DIAMOND RECAP: Baseball, softball enter the final stretch of the regular season

COLUMBIA BASIN — District tournaments across the Columbia Basin begin as soon as next week, as local squads aim to finish the regular season on a high note. Read along to see where Basin squads stand late in the regular season.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Baseball

ACH’s first loss of the season came to Manson on April 16, losing 10-2 on the road in a non-league contest. The Warriors went up 2-1 in the top of the second inning on RBI singles by junior Jameson Conley and sophomore Caden Correia, but the Trojans took the lead for good during an eight-run bottom of the third inning, where they went up 9-2. 

ACH travels to Northport for a doubleheader Tuesday.

Softball

The Warriors were shut out in Tuesday’s non-league loss to Ephrata, falling 24-0 to the 2A Tigers. Senior Kady Murray and freshman Grace Okamoto picked up ACH’s lone two hits in the loss, which was their first of the season. The Warriors (13-1) return to league play Tuesday with a road doubleheader against Northport.

Ephrata

Baseball

Ephrata got back in the win column after a sweep of Brewster in a doubleheader Saturday, defeating the Bears 1-0 and 11-9, the latter of which went to extra innings.

In a defensive first game, Ephrata senior Hans Roberts drove in the game’s lone run on a sacrifice fly that sent home senior Aidan Devine in the top of the fifth inning. Ephrata senior Cody Black got the start on the mound, surrendering six hits and two walks across six innings, while striking out seven Brewster batters. 

In the nightcap, senior Hayden Wurl had a team-high four RBI including a two-RBI single in the top of the seventh inning to help the Tigers get back in the game.

Brewster led the Tigers 7-2 entering the seventh inning, a deficit that Ephrata erased to send the game to extra innings. In the top of the eighth, senior AJ Glenn Jr. scored on an error, senior Devyn Derr had an RBI single, sophomore Tavone Mantese scored on a wild pitch and Wurl drove in a run to score four runs in the inning, holding on for an 11-9 win.

Ephrata (8-10) travels to River View for a standalone game Tuesday.

Softball

The Tigers improved to 10-4 with Wednesday’s sweep of Ellensburg, defeating the Bulldogs 18-1 and 10-5 in a road doubleheader. 

In the first game, Tiger senior Peyton Trautman and junior Jaeda Gonzalez both led the team with three hits apiece, with Trautman driving in four runs in the win, including a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. Joining Trautman and Gonzalez in RBI were junior Auddy Gray (two), junior KK Hector and freshman Kaylynn Spencer.

Ephrata jumped out to a 6-1 lead through the first three innings of Wednesday’s nightcap, including back-to-back home runs by Trautman and junior Jaemyson Durfee in the top of the first inning — both Trautman and Durfee tied for a team-high with two hits in the win.

Both squads added two runs apiece across the game’s final two innings, with the Tigers holding on for a 10-5 win to improve 6-2 in league games this spring. 

Lind-Ritzville/Sprague

Baseball

LRS suffered 18-0 and 16-1 losses to Asotin in Saturday’s doubleheader. Still seeking their first win, the Broncos travel to Davenport for a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Softball

The Broncos picked up their 10th win of the season with a 9-2 win over Asotin in the first game of a doubleheader but fell to the Panthers 10-9 in the nightcap. LRS (10-6) hosts Northwest Christian (Colbert) for a doubleheader Saturday.

Moses Lake

Baseball

The Mavericks suffered their first series loss of the season last week, being swept by Davis on the road in Friday’s doubleheader by scores of 2-1 and 7-6 after defeating the Pirates 7-2 on Tuesday. 

Both of Friday’s games were sent into extra innings; game one saw the Pirates score a run to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, later winning on a walk-off in the bottom of the eighth. In the nightcap, Davis tied the game again in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs and won on a walk-off in the bottom of the eighth. 

Senior Nolan Betz led the Mavs with two hits in the first game, with senior Jayce Stuart driving in Moses Lake’s lone run. In the nightcap, Betz once again led the Mavs with two hits and three RBI.

Moses Lake (11-4) stands tied with Eastmont atop the Columbia Basin Big 9 standings at 9-3 and has upcoming games against Wenatchee this week and West Valley (Yakima) next week.

Softball

The wins keep on coming for Moses Lake, who improved to 13-0 after a sweep of Davis in Friday’s doubleheader, winning 10-0 and 11-0 over the Pirates. 

Junior Paige Richardson pitched a no-hitter in the first game, striking out 10 Pirates while only walking one batter. Richardson and senior Mikayla Schwartz both tied for a team-high in hits (two), while senior Kendall Reffett, freshman Amelia Avalos and sophomore Emmie Olsen joined the duo in driving in a run. 

Senior Morgan Ross got the start in the nightcap, striking out 12 Davis batters and surrendering one hit and one walk in an 11-0 win. Senior Raegen Hofheins, Reffett and sophomore Addisyn Reffett all recorded two hits in the win, with Addisyn leading the Mavs with two RBI.

Moses Lake continues Big 9 play next week with a road doubleheader against Wenatchee on Friday before traveling to Jackson – the defending 4A state champion – on Saturday

MLCA/CCS

Baseball

The Lions won their first game of the season Thursday, defeating Waterville-Mansfield 16-11 on the road. On Saturday, MLCA/CCS suffered a 28-4 loss to the Moses Lake JV team. 

Othello

Baseball

Othello picked up its 12th straight win in the nightcap of Saturday’s road doubleheader against Grandview, taking down the Greyhounds 11-0 after winning 14-4 earlier in the day.

