State softball schedule announced

COLUMBIA BASIN — All times for the state softball championship opening round games have been announced if not all the official matches.

In the Columbia Basin softball teams from Othello (2A), Warden (1A), and Almira/Coulee-Hartline (1B) will take part in the final weekend of the season starting Friday at their respective state tournament championships.

The Othello Lady Huskies return to Selah, where they finished third in last week’s district tournament, to begin their quest for Class 2A hardware.

On Friday at 10 a.m., Othello will begin play against an opponent yet to be determined as of press time. Numerous regional tournaments were delayed due to inclement weather.

A win would propel Othello to a 4 p.m. quarterfinal while a loss in their opener would put them into the consolation bracket, where two wins would keep them alive for Saturday’s action.

On the other half of their quarter bracket is Ellensburg and Woodland, with the two winners playing in the quarterfinal and the loser’s playing in a loser-out game at 2 p.m.

The same playoff format is set for the Class 1A tournament where Warden opens at 10 a.m. against Lynden Christian at TRAC in Pasco.

The Lady Cougars enter the tournament as the South Central Athletic Conference District Tournament champions and if they win they would play a quarterfinal against either Chewelah or Onalaska.

Finally, the Lady Warriors of ACH get started a bit later on Friday, as the 1B field is half of the 16-team allotment seen with Classes 2B and up.

ACH battles Sunnyside Christian at 1 p.m. and will play two games regardless of the outcome at the Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima.

A win would set up a semifinal date with either Colton or Lake Quinault with a scheduled 5 p.m. start.

State championship finals are scheduled for Saturday with the 1B game set for 4 p.m. and the Class 1A and 2A title bouts ready for a 2 p.m. first pitch.

However, potential inclement weather would push the times to a later start time where necessary.