Kleyn's gem elevates Ephrata over Othello
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Ephrata starter Trenton Kleyn delivers to the plate against Othello.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Othello starter Josh Calzadillas works against Ephrata Tuesday at Johnson-O'Brien Stadium.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Othello third baseman James Calzadillas throws to first base for an out.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Ephrata's Zac Berryman (right) gets past Othello catcher Valente Garza to score in the first inning.
EPHRATA — Ephrata starting pitcher Trenton Kleyn has a penchant for working himself out of jams.
So, when Othello loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning it was no surprise that Kleyn was able to induce a shallow pop out to left field and strike out Valente Garza to emerge unscathed.
Ephrata scored twice in the first inning and rode Kleyn’s complete game, three-hitter to a 5-0 win over visiting Othello.
“Trenton’s been able to get himself out of jams a lot this year,” Ephrata head coach Jason Laugen said. “He had a similar-type jam against Selah in a game here at home with the bases loaded and one out and he got himself out of it with a couple strikeouts in that one.
“He’s a competitor and he’s the type of kid and pitcher that says here’s my best stuff — you’ve got to hit it.”
The Tigers were able to knock around Othello starter Josh Calzadillas early.
Zac Berryman led off the home half of the first inning with a double and eventually came around to score on an RBI single by Gunnar Falstad. Mac Laird tacked on one more run with a booming sacrifice fly ball to right field.
“He’s (Calzadillas) a good pitcher,” Laugen said. “He does a really good job of mixing up his fastball and his curveball and when he’s really on he’s real tough to beat. Coming out and getting on it right away is always a confidence booster.”
Calzadillas was still able to chew up 5 1/3 innings and strike out five. However, the Huskies’ hitters could not solve Kleyn.
Othello was no-hit through three innings and two of its three hits came in the fourth when the bases were left loaded.
Ephrata extended its lead in the third inning on an RBI single by Travis Robertson and plated two more in the sixth after a throwing error to first base.
Both teams remain in the postseason. Ephrata will host Great Northern League No. 2 Pullman, 1 p.m., on Saturday. Othello travels to GNL No. 1 West Valley, also on Saturday at 1 p.m.
“From what I’ve heard, the top four or five guys in the lineup can swing alright,” Laugen said of Pullman. “They’ll get their hits. They’ve got one pitcher that throws pretty well — the (Jake) Wells kid.”
Score by innings
O — 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
E — 2 0 1 0 0 2 X 5
Highlights: Kleyn 7 IP, 7 K; Laird 1 RBI; Robertson 1 RBI; Falstad 1 RBI