Sophomore Quade Gonzalez IV had a big day at the plate in the first game, recording two hits for five RBI, a team-high; senior Xzyan Martinez and junior Jordan Montemayor also picked up two hits in the win. On the mound, junior Sonny Salazar pitched four innings and surrendered two hits and two walks, striking out eight Greyhounds. 

Gonzalez continued his impressive day with an inside-the-park home run in the top of the first inning of the second game, driving three of his four runs in the game on that hit. Salazar and freshman Ryan Martinez led the Huskies with two hits, and freshman pitcher Xzyvvn Martinez struck out eight batters, only letting up one hit across five innings. 

With one CWAC series remaining, Othello stands at 15-2 overall and 9-1 in league games. Selah (11-1 CWAC) has finished its league games this season, with their lone league loss being to Othello.

Softball

After sweeping Prosser by scores of 10-0 and 15-0 on Friday, Othello traveled across the Cascades to face North Kitsap at Mount Si High School, splitting Saturday’s doubleheader against the Vikings.

Othello won the first game 4-1, with junior Lovie Franco, junior Kaelee Valdez and freshman Alexa Prochet all driving in runs; Franco led the Huskies with two hits and two runs scores. Senior Amarie Guzman got the start in the circle, surrendering seven hits, one earned run and two walks while striking out 12 Viking batters. 

While North Kitsap held a 2-0 lead entering the top of the sixth inning, Othello scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead late in the game, with RBI by junior Emi Pruneda and senior Persayis Garza, as well as Garza scoring off a passed ball. The lead was short-lived, as the Vikings retook it in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run, holding on for a 4-3 win over the Huskies. 

Othello (11-2) remains tied with East Valley (Yakima) atop the CWAC, with both squads posting 6-0 marks in league contests.

Quincy

Baseball

Coming off a 9-8 win over Cascade (Leavenworth) on Tuesday, Quincy’s record was evened at 7-7 after being swept by Cashmere in Friday’s doubleheader, losing 10-0 before suffering a 6-3 loss to the Bulldogs in the nightcap. The Jacks head to Toppenish for a doubleheader on Tuesday before returning to Caribou Trail League play on Saturday in a doubleheader against Omak.

Softball

Sophomore Hayden Morris drove in seven runs in Quincy’s 19-5 win over Cascade (Leavenworth) on Tuesday, including a grand slam in the top of the first inning. 

Joining Morris in driving in runs were junior Emma Galloway (two), senior Michelle Acevedo, junior Jenni Garcia, junior Juliza Herrera, junior Amy Buenrostro, junior Myka Hinojosa and sophomore Mariah Stephens. Galloway led the Jacks with three hits on the day.

Quincy lost both games of Friday’s doubleheader against Cashmere, losing by scores of 25-3 and 20-5 to the Bulldogs. Up next for the Jacks (6-4) is a doubleheader against Ephrata on Tuesday.

Royal

Baseball

Royal improved to 4-2 in the South Central Athletic Conference (East) with Friday’s sweep of Naches Valley, winning by scores of 7-6 and 6-5.

Tied at five entering extra innings of the first game, The Rangers scored a run in the top of the 10th inning to go up 6-5; Royal answered with sophomore Bryan Larsen scoring on an error and sophomore Logan Piper scoring on a wild pitch to end the game in a 7-6 Royal win.

In the nightcap, junior Jackson Larsen and senior Ben Jenks both tied for a team-high in RBI (three apiece) to push the Knights over the Rangers. Royal scored three runs to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a home run by Larsen and added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-RBI single by Jenks, who also hit a home run in the bottom of the first inning.

Royal (6-9) travels to La Salle on Tuesday.

Softball

The Knights suffered a 5-2 loss on the road to 4A Chiawana on April 16, where the Riverhawks scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to walk away with the win. 

Chiawana went up 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning, but the Knights captured a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth with RBI singles by sophomore Jill Allred and junior Lily Delarosa. In the bottom of the sixth, the Riverhawks added runs on an RBI single, an error, an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly.

Royal travels to Wahluke for a doubleheader Saturday.

Soap Lake

Softball

Soap Lake (0-3) returns to the diamond for a road standalone game against Waterville-Mansfield on Tuesday.

Wahluke

Baseball

The Warriors picked up their first two league wins of the season April 16, defeating Connell in both games of a doubleheader 10-8 and 9-8. On Saturday, Wahluke suffered losses to Kiona-Benton in a doubleheader, losing 16-1 and 13-3. The Warriors head to Royal on Saturday for a doubleheader.

Softball

Wahluke lost both games of Saturday’s doubleheader to Kiona-Benton, falling 18-2 in the first game before a 17-2 loss in the nightcap. The Warriors (5-8) host Granger for a non-league doubleheader Tuesday.

Warden

Baseball

Warden (7-7) returned to the field after a 10-day hiatus for a doubleheader against Tri-Cities Prep on Monday, but scores were unavailable in time for press deadline. 

Softball

Warden (4-4) began league play with a doubleheader against Tri-Cities Prep on Monday, but scores were not available in time for press deadline. 

    Moses Lake junior Adrian Martinez dashes to first base during the Mavs’ 7-2 win over Davis on Tuesday.
  

    Moses Lake senior Lexi Cox, in white, hits the ball during a game against Walla Walla on April 12.
  

    The Royal Knights improved to 4-2 in the South Central Athletic Conference (East) with Friday’s sweep of Naches Valley in a doubleheader.