Othello Baseball takes two from Wapato
Bob Kirkpatrick/The Sun Tribune - Joshua Garza rounds third on his way home with the third run of the fourth inning in the second game of the the doubleheader with Wapato.
The Huskies (10-4, 9-3) moved to within two games of first place Ellensburg with a twin killing of the Wapato Wolves on the diamond in Othello Friday, April 13.
Josh Calzadillas was masterful on the hill tossing a complete game no-hit shutout in a 13-0 win in the opener.
The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a one out RBI single from AJ Pruneda and a sac fly to center by Jay Rodriguez. Othello blew the game wide open in the bottom of the second when seven Huskies trotted across the dish. The home team tacked on two runs in the third and fourth innings and the game was cut short by the 10-run rule. The outcome may have been quite different, however, had the Wolves been able to capitalize on six errors committed by the Huskies defense. Othello’s offense more than made up for the miscues as the Huskies pounded out 10 hits in the lopsided contest. Trey Garza had the hot stick for the Huskies going 3-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.
Othello 8
Wapato 0
Joshua Garza and AJ Pruneda combined for a 2-hit shutout in the nightcap. The random fanned eight Wolves and walked three in the contest. Othello scored twice in the home half of the second inning, and then added two runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth to win going away. The Huskies defense was much improve in this one as the team committed one error in the contest. Designated hitter Jonathan Garza was one of five Huskies with two hits in the ball game. Trey Garza finished the two game series with 5 hits in 7 at bats with two doubles and 3RBI.
“Josh (Calzadillas) and Trey were two standouts on the day,” coach Sonny Garza said. “Jaxon Rocha had a great day at the plate too. Tuesday’s game with Prosser will be huge for us as we head into the weekend series against Ephrata.”
The twin bill at home with the Ephrata is large in the overall scheme of things as the Tigers trail the Huskies by just one game in the CWAC standings.
“We’re expecting a great matchup from them with a group of kids who I’m sure haven’t forgotten last year’s game we had against them at their place,” Garza said. “It’ll be a great two games.”
Othello 8
East Valley 3
After dropping two lopsided games to Ellensburg Saturday, April 7, the Huskies got back on the winning track with a dominating 8-3 home win over East Valley Tuesday, April 10 handing the Red Devils their first league loss of the season.
Othello put crooked numbers on the board in the first three innings, and then added a single run in the fourth to go up top 7-0. A two out double to center by Jacob Changala in the top of the sixth erased the Red Devils gooses eggs off the board. The Huskies tacked on a run in the home half of the frame on a Valente Garza two-out single that brought scored AJ Pruneda from second base. East Valley capped off the scoring for the game on a two-out line drive double to center by Chase Oldham.
Josh Calzadillas went the distance on the bump for Othello. He gave up 3 runs off 7 hits and struck out 4 Red Devils.
Cage Pruneda had 3 hits in 4 plate appearances with an RBI. Valente Garza was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Calzadillas helped out his own cause with 2 hits in 4 at bats and 1RBI.
“Josh threw a great game and we got the win,” coach Sonny Garza said. “Gage Pruneda came up big at the plate with four hits including two doubles. Jay Rodriguez had two hits with a double as well.”