Prep roundup: Othello beats Ephrata 6-3 in district opener

Bob Barrett/courtesy photo Huskie first baseman Cayleen Garza is late with the tag as the Ephrata runner is back safely.

Bob Barrett/courtesy photo Othello's Malayah Sauceda tags out Ephrata's Kaidyn Johnson at second base.

by Bob Barrett Contributing Writer
| May 17, 2017 1:00 AM

Bob Barrett/courtesy photo Othello's Malayah Sauceda tags out Ephrata's Kaidyn  Johnson at second base.

OTHELLO — Defending Class 2A state champion Othello defeated Ephrata 6-3 Tuesday to advance to the semifinal round of the CWAC District Softball Tournament at Selah on Thursday.

Ephrata did not go down without putting up a fight. It wasn't until after the third inning that the Huskies opened up a four-run advantage.

“To tell you the truth, Ephrata has improved a lot,” head coach Rudy Ochoa. “Every one of our coaches said they have improved. They are going to be somebody we will look forward to playing in the future.”

The Tigers scored a run in the first inning on a walk and three passed balls. Othello's ace, Dominique Martinez, didn't let the early run upset her as she struck out the side in the first two innings.

Cayleen Garza doubled and Martinez singled as Othello tied the game in the bottom of the first inning. Ephrata regained the lead 2-1 in the top of the third inning after Haley Chapman doubled and Becca Helsley singled.

The Huskies responded with five runs in the bottom of the third inning. Nikki Velazquez reached on an error, Maria Deleon and Martinez were both hit by a pitch and Audisey Sauceda walked to produce a run.

Rilee Heist blasted a two-run double to deep center field. Maleyah Sauceda drove in a run with a ground ball and Kaylee Martinez added another RBI with a sacrifice fly.

Ephrata scored a run on back-to-back singles by Aliyah Derr and Paige Davis in the sixth inning, but Martinez was able to quiet the Tiger bats in the seventh inning to secure the victory.

The win advanced Othello to the semifinal district game at Carlon Park in Selah against top-ranked Ellensburg on Thursday. The winner of that game will earn a berth to the state tournament and a matchup with the winner of East Valley-Selah.

The loser will have to earn a state berth by defeating a Great Northern League opponent in a crossover game.

Boys soccer

Cascade 1, Royal 0

PESHASTIN — Royal could not upset Caribou Trail League champion Cascade and lost 1-0 in the first round of the Class 1A state tournament.

Raul Mata scored the lone goal of the match to push the Kodiaks into a quarterfinal match against Connell.

Boys golf

Moses Lake fifth at districts

MALAGA — Moses Lake posted a team score of 805 to finish fifth at the District 6 Tournament.

Eisenhower's Holden Backes was the individual medalist, shooting 68 two days in a row. Backes won the district title by 16 shots.