Richland names new head boys basketball coach + Hall of Fame choices

Richland boys basketball made some more news this week, as the Bombers named a new coach and two former coaches are to be honored.

Richland named Will Burghardt, 27, as the new head boys basketball coach.

Burghardt replaces long-time head coach Earl Streufert, who announced his retirement in April.

Burghardt was 49-24 in three seasons in Newport in Oregon.

He also played for Bill Bakamus at Mark Morris High School in Longview.

Collegiately, Burghardt spent one season playing for Hawaii-Hilo before transferring to Linfield and deserting most of his three seasons.

Burghardt spent one season at Washington State University playing for Kyle Smith.

He is married to Richland High graduate Sydnee (Hay) Burghardt.

Streufert and his long-time assistant coach Bruce Robertson will both be inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame this summer.

The event will be held in their own backyard, set for July 15 at the Uptown Theatre in Richland.

In addition, Davis’ Robert Harris and Roosevelt’s Bruce Richardson will join Robertson in going into the Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame.

District 5 coordinator Dave Cullen will be presented the Ed & Shirley Pepple People Service Award.

Meanwhile, Todd Schumacher — a Kamiakin High graduate as well as long-time boys coach at Columbia Burbank — will be receiving the Pat Fitterer You Gotta Love It Award.

Prep baseball

Richland, ranked among the top 3 in the WIAA’s Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) all season, has already qualified for the Class 4A state tournament.

The Bombers did so on Tuesday by winning their District 6 semifinal, beating Ferris 22-0.

Richland plays host to Gonzaga Prep at 1 p.m., Saturday, in the district championship.

Meanwhile, Chiawana plays Kamiakin at 12 p.m., Saturday, for the third-place district game. At stake is a 4A state tournament berth, while the loser’s season ends.

In the 3A district tournament, Southridge visits Kennewick at 12 p.m. on Saturday for the district championship game.

Both teams have already qualified for the 3A state tournament.

Central Valley plays at Mt. Spokane on Saturday for the third state tournament berth.

• Kamiakin senior Zach Vega, as well as Richland senior Michael Revell, earned the major awards earlier this week as Mid-Columbia Conference coaches announced the All-MCC awards.

Vega was named Player of the Year, while Revell earned Pitcher of the Year honors.

Richland’s Grant Richardson earned MCC Coach of the Year honors.

Both Richland and Kamiakin also had three players each named to the first team.

Revell was named a pitcher, as well as an outfielder. Braylon Edwards was named relief pitcher, while Dylan Parrott is a second baseman.

Kamiakin’s Vega was named first team at both pitcher and as a utility player. Teammates Taron Carlson (shortstop) and Tanner Davis (outfield) also earned first-team honors.

Other players named to the first team are Kennewick’s Dominic Driver (third base) and Brady Mattson (outfield); Southridge’s Trey Holdren (first base) and Nick Wade (designated hitter); and Chiawana’s Tayten Cissne (catcher).

Prep softball

As of Thursday night, three Mid-Columbia Conference teams have qualified for state tournaments, with another two still holding a chance of a berth.

On Friday, May 15, Richland visits Hanford for the District 6 Class 4A championship. Both teams are qualified for the 4A state tournament, which will be held May 22-23 at Columbia Playfield in Richland.

First pitch Friday is set for 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, MCC regular-season champion Kamiakin will host Mead at 5 p.m., Friday (5/15), at Lawrence Scott Park. The winner earns a state tourney berth, while the loser’s season is over.

Kamiakin, which went unbeaten in MCC play, fell 7-1 last week to Richland.

In the 3A district tournament, Kennewick visits Mt. Spokane at 4:30 p.m., Friday (5/15) for the tournament title. Both teams have qualified for the 3A state tournament, which runs May 21-23 in Lacey.

Also Friday, Southridge visits University for the third-place game (and a state berth). The loser goes home. First pitch is 4:30 p.m.

Boys soccer

As many as four MCC teams could qualify for the upcoming Class 4A and 3A state tournaments.

