DIAMOND RECAP: Local squads stay busy over spring break

COLUMBIA BASIN — Even with many teams off last week for spring break, there was still plenty of action across the Basin baseball and softball fields.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Baseball

The Warriors were off last week but return to the diamond Tuesday at home against Curlew. ACH (9-0) last defeated Wilbur-Creston-Keller 17-2 and 14-4 in a doubleheader March 30.

Softball

ACH swept Wilbur-Creston-Keller on March 30, defeating the Wildcats 13-3 and 12-3 before not playing last week. Next up for the Warriors is a home doubleheader against Curlew on Tuesday.

Ephrata

Baseball

The Tigers (6-7) fell to Othello in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader, suffering 3-0 and 1-0 losses to the Huskies. After Othello took a 3-0 lead through the first two innings of the first game, Ephrata couldn’t respond — the Tigers mustered up two hits in the loss, with one coming from both seniors Walker Fulk and AJ Glenn.

Ephrata’s offense struggled in the nightcap, recording one hit in a 1-0 loss to Othello — the hit came off the bat of Tiger sophomore Elijah Davis. The Huskies scored the game’s only run in the top of the fifth inning and held on for the win.

Softball

Ephrata (5-4) travels to Selah for a doubleheader Tuesday. The Tigers’ last outing was an 8-7 loss to East Valley (Yakima) on March 28.

Lind-Ritzville/Sprague

Baseball

LRS’s next contest is a road doubleheader against Liberty (Spangle) on Tuesday. The Broncos last took the field against Reardan on March 30, falling 11-9.

Softball

Before having the last week off, the Broncos defeated Reardan 23-3 and 25-8 in a March 30 doubleheader. LRS hits the field against Liberty on Tuesday.

Moses Lake

Baseball 

The Mavericks improved to 10-2 with a series win over Eastmont last week, opening with a 13-2 win over the Wildcats on Tuesday. Junior Cooper Hancock led the Mavericks with two hits and five RBI in the win.

In a doubleheader against the Wildcats on Friday Moses Lake picked up a 5-3 win in the first game, breaking a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning when senior Willem Jansen scored on an error and sophomore Jase Cox added an addition run during the next at-bat. Friday’s nightcap ended in a 2-0 Eastmont win, as the Mavs were no-hit and saw their 10-game win streak come to a close.

Softball

Moses Lake remains unbeaten at 10-0 after sweeping Mount Si in Friday’s doubleheader, defeating the Wildcats 5-3 and 5-4 at home. 

The Mavericks went up 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning in Friday’s first game after seniors Lexi Cox scored on an error and Raegen Hofheins drove in a run on an RBI double, holding on to the lead for the remainder of the game; even after Mount Sit cut the lead to 4-3 on a three-run home run in the top of the sixth. Junior Paige Richardson got the start in the circle in the first game, surrendering four hits and striking out 10 batters, and didn’t give up a walk.

In the nightcap, Mount Si tied the ballgame in the top of the fourth inning on a passed ball. Hofheins walked the game off with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to improve Moses Lake to 10-0 to open the season. Hofheins and sophomore Addisyn Reffett both went two-for-two at the plate in the game.

MLCA/CCS

Baseball

MLCA/CCS’s next game is on April 11 at home against Cascade (Leavenworth).

Othello

Baseball

The Huskies (11-2) picked up four wins last week, defeating Chiawana 6-5 on Tuesday, Pullman 5-4 on Wednesday and sweeping Eprata in a doubleheader on Saturday — all of which were on the road.

Against the Riverhawks, senior Xzyan Martinez broke a 5-5 tie with an RBI single to give Othello its first lead since the top of the first inning, eventually leading to a 6-5 win. Martinez led the Huskies with three RBI on the day.

Othello racked up 14 hits in Wednesday’s win over Pullman, defeating the Greyhounds 5-4 on Wednesday. Freshman Xyvvn Martinez and junior Kal-El Ozuna both led the Huskies with three hits in the win, as Othello held off a late Pullman comeback bid.

On Saturday against Ephrata, sophomore Quade Gonzalez IV gave the Huskies the lead for good in the top of the first inning of the first game, as Othello held on for a 3-0 win. The nightcap was decided on an RBI single by Ozuna in the top of the fifth, giving Othello a 1-0 win. Xzyan Martinez delivered a no-hit performance on the mound in the second game Saturday, striking out 12 batters and walking one.

Softball

The Huskies had three outings last week, hosting Richland on Wednesday and Ellensburg for a doubleheader Friday.

Wednesday’s game against Richland was rained out after the third inning, but the Huskies led 4-3 before the game was called — senior PK Garza hit a two-RBI triple and junior Lovie Franco pushed the lead to 3-0 on an RBI single before Richland tied the game on a three-run home run in the top of the second. Senior Naraiah Guzman broke the tie on an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning.

Othello swept Ellensburg on Friday with scores of 10-5 and 12-0; Garza and seniors Amarie Guzman and Faith Ruelas led the Huskies with three hits each in the first game, with Amarie Guzman recording three RBI. 

In the second game, Amarie Guzman pitched all five innings while surrendering two hits and struck out 11 Bulldog batters. Garza led the Huskies with three hits in the 12-0 win, and Naraiah Guzman led the Huskies with three RBI.

Quincy

Baseball

See today’s story on Quincy’s doubleheader against Royal.

Softball

Quincy didn’t have any games over the school’s spring break and returns to the diamond Tuesday on the road against Cashmere. The Jacks (5-1) last played March 29 in a doubleheader sweep of Wapato, winning 12-7 and 13-5.

Royal

Baseball

See today’s story on Royal’s doubleheader against Quincy.

Softball

The 6-1 Knights begin play again Tuesday on the road against Zillah. Royal’s last games were in a doubleheader against Eastmont on March 29, winning 13-6 and losing 12-8.

Soap Lake

Softball

Soap Lake opens the season on the road against Ephrata on Tuesday.

Wahluke

Baseball

Wahluke’s next scheduled game is April 12 at home against Warden. The Warriors’ most recent outing was an 8-0 loss to College Place on March 29.

Softball

Wahluke’s next scheduled games are April 20 in a doubleheader against Kiona-Benton.

Warden

Baseball

Warden (3-7) picked up two non-league wins over the weekend, defeating Goldendale and Lake Roosevelt in a doubleheader Saturday.

Against Goldendale, the Cougars racked up nine hits and 11 RBI in a 13-2 win over the Timberwolves, with Owen Cox and Ryan Jorgensen recording two hits. A five-run bottom of the fifth inning pushed the game to a run-rule finish, capped off by a two-RBI single by Kameron Jensen.

Saturday concluded with a high-scoring win over Lake Roosevelt, as the Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break an 8-8 tie; junior Michael Gonzalez scored on a bases-loaded walk and junior Anthony Gutierrez scored on a passed ball and Cox scored on a while pitch during the same at-bat.

Softball

Warden remained busy over the school’s spring break, traveling to Colfax for back-to-back games against Colfax and Kittitas on Wednesday. The Cougars suffered a 13-12 loss to the Bulldogs before a 10-8 loss to the Coyotes in the nightcap. Warden (2-2) heads to Cle Elum-Roslyn for a doubleheader Tuesday.

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.