Ephrata sweeps Quincy

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers held on to second place in the Central Washington Athletic Conference baseball standings Saturday with a two-game sweep over the visiting Quincy Jacks.

The Tigers found themselves in early holes to start both games of Saturday’s doubleheader before rallying for the series sweep.

Quincy jumped on Ephrata in the top of the first when the Jacks led off the game with a single.

After back-to-back errors from the Tigers loaded the bases, Quincy scored on a double-play ball.

With two outs and a runner on third, Quincy’s Max Melburn singled to give the Jacks a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first inning.

Ephrata closed the gap in the bottom of the first when senior shortstop Eric Tinnell hit a solo home run to help Ephrata pull within a run at 2-1.

After senior starting pitcher Brett Robinson kept Quincy off of the scoreboard in the top of the second, Ephrata rallied for a six-run second to take a 7-2 lead. Ephrata capitalized on six hits, including five straight, to take the lead early on, said Ephrata head coach Jason Laugen.

Ephrata scored four runs in the fifth to claim the 11-3 victory in game one.

Although Ephrata rallied in game one, Laugen said his team needs to improve its play in the field.

“Defensively we had some errors,” he said.

After Ephrata rolled to a victory in game one, the Jacks jumped on the Tigers again to start game two. Quincy rolled to 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Ephrata responded in the bottom of the first when Bryce Todd led off the game for the Tigers with a triple. The next two batters walked and Todd scored on a passed ball to help the Tigers pull within 4-1.

After Ephrata loaded the bases, Mason Lotz hit a grand slam to push the Tigers to a 5-4 lead after the first inning. Ephrata added another in the second and one in each of the fifth and sixth innings to hold on to an 8-6 lead over Quincy.

With the two-game sweep over Quincy, Ephrata remained in a tie for second place with Othello and Ellensburg.

The Tigers travel to Othello Tuesday to take on the Huskies and Laugen said his team has to improve defensively if they are to knock off Othello at home.

“We are going to have to go down there and play some defense,” he said. “They are a team that can really swing the bats.”

Columbia Basin Big Nine

Moses Lake 9-6, Southridge 8-10

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Moses Lake entered Friday’s doubleheader with the Southridge Suns in second place in the Columbia Basin Big Nine’s Columbia Division.

After a 9-8 victory over previously undefeated Southridge in game one, the Chiefs moved in to a first-place tie with Southridge.

The Chiefs scored nine runs on 14 hits during game one of the doubleheader to knock off Southridge.

Moses Lake jumped on top of the Suns early when doubles from Josh Martinez and Brock Lybbert helped the Chiefs to three first-inning runs and a 3-0 lead.

Lybbert, who started the game on the mound, kept the Suns off the scoreboard in the first inning before Moses Lake rallied for four more runs in the top of the second for a commanding 7-0 lead. Moses lake took a 7-1 lead into the fifth.

Southridge rallied for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull even with Moses Lake at 7-7.

The Chiefs added two runs in the sixth when Dylan Signorelli and Tanner Lowry each doubled to push the Chiefs to a 9-7 advantage.

Kody Samuels came in for the Chiefs to close out sixth inning and Signorelli earned the save with a solid seventh inning.

Martinez went 3-for-5 with a double and Signorelli went 3-for-4 with four RBIs to help push Moses Lake into a first-place tie with Southridge.

Southridge responded in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader for a 10-6 victory on their way to claiming sole possession of first place. Cameron Alvarado went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI for the Chiefs. Signorelli and Branden Moreno also knocked in runs for Moses Lake.

Central Washington Athletic Conference

Othello 24-16, Toppenish 0-0

TOPPENISH, Wash. — The Othello Huskies continued to cruise through their Central Washington Athletic Conference baseball schedule Saturday when they rolled past Toppenish to earn the doubleheader sweep.

Othello pitchers Chris Brunetti and Mando DeLeon combined for a no-hitter and the Huskies capitalized on six Toppenish errors for a 24-0 victory in game one.

Brunetti led the way for the Huskies on the mound with nine strikeouts and senior shortstop Marc Garza went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the victory and Ric Garza went 2-for-3 with four runs scored.

The Huskies continued to roll in the second game of the doubleheader when pitchers Shon Valdez and Connor Hamilton combined for a one-hitter as Othello cruised to a 16-0 victory.

Othello scored five runs in the top of the first inning and the Huskies never looked back.

After throwing five innings of no-hit baseball in game one, Brunetti came alive at the plate in game two. Brunetti went 4-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs in the victory.

South Central Athletic Conference

Warden 15-13, Royal 4-1

ROYAL CITY — The Warden Cougars remained on top of the South Central Athletic Conference with a doubleheader sweep over conference rival Royal Saturday afternoon.

Warden’s Arty Reyes threw a five-hitter during game one as the Cougars clawed their way to a 15-4 victory over Royal. Reyes helped himself at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a home run.

The Cougars took an early 4-0 lead over the Knights when Warden’s John Burkholder hit a grand slam in the top of the first inning. Warden added a pair of runs in the top of the second before Royal cut the deficit to 6-1 in the bottom of the inning.

After Royal pitcher Tito Garza kept Warden scoreless in the third, Royal’s Will Christensen hit a 2-run home run to help the Knights pull within 6-3.

Royal wouldn’t get any closer as the Cougars scored nine runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 15-3 lead. Royal scored a run in the bottom of the fifth but Warden held on for the 10-run mercy-rule victory.

Warden continued to cruise in the second game when starting pitcher Geo Flores held the Knights to just one run on three hits in five innings of work and the Cougars held on for a 13-1 victory in game two.