DIAMOND RECAP 2024

MOSES LAKE — Baseball and softball seasons have come and gone across the Columbia Basin, with state tournaments wrapping up last weekend. Read along for a look at where teams finished in their leagues, as well as districts and state tournaments.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Baseball

The Warriors reached the 1B State Baseball Tournament’s championship game for the first time since 2019 this spring, taking home a second-place finish in the 1B classification with a 6-0 loss to state champion Desales.

ACH had a bye to begin the state tournament, receiving the No. 3 seed. In the state quarterfinals against Northport, sophomore Caden Correia pitched all seven innings while surrendering one hit and three walks, striking out 10 Mustangs in a 1-0 win. Senior Jaxon Baergen drove in the game’s lone run on an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Correia once again took the mound in the semifinals against No. 2 Naselle, the two-time defending state champion; the sophomore surrendered four hits and walked five batters, striking out eight Comets in an 11-1 win in five innings. Senior John Pierce led the Warriors with three RBI in the win, including a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

ACH finished the 2024 season with a 21-3 record, taking home its eighth placement at the state tournament.

Softball

After defeating Inchelium in the Northeast 1B district championship game, the Warriors began their regional tournament against Colton, suffering a 12-7 loss to the Wildcats. Colton didn’t look back after scoring four runs in the top of the third inning, taking a 6-4 lead over the Warriors before holding on for the win.

In the consolation bracket, ACH racked up 18 hits in a 15-1 defeat of Northport, led by three-hit days by freshman Madison Brink, sophomore Emma Brummett and freshman Josie Bayless. Each Warrior batter in the lineup had at least one hit on the day, as ACH advanced to take on DeSales in the consolation semifinals.

Against the Fighting Irish, a two-RBI single by senior Kady Murray gave the Warriors a 9-8 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, which DeSales quickly regained after a three-run top of the sixth. Unable to overcome the deficit, ACH’s season ended in the regional tournament, finishing the year with an 18-5 record.

Ephrata

Baseball

Finishing fifth in the Central Washington Athletic Conference league standings, the Tigers matched up against Ellensburg in the first round of the district tournament, suffering a 6-3 loss to the Bulldogs. The two squads were tied at one after the first inning, but two-run outings in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings helped Ellensburg advance over Ephrata.

Trailing 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning against East Valley (Yakima) in the consolation bracket, the Tigers cut the Red Devil lead to one with an RBI single by senior Cody Black and a bases-loaded walk, where senior Anson Gustafson scored. The Red Devil bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings, scoring a combined nine runs to run-rule the Tigers and advance in the district playoffs.

Ephrata ended the season with a 10-13 overall record.

Softball

The Tigers responded to a loss to Othello in the CWAC district championship game by defeating East Valley 15-1 on the road in the consolation finals, reaching the 2A State Softball Tournament for the first time since 2019.

After suffering a 14-0 loss to the eventual state runner-up Tumwater, Ephrata took an early 7-1 lead over Enumclaw in the first round of the consolation bracket; the early offensive barrage was headlined by senior Peyton Trautman, who delivered a two-run home run in the bottom of the first and a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning.

However, the Hornets scored four runs in the top of the seventh to send the game to extra innings; Enumclaw scored an additional three runs in the top of the eighth, which the Tigers were unable to answer.

Ephrata’s season came to a close with the 10-7 loss; the Tigers went 18-8 overall this spring.

Lind-Ritzville/Sprague

Baseball

Facing Kettle Falls in the opening round of the Northeast 2B district championship, the Broncos fell 12-11 to the Bulldogs, seeing their season end in the loser-out matchup. 

Softball

With a 16-2 win over Asotin in the consolation finals of the Northeast 2B district tournament, LRS made its return to the 2B State Softball Tournament for the first time since the 2018 season. The Broncos, the No. 11 seed, matched up against No. 6 Warden in the loser-out opening round.

Holding a 2-0 lead through the fourth inning with RBI from sophomores Aeowyn Armstrong and Hannah Towne, Warden tied the game in the bottom of the fifth and later took a 6-2 lead after scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Broncos cut the deficit to two after two more RBI from Armstrong and Towne, but fell to the eventual state runner-up Cougars 6-4.

LRS finished the season with a 15-10 record.

Moses Lake

Baseball

Making their fifth-straight state tournament, the Mavericks matched up against No. 7 Camas in the opening round of the 4A State Baseball Tournament on May 18.

In a closely-contested pitcher’s duel, the Papermakers came out on top with a 1-0 win over Moses Lake. The game’s lone run was scored in the bottom of the fourth inning, where Camas’ Charlie Barr drove in a run on an RBI single.

Moses Lake’s lone hit of the day came from junior Jackson Carlos. On the mound, junior Kason Whitaker surrendered just two hits and walked only one batter in the loss.

