DIAMOND RECAP: Basin teams in full swing

COLUMBIA BASIN — Baseball and softball season is now in full swing across the Columbia Basin, as local squads have been competing in non-league contests to prepare for their respective conference seasons. Read along for a look at how teams have fared through the early weeks of the season.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Baseball

The Warriors lit up the scoreboard in Saturday’s doubleheader against Odessa, defeating the Tigers 17-0 and 21-5 to open the year at 2-0. 

ACH took advantage of being walked 13 times in the first game, starting the game with an eight-run first inning before adding four runs in the second, two runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth. Senior John Pierce led the Warriors with two hits in the win, batting in three runs for ACH in the process.

The Warriors hit the gates running again in the second game, scoring 11 runs in the first inning and four more in the second. Senior Jaxon Baergen went three-for-three at the plate, while juniors Carter Pitts and Jameson Conley led the Warriors with three RBI each. 

ACH hosts Selkirk for a doubleheader Saturday. First pitch is at 12 p.m.

Softball

ACH began its season Thursday afternoon on the road against Lake Roosevelt, but scores were not available in time for press deadline.

Ephrata

Baseball

The Tigers suffered their first loss of the season Tuesday afternoon, losing 9-7 to Shadle Park in a non-league game. Ephrata took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning, highlighted by a two-RBI single by senior AJ Glenn Jr. After Shadle Park took back the lead, the Tigers responded by taking a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth when senior Walker Fulk stole home. 

Shadle Park added two runs in the top of the seventh inning, and the Tigers were unable to answer; Ephrata fell to 5-1 this season, and return to the diamond for a home doubleheader against East Valley (Yakima).

Softball

After a 2-2 start to the year, Ephrata got back in the win column with Tuesday’s 10-3 win over Wenatchee, the third 4A team the Tigers have faced in their non-league slate to open the season. The Tigers first got on the board with a bases-loaded walk, then took the lead for good with a three RBI double by senior Peyton Trautman. The Tigers open Central Washington Athletic Conference play Friday in a road doubleheader against Grandview.

Lind-Ritzville/Sprague

Baseball

After being swept in Saturday’s doubleheader against DeSales, LRS hosted Newport in a doubleheader on Saturday; the Broncos lost the first game 14-2 and the second game 16-8. Coming up for the Broncos is a home doubleheader against Kettle Falls on Friday.

Softball

Coming off of road losses to DeSales – 4-2 and 13-8 in Saturday’s doubleheader – the Broncos defeated Newport 8-4 and 24-14 in their final non-league doubleheader this season, improving to 2-2. LRS hosts Kettle Falls on Friday in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.

Moses Lake

Baseball 

After defeating Chiawana 3-2 on a walk-off hit by senior Nolan Betz, the Mavericks opened up Columbia Basin Big 9 play with a road trip to Sunnyside. Following a slow start at the plate, the Moses Lake bats came alive in the top of the third inning, including RBIs by Betz, junior Cooper Hancock and sophomore Daniel Baez to take a 6-0 lead. With a four-run top of the fifth, the Mavs ended their first league game with a 10-0 win over the Grizzlies. Moses Lake hosts Sunnyside for a doubleheader Friday. First pitch is at 3 p.m.

Softball

Moses Lake opened the season 3-0 after taking down Mt. Spokane, Mead and Hermiston last week, winning 7-2, 10-5 and 10-3, respectively. 

Senior Kendall Reffett recorded eight hits over Moses Lake’s first three games, followed closely by sophomore Addisyn Reffett. Senior Raegen Hofheins drove in five runs last weekend for the Mavericks.

Through their first three games, Moses Lake’s pitching duo of senior Morgan Ross and junior Paige Richardson has combined for 24 strikeouts and 17 hits. Moses Lake opens league play Friday with a road doubleheader against Sunnyside beginning at 2:30 p.m.

MLCA/CCS

Baseball

The Lions started their season with a 12-8 loss to the Ephrata C-Team on Tuesday. MLCA/CCS’s next outing is a standalone road game against Bridgeport on April 9.

