Huskies bring plenty of returning players into 2023

OTHELLO — Coming off of a 15-8 season in 2023 where 13 of the team’s 18 rostered players were underclassmen, the Othello baseball team is looking to build off of success from a year ago.

Othello Head Coach Sonny Garza said the bulk of the team played together during the summer on the Othello Red Raiders.

“We’re hoping to continue the success we had in the summer, and being able to play with our guys and have each other there,” Garza said. “It’s basically the same team that we had in the summer, so we’re hoping to keep that momentum we had towards the end of last summer and carry into the spring.”

With only four seniors graduating off of last year’s roster, Othello will only have to replace two starters from 2023; returning to the field are 2023 all-leaguers in junior Sonny Salazar (first team), freshman Quade Gonzalez (second team), senior Xzyan Martinez (second team), junior Jordan Montemayor) and junior Kal-El Ozuna (honorable mention).

“It helps quite a bit, just for them understanding what our expectations are and how we do things here in Othello,” Garza said. “It’s going to be helpful once we get going, because most of these kids have already seen us. They’ve been coached under us for a year, some of them maybe two years. Having that opportunity to be coaching those same kids again, it’s going to be pretty crucial for us.”

Garza noted the team’s infield play has been a standout during practices so far this season.

“Our infield play, from what we’ve seen, has been something that we’re really focusing on,” Garza said. “These kids have been around, that’s something that I think is going to be one of our strong suits this year.”

Othello finished third in the Central Washington Athletic Conference league standings in 2023, earning a No. 3 seed in the district tournament. After an 11-1 opening-round win over Ephrata, the Huskies lost 5-3 to Ellensburg in the semifinals and again to Grandview in the consolation bracket. In order to make a push for Othello’s first state berth since 2009, Garza said it comes down to having depth in the bullpen.

“We ran into some trouble having to play back-to-back games, and we had a couple games before the doubleheader that we had so we were short on our pitching staff,” Garza said. “We put a couple guys out there that didn’t get many innings during the season, so hopefully we can try to build a few more guys so we can have some depth when it comes to pitching.”

Othello opens its 2024 season against Hazen Saturday at 3 p.m. at Larson Playfield in Moses Lake.

“I’m hoping to see them having fun and excited to be back out there again,” Garza said. “Be with their boys, be with their guys – the guys that they’ve been playing baseball with since they were 9, 10, 11 years old.”

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

Othello Baseball Schedule

March 9 - vs Hazen - 3 p.m.

March 11 - vs Shadle Park - 4:30 p.m.

March 13 - at Wenatchee - 6 p.m.

March 16 - at Selah (doubleheader) - 11 a.m.

March 19 - vs Jenkins (Chewelah) - 3 p.m.

March 23 - vs Standwood - 12 p.m.

March 30 - vs Ellensburg (doubleheader) - 11 a.m.

April 2 - at Chiawana - 4 p.m.

April 3 - at Pullman (doubleheader) - 1 p.m.

April 6 - at Ephrata (doubleheader) - 11 a.m.

April 13 - vs Prosser (doubleheader) - 11 a.m.

April 20 - at Grandview (doubleheader) - 11 a.m.

April 23 - vs College Place - 4:30 p.m.

April 27 - vs East Valley (Yakima) (doubleheader) -11 a.m.

    Othello junior Kal-El Ozuna pitches the ball during a game against Hazen last spring.
  

    Othello senior Xzyan Martinez tosses the ball back to the infield during a 2023 game against Hazen.
  

    Othello junior Jordan Montemayor, left, takes a swing during a game last season.