher Karly Stoltman earned the 3-2 victory for Moses Lake.

“Karly Stoltman pitched both games and she did a great job,” Moses Lake head coach Dave Gregory said.

In game two, the Chiefs fell behind 1-0 early before Moses Lake rallied for a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. Southridge responded with three in the top of the fifth and another in the top of the seventh to take a 5-2 lead.

The Chiefs rebounded for a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh but Southridge managed to hang on for the 5-4 victory and a doubleheader split with Moses Lake.

Stoltman was 2-for-4 with an RBI and McAntyre was 3-for-4.

After the split, Gregory was proud of his team’s performance.

“We played really well,” he said. “I think our young team is coming around a little bit.”

Moses Lake improved to 7-5 overall with the split with Southridge. Both Moses Lake and Southridge are 4-1 in Columbia Division play. 

Othello 8-10, Prosser 3-0

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies remained near the top of the Central Washington Athletic Conference standings Saturday with a two-game sweep of the Prosser Mustangs in conference softball action.

Othello pitcher Eden Garza earned the victory in game one and Alyssa Martinez went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple for the defending state champion Huskies and Othello knocked off Prosser 8-3.

The Huskies continued to cruise in game two on their way to a two-game sweep over the Mustangs.

Othello scored in every inning of game two before activating the 10-run mercy rule with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Othello pitcher Julyssa McKertie earned the victory in game two and Miranda and Alyssa Martinez each had two hits for the Huskies. Jordan McCourtie went 2-for-2 with a triple and Kylee Mollotte was 2-for-3 in the game-two victory.

Selah 15-19, Ephrata 0-2

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers girls softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday when the visiting Selah Vikings swept the Tigers at home.

Selah jumped on the Tigers early in both game one and game two to earn the sweep.

The Vikings scored four runs in each of the first three innings of game one and Selah took advantage of eight Ephrata errors to hold on to a 15-0 victory.

After Selah cruised to a 15-0 victory in game one, the Vikings scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning in game two and Selah never looked back on their way to a 19-2 victory.

Jordan Peters went 1-for-2 with a triple, and Maureen O’Callaghan and Kristin Allen each went 1-for-2 for Ephrata.

Warden 7-12, Royal 4-0

ROYAL CITY — The Warden Cougars remained undefeated in South Central Athletic Conference (SCAC) competition Saturday with a two-game sweep over conference rival Royal.

Warden head coach Wes Richins said Saturday’s doubleheader was important for both teams.

“Royal has always been a big rivalry for us,” he said. “For many years they have dominated us so we are always ready to play them.”

The Cougars jumped on the Knights early in game one, taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.

Royal rallied over the course of the next six innings to take a 4-3 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning, Richins said.

“We scored three runs in the first before we fell asleep for five innings,” he said.

Warden woke up in the top of the seventh for four runs to take a 7-4 lead late. Warden pitcher Randi Wright kept the Knights off of the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh and the Cougars held on for the 7-4 victory.

Wright was dominating on the mound in game one, recording 16 strikeouts in the process. Jenny Guerra led the Cougars at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance with a double and a pair of RBIs.

The Cougars clawed their way to an early 3-0 lead and Wright continued to dominate Royal in game two as Warden improved to 4-0 in SCAC play with a 12-0 victory over Royal. Wright had eight strike outs for the Cougars in game two on her way to her fourth shut-out victory of the season.

Warden’s sweep of Royal sets up a showdown of the SCAC elite Saturday when the Cougars host undefeated Connell at home. The opening pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.