Ephrata Tigers Baseball season recap

EPHRATA – The Ephrata Tigers baseball team ended their 2025 season with a 4-18 record after entering the district tournament as the number eight seed. 

“As the season went along, we had our bumps in the road with different teams we were playing and that’s going to happen,” Tigers head coach David Tempel said. “I was very pleased with how we competed in some of the games, where on paper it looks a little bit like a tall task.” 

Coming into the season, the Tigers were made up mostly of young players with very little varsity experience. The goal for them this year was to just improve as much as possible and utilize the teachable moments that occur in every game as the season progressed.

“The guys improved, no doubt about it,” Tempel said. “I’m proud of their efforts in making those games along the way this year.” 

Tempel said that the team performed very well this season in a very tough league and entering the district tournament as the eighth seed was a huge accomplishment for them. He said that some of the games that he was particularly proud of this season were when they played against Selah, who entered the district tournament as the number one seed, and the Othello Huskies, who earned third in the state tournament. 

The Tigers played both Selah and the Huskies twice during the regular season, and while the results might not reflect it, they showed they have what it takes to compete with the top teams in the league, he said.  

“We were able to, in both of our games, hit the ball well and pitch pretty effectively,” Tempel said. 

The district tournament sent the Tigers over to play against the number five-seeded Toppenish in the first round. According to Tempel, Toppenish’s pitcher played a very good game and was overall a very well-rounded team that eliminated them from the playoffs with a 9-0 loss. 

“It was a tough one, no doubt about it,” he said. “In those types of games, you have to say goodbye for the last time to your seniors and so that’s always a tough pill to swallow.” 

The Tigers are graduating six seniors this year: Tyson Thompson, Owen Coen, Ryker Linehan, Ryder Mann, Colin McDonnell and Spencer Melum. Temple said the efforts and progress that the seniors showed throughout the season were seen by the younger players on the team and ignited their desire to improve as they move into summer ball and toward the next spring season. 

He said the most important aspect of the game for these players to gain is more experience. They need to have knowledge of the different situations that they might find themselves in and be ready to react at any given moment. 

“The guys are eager to continue building upon the progress that we made this past season,” Tempel said.  

The Tigers are currently looking at 14 returning underclassmen and 14 eighth graders who are doing summer workouts with the team, making for a total of 28 players who are already showing great dedication to the team. 

“I’m really excited about the program as a whole and the direction we’re going,” Tempel said. 

    Ryker Linehan making a run for first base after hitting the ball at bat. Linehan is one of the Tigers’ six seniors who are graduating this year. Coach David Tempel hopes the efforts of the seniors will leave an impact on the returning players.
  

    Tigers junior Landen Stephens on the mound early this season. Stephens will provide senior leadership for the team next season.
  

    Ryder Mann up to bat in a home game against Wenatchee in their third game of the season. The Tigers entered the season with the goal of just improving as much as possible.
  

    Elijah Davis batting for the Tigers in one of their earlier games this season. The team entered the district tournament this year as the number eight seed.
  

    Tavone Mantese batting in a game earlier this season against Selah. Coach David Tempel said he was very impressed with the team’s performance against high ranking opponents in the league such as Selah and Othello.