Othello

Baseball

Othello improved to 4-2 with Tuesday’s win over Jenkins (Chewelah), defeating the Cougars 9-5 thanks to a four-run bottom of the fifth inning. Huskie junior Sonny Salazar tied the game at four on an error at first base, with sophomore RJay Garza giving Othello the lead after scoring off another Cougar error. After junior Jordan Montemayor and sophomore Trey Tovar both drove in runs in the same inning, Othello held on to win 9-5. 

The Huskies continue non-league play with a home game against Stanwood on Saturday at 12 p.m.

Softball

The Huskies opened their season last Friday with a road doubleheader against Walla Walla, splitting the day with a 7-6 loss followed by a 13-6 win. The Blue Devils opened game one with a four-run bottom of the first inning, and didn’t give up their lead through the rest of the game despite being out-hit by Othello. Game two saw a different outcome with the Huskies scoring 13 runs off of 16 hits, including seniors Amarie Guzman and PK Garza going four-for-four at the plate, with Garza driving in seven runs. 

Following the doubleheader, Othello defeated Chewelah 16-0 in four innings. 

Othello (2-1) began CWAC play Thursday on the road against Selah, but scores were not available in time for press deadline.

Quincy

Baseball

Quincy earned its first two wins of the season last Saturday against Wahluke, defeating the Warriors 12-0 and 5-0 in a doubleheader. Following Friday’s non-league road game against Warden, the Jacks open league play with a road game against Omak on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Softball

The Jacks have opened the season at 3-0, including a recent sweep of Wahluke in Saturday’s doubleheader. Quincy won the first game 6-2 thanks to a two-home run day for sophomore Hayden Morris, then won the second game 9-8 in come-from-behind fashion after junior Emma Galloway delivered a two-RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning. Morris hit another two home runs in the second game against Wahluke.

Quincy opens league play Tuesday on the road against Omak. First pitch is at 4 p.m.

Royal

Baseball

Coming off splitting a doubleheader against Prosser on Saturday, the Knights defeated Toppenish 12-1 in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, scoring at least two runs in each inning before the game was called in the fifth. Royal’s Ben Jenks and Seth Christensen tied for a team-high in RBI, with both driving in two runners in the win. In the second game, Royal’s bats went cold as the Knights (2-2) were no-hit in a 12-0 loss.

Royal travels to La Salle for a doubleheader Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

Softball

Royal sophomore Jill Allred delivered a dominant performance in the circle in Royal’s opening game of the 2024 season, pitching all five innings of an 11-0 win over Selah while surrendering one hit, four walks and striking out 12 Selah batters. Senior Raegan Wardenaar, Allred, senior Randi Allred and junior Lily Delarosa all delivered two hits in the win.

Royal hosts Deer Park and Riverside for a doubleheader Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

Soap Lake

Softball

Soap Lake home doubleheader Saturday against Manson was canceled. The Eagles’ next scheduled game is April 13, a doubleheader against Waterville-Mansfield.

Wahluke

Baseball

The Warriors lost both of their outings against Quincy in Saturday’s doubleheader, first falling 12-0 before a 5-0 loss in the second game. Against Wapato on Tuesday, Wahluke lost 18-11 and 4-0. Wahluke returns to the diamond for a home doubleheader against Toppenish on Saturday. First pitch is at 11 a.m.

Softball

After losing both of Saturday’s games against Quincy, the Warriors swept Wapato in Tuesday’s home doubleheader, first winning 11-10 before a 16-1 blowout win. Wahluke (3-3) hosts Toppenish in a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m.

Warden

Baseball

The Cougars fell in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader against Manson, first losing 9-1 before suffering a 5-4 loss in the second game. With Warden leading 4-2, Manson rang off three runs in the top of the fifth inning to retake the lead, holding on for its eventual 5-4 win. Senior Owen Cox led the Cougars with three hits and one RBI in the second game against the Trojans. 

Warden hosts Quincy on Friday for a standalone game at 4 p.m.

Softball

Warden opens its season Tuesday with a doubleheader against Liberty Christian at 3 p.m.

    The Ephrata softball earned its third win of the season, taking down Wenatchee 10-3.
  

    Othello baseball improved to 4-2 this spring after a 9-5 win over Jenkins (Chewelah) on Tuesday.
  

    The Quincy softball team swept a doubleheader with the Wahluke Warriors on Saturday to remain undefeated.