Local athletes battle it out in the Columbia Basin Series All-Star game

RICHLAND — In the Columbia Basin Series All-Star Baseball game Wednesday evening, Team Tri-Cities earned a 20-1 victory over Team Yakima. This game brought together the top senior players from different classifications around the Columbia Basin to compete in one final game before the All-State game. 

“It feels great,” said Moses Lake player Noah Hernandez who made the Yakima squad. “I’m sharing the field with a bunch of ballers and guys who love to play baseball, so it’s an honor to be on the same field as these guys.” 

This year, the All-Star team consisted of four local players: Aiden Gonzalez, RJay Garza and Quade Gonzalez from Othello and Hernandez from Moses Lake. 

Tri-Cities took an early lead as they scored three runs in the first inning, three runs in the second and seven runs in the third while holding Yakima scoreless. Tri-Cities put up one more score in the bottom of the fourth before Yakima got on the board in the top of the fifth with a home run hit by Zillah’s Nathan Kibbe.  

The game slowed after Tri-Cities scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as neither team put up a score the next four innings. Officials decided to add an extra 10th inning to the game where Tri-Cities put up four more runs to win the game 20-1. 

“It’s a fun game to be a part of,” said Othello Head Coach Sonny Garza. “The score obviously, it is what it is. We got into some trouble, didn’t throw a lot of strikes, let guys get on base, then they got a big hit, and it kind of got a little lopsided there. But for me this game’s always a great opportunity just to share the dugout with a bunch of like-minded individuals that absolutely love the game and love to compete.” 

With Coach Garza serving as head coach for Yakima’s team, he said pulling together players from schools around the area is both fun and challenging for him. Each of the players brings both unique personalities and skillsets to the field and getting to work with each of these athletes brings a great coaching opportunity. 

“It’s even better when I get a few of the Othello kids here, and I’m able to share the dugout with them one more time,” said Coach Garza. 

The three Othello players were very excited for the opportunity to make the All-Star squad. 

“It’s fun to get out here and compete with other top players on this side of the state and to show other people what this side of the state can do,” said RJay Garza. 

All the players had to come into Wednesday’s game ready to compete alongside rivals and players who they have had no experience with. 

“It’s a little difficult at the start, to get over it, because we play against these guys, we’re battling against these guys and now we’re teammates,” said Gonzalez. “But it’s fun to get their experiences and pick their brain on what they thought about their season.” 

Despite the differences, the players felt they all came together well as a team. 

“I think in baseball it’s super easy to get along with other guys, so I think it’s just easy for guys to click,” said RJay Garza. 

“The guys I faced in league are competitors,” said Hernandez. “They know how to play baseball, they know how to play the game right ... and it’s so fun playing with guys like this because the talent level is just amazing out here.” 

This game also marked the four seniors’ last baseball game before officially graduating from high school. For the boys it was a great way to mark an end to their high school careers. 

“After such a harsh loss against Selah as our last game, thinking we were going to be done in Othello,” said Aiden Garza. “Coming to this All-Star game and being with the boys one last time and all of our coaches, I loved it.” 

“I’ve been in this for four years with these guys, it’s kind of weird that it’s coming to an end. I didn’t realize it was going to happen so quick,” said Gonzalez. “This was a great time I had out here with these guys and I’m excited for what’s next.” 

At the end of the game, the top ten athletes from each team were selected to make the All-State team. From Team Yakima, three local athletes, Noah Hernandez, Aiden Garza and Quade Gonzalez earned top 10 honors. 

“It feels great, I mean, you’ve got to love it right,” said Hernandez. “All-State, you’re playing with the best of the best, so I’m super excited to go see how we do over there.” 

“It’s just such an amazing opportunity,” said Aiden Garza. “Never thought I was going to ever be here. Just making this team is super cool and being able to go to the All-State game in a couple weeks is going to be amazing.” 

BOX SCORE: 

YKMA: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0: 1 

TRIC: 3-3-7-1-2-0-0-0-0-4: 20 

    Othello’s RJay Garza, representing Team Yakima, makes a catch in the outfield for an out against Tri-Cities during the All-Star game Wednesday evening.
  

    Aiden Garza, an Othello player on Team Yakima, is all smiles after receiving his award for making top 10 in the All-Star game.
  

    Othello senior Quade Gonzalez playing for Team Yakima slings a pitch during the All-Star game in Richland.
  

    RJay Garza and Noah Hernandez high five each other in the outfield as they represent Team Yakima in the All-Star game.
  

    Aiden Garza and Quade Gonzalez chat with fellow members of Othello in the dugout during Wednesday’s All-Star game.