The Mavericks won both league and district championships this spring; Moses Lake posted a 14-4 record in Columbia Basin Big 9 contests this season and edged out Eastmont with a 2-1 advantage in head-to-head matchups. In the district championship game against the Wildcats, Moses Lake won 8-2. Moses Lake finished the year with a 17-6 overall record.

Softball

After defeating West Valley (Yakima) 7-0 in the CBBN district championship game, Moses Lake qualified for its second-straight 4A State Softball Tournament where they matched up with a No. 9 Emerald Ridge in the opening round May 24.

The Mavericks were no-hit in a 17-0 loss to the Jaguars, as Emerald Ridge pitcher Alanna Wirtala threw 12 strikeouts. The loss dropped Moses Lake into the consolation bracket, where they faced Puyallup in a loser-out game.

The Vikings got rolling early in the consolation matchup, amassing a 9-0 lead through the first two-and-a-half innings. Moses Lake responded with a six-run bottom of the third inning, where senior Raegen Hofheins, junior Paige Richardson and junior Jenika Balderas all drove in runs, however, Puyallup scored a combined 13 runs across the top of the fourth and fifth innings to run-rule the Mavericks in a 22-7 loss.

Moses Lake ended the spring with a 19-5 overall record, winning both league and district titles this season.

MLCA/CCS

Baseball

Coming off a 6-3 win over Waterville-Mansfield in the district semifinal, the Lions fell 15-13 to Riverside Christian in the May 10 Central Washington B district championship game. Despite the loss, the Lions still received a berth into the 1B State Baseball Tournament, taking the No. 12 seed and matching up against DeSales in the opening round.

MLCA/CCS’ season ended with a 24-3 loss to the Fighting Irish, closing the year with a 4-9 overall record.

Othello

Baseball

After besting East Valley 4-2 in the CWAC district tournament semifinals, Othello matched up against Ellensburg in the district championship game May 7. 

The Bulldogs scored six runs in the top of the first inning, but the Huskies chipped away to cut the deficit to one run in both the bottom of the fifth and seventh innings; however, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and the Bulldogs holding an 11-10 lead, a strikeout halted any chance to complete the comeback bid.

Senior Xzyan Martinez and junior Sonny Salazar led the Huskies with three RBI apiece in the loss, while Salazar and junior Kal-El Ozuna both had a team-high three hits.

In the consolation final against Selah, the Huskies were shut out in a 6-0 loss to the Vikings, seeing their season come to a close. Othello finished the spring with an 18-6 overall record.

Softball

Having won both league and district titles in the CWAC, Othello returned to the 2A State Softball Tournament for the third time in as many seasons, being named a No. 9 seed and matching up against No. 8 Olympic in the first round.

The Huskies defeated the Trojans 6-1 in the opening round, setting up a matchup against No. 1 seed Sedro Woolley in the state quarterfinals; Junior Emi Pruneda tied the game at five in the bottom of the fifth inning with an RBI single, but the Cubs scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to defeat Othello 7-2.

Othello advanced in the consolation bracket with back-to-back wins over No. 14 Enumclaw and No. 12 Lynden, but met No. 2 North Kitsap in the consolation semifinals. The Vikings quickly strung together a 7-0 lead through the first two innings, later winning the ballgame 9-3 over the Huskies.

Othello was eliminated with the loss, ending its season with a 21-7 overall record.

Quincy

Baseball

After finishing in fourth place of the Caribou Trail League regular season standings, the Jackrabbits met Omak in the first round of the district tournament. With a 3-2 win over the Pioneers, Quincy advanced to a winner-to-state, loser-out game against Chelan on May 11.

Chelan struck first, scoring off an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. The Jacks responded in the top of the third inning with an RBI single by sophomore Jaxon Arredondo Porter, however, the Goats added additional runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to win the ballgame 3-1.

Quincy finished the year with a 12-11 record.

Softball

Entering districts after a fourth-place finish in the CTL during the regular season, the Jacks faced off against top-seeded Cashmere in a first-round loser-out matchup May 18. Quincy’s season ended with a 15-1 loss to the Bulldogs, closing out the year with a 10-10 overall record.

Royal

Baseball

The Knights finished in third place of the South Central Athletic Conference (East) standings during the regular season, setting up a first-round matchup against Toppenish in the district tournament. 

After taking a 1-0 lead with freshman Tyce Christensen scoring off a Wildcat error in the top of the second inning, the Wildcats shut down the Royal offense en route to a 3-1 win over the Knights.

In the opening round of the consolation bracket, the Knights earned an 11-1 victory over Wapato courtesy of a four-run bottom of the fourth and a three-run bottom of the sixth. Junior Jackson Larsen led the Knights with two RBI in the win.

