No. 5 Huskies eliminate No. 4 Tigers in first round of 2A District 5-6 tournament

EPHRATA — In the visitor's dugout, Othello senior Abel Gomez enjoyed the moment with his teammates, having scattered just three hits, going the distance in the No. 5 Huskies 3-1 victory over No. 4 Ephrata Wednesday afternoon in the first round of the 2A District 5-6 playoffs at Johnson-O'Brien Stadium.

The four-year varsity player was all smiles.

“We made it to the playoffs once in my four years and lost in the first round. So this is pretty amazing to come here and win,” said Gomez, who threw just under 100 pitches in seven innings.

Over on the home side, Ephrata senior Cole Spencer, who also played all four years for the Tigers, walked down left-field line to where coach Jason Laugen was standing. The Tigers' skipper saw him coming and opened up his arms for a bear hug. The two enjoyed a private moment after what was Spencer's final game in orange and black.

“It's been a good time with this team. The guys are a lot of fun to be around. It's relaxing,” Spencer said. “I think that's what I'll remember most, the good times we had together.”

The No. 4 Tigers (12-9) scored a single run in the second inning when Gunnar Falstad drove in a run with a single. Ephrata had two hits in the inning, but could muster just one more hit the rest of the game.

But still, as the zeros went up on the scoreboard, it looked like that single run might hold with three outs to go. In the seventh, Camron Valdez stroked a one-out single to light a spark.

Huskies first baseman Jay Rodriguez made it back-to-back singles, which was enough to chase Ephrata starter Trenton Kleyn.

Othello sophomore Jon Garza drove a fastball, low and away, for an RBI double off of reliever Steven Louie to tie the game. Huskies freshman Jaxon Rocha drove in two insurance runs with a 2-RBI single and the Huskies (13-8) finished the inning with three runs and four hits and their first lead of the game.

“I was the next guy up and looking to help the team,” Garza said. “We haven't been in the playoffs for a while, but going into the seventh inning we just kept fighting and chipping away.”

Even with the lead, Gomez went into the bottom half of the seventh with 80 pitches. He'd pitched into the seventh inning his last two outings, but was pulled because of the CWAC pitch count that regulates a pitcher's next start.

On Wednesday, the Huskies played like there was no tomorrow and first-year Othello coach Sonny Garza left his ace in to finish what he started.

“The complete game isn't as important as the win. We lived to fight another day and that's what's important,” Gomez said. “With the two-run lead, it was my job to throw strikes and let my defense do their job.”

The Tigers went down swinging. Davis Stocking singled with one out and moved over to second on a throwing error when Gomez tried to pick him off. But the Othello senior who missed the entire wrestling season because of an ACL tear in football, went the distance and the defense slammed the door.

No. 5 Othello will face the defending 2A champion and tournament No. 1 seed Selah on Saturday.

Score by innings

HIGHLIGHTS:

Othello:

• Jon Garza RBI double;
• Jaxon Rocha 2-RBI single.

Ephrata:

• Gunnar Falstad RBI.