The Knights scored first in the consolation semifinals against College Place, as Larsen drove in a run in the top of the third inning. However, Royal was held to just four hits on the day as the Eagles rode off to a 4-1 victory.

Royal closed the season with a 10-14 overall mark.

Softball

Royal finished the 2024 season on top of 1A softball, hoisting the state championship trophy after besting Seton Catholic 16-4 in the state championship game May 25.

The Knights were named the No. 8 seed in the state when brackets were released, creating a first-round, loser-out matchup against Klahowya where Royal advanced to the quarterfinals after a 10-0 win in five innings. Seniors Raegan Wardenaar led the team with four RBI in the win.

In the quarterfinals Royal met No. 1 Montesano, a rematch of the 2023 title game. Tied at four in the top of the seventh inning, sophomore Emerson Eilers delivered a two-RBI double to give the Knights the lead for good, sending them to the state semifinals. Senior Jaya Griffin’s three hits were a team-high.

Facing Cedar Park Christian in the semifinals, Royal jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning and maintained the lead through the remainin six innings, reaching the state title game with a 6-4 win.

Royal ended the season in dominant fashion, scoring multiple runs in five of the six innings played in the championship game against Seton Catholic. Wardenaar’s four hits were a team-high, while sophomore Jill Allred drove in four runs in the 16-4 win.

Royal finished the season with a 22-8 overall record, winning 12 of its last 13 games.

Soap Lake

Softball

Back on the field after not having a team in 2023, the Eagles finished this spring with a 0-6 record in games. 

Wahluke

Baseball

After finishing fourth in the SCAC (East) during the regular season, Wahluke fell 13-3 to top-seeded Naches Valley in the opening round of the SCAC district tournament May 7. In the opening round of the consolation bracket, the Warriors defeated Zillah 5-4 with RBI from sophomores Keaton Zirker, Damien Cardenas, Antonio Valdovinos and Makai Harlow.

In the consolation semifinals, Wahluke lost 5-4 to Toppenish to end its season with a 6-15 overall record.

Softball

Wahluke defeated Toppenish in the play-in round of the SCAC district tournament May 14, advancing to face top-seeded Royal on May 16. The Knights bested the Warriors 17-0 in the game, dropping Wahluke into the consolation bracket.

The Warriors’ season ended with a 16-5 loss to Zillah, finishing the year with a 6-16 record.

Warden

Baseball

Finishing third in the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference standings, Warden took on Cle Elum in the first round of the district tournament May 6, falling 11-2 to the Warriors and dropping into the consolation bracket. 

The Cougars responded with a win over Goldendale where senior Owen Cox, junior Travis Visker, freshman Kameron Jensen and junior Malakai Valdez all drove in runs. In the consolation semifinals, Warden fell 8-6 to Kittitas after the Coyotes scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

Warden ended the season with a 9-14-1 overall record.

Softball

Back at the state tournament, Warden reached the state championship game against Adna for the first time in its program history this spring. 

The Cougars opened the tournament with a come-from-behind against Lind-Ritzville/Sprague in the loser-out opening round, scoring six runs across the fifth and sixth innings to win 6-4.

After a back-and-forth 17-15 win over Forks in the state quarterfinals, the Cougars defeated Toledo 17-6 in the semifinals to reach the 2B state championship game May 25.

Warden led the Pirates 1-0 after two innings, however, Adna scored nine runs across the third and fourth innings to build its significant lead, holding on for a 13-5 win over Warden. 

The Cougars finished the season with a 21-7 overall record, winning the EWAC (East) regular season title.

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

    Moses Lake senior Jayce Stuart throws the ball back toward first base for an out during the Columbia Basin Big 9 district championship game against Eastmont. The Mavericks won both league and district titles this spring, reaching their fifth consecutive state tournament.
  

    Warden senior Emma Cox places the team’s nameplate on the bracket after the Cougars defeated Lind-Ritzville/Sprague in the opening round of the 2B State Softball Tournament in Yakima. Warden placed second in the state this season.
  

    Almira/Coulee-Hartline senior John Pierce waits for a pitch in the batter’s box during the state quarterfinals against Northport in Wenatchee. Pierce hit a home run during ACH’s semifinal win over Naselle on May 24. The Warriors took second at the 1B State Baseball Tournament.
  

    Othello junior Lovie Franco makes contact with a pitch during the opening round of the 2A State Softball Tournament against Olympic on May 24. The Huskies went 3-2 at the tournament, finishing one game shy of placing.
  

    Ephrata junior Auddy Gray rounds first base during the Tigers’ consolation game against Enumclaw at the 2A State Softball Tournament in Selah. Ephrata returned to the state tournament for the first time since 2019 this spring.