At 7 p.m. today, Chiawana plays host to Lewis & Clark for the District 6 4A championship game. Both teams have already earned state berths.

Meanwhile, Hanford visits Richland at 5 p.m. today, as both teams battle for the final state berth. Loser’s season is done.

In the 3A district tourney, Walla Walla visits Ridgeline at 6 p.m. today in the title game. Both are already in for the 3A state tournament.

Kennewick visits Mt. Spokane at Union Stadium at 5 p.m. Wimmer advances to state; loser’s season is over.

• Chiawana and Richland dominated the MCC all-conference first team this past week.

Riverhawks senior midfielder Eli Sanchez was named MCC Player of the Year. He also was on the first team.

Other Chiawana first-teamers are junior defender Alfredo Andrade, senior forward Morgan Dodson, senior midfielder Callum Laird, senior goalkeeper Moises Nino, and senior defender Ian Villagrana.

Richland had four playlets on the first team, all of them seniors: defender Justin O’Niel, forward Martin Rivera Jr., forward Kendyn Sparks, and defender William Um.

Pasco’s Matt Potter, who was named MCC Coach of the Year, had two players on the first team with senior defender Jesus Gutierrez and senior midfielder Edwar Montano.

Kennewick senior forward Jan Vergera and Walla Walla sophomore midfielder Cristian Tapia also were named to the first team.

Baseball update

Southridge High School graduate Mason Martin signed with the Algodoneros de Union Laguna of the independent Mexican League on April 17.

Martin, 26, is a 6-foot, 220-pound first baseman who was a Pittsburgh Pirates draft pick, and in 2024 played for the Tri-City Dust Devils.

The Algodoneros are 9-13 and play in the North Division.

Martin leads the team with 20 runs scored, 7 home runs, and 29 RBIs. He has a .341 batting average, a .671 slugging percentage, and a 1.081 OPS.

NWAC baseball

Columbia Basin College takes on Mt. Hood Community College at noon Friday in a loser-out game at the NWAC Super Regionals site of Pierce Community College in Tacoma.

The Hawks qualified for the tournament by placing third in the NWAC East standings, going 17-11 (28-22 overall).

CBC must win today to stay alive. If the Hawks can do so, they will play Pierce in a best-of-3 series over the next two days. The winner will advance to the NWAC championship tournament, which runs May 21-25 in Longview.

• CBC sophomore Diego Escandon (Edmonds-Woodway) brought in the hardware this season.

Escandon was named NWAC East Region Position Player of the Year, was the Gold Glove MVP, and he was named to the first team outfield.

Escandon hit .295, with 2 home runs and 28 RBIs. He also had 28 stolen bases.

Two other Hawks were named to the NWAC East first team: Utility player Andre Muneton (Auburn Riverside), and infielder Cohen Sunich (Graham-Kapowsin).

Besides Escandon, three other CBC players made the Gold Glove team: Muneton at second base, outfielder Kevin Brekke (Kona, Idaho), and first baseman Diego Martinez Griffin (Portland-Grant).

Yakima Valley College’s Tanner Marsalis was named East Region Pitcher of the Year, as well as Freshman of the Year. YVC’s Jackson Walker earned the Big Stick award, while Spokane’s Ryne Webb was named Coach of the Year. Spokane’s Josh Grimes was named Assistant Coach of the Year.

NWAC softball

Columbia Basin College finished the season with a 24-21 record, but the Hawks qualified for the NWAC Championship tournament — which started on Thursday at Delta Park in Portland.

CBC lost 5-2 to Clackamas in a loser-out contest. Hannah Robertson (Moscow, Idaho) led the Hawks with a hit and two RBIs.

Walla Walla Community College (31-14) went 1-1 at the tournament on Thursday.

The Warriors beat Centralia 13-9, as Faith Hickman (Southridge) had three hits, including a double, scoring two runs and driving in two more.

WWCC then lost to Edmonds 10-1, with Maddy Schumacher (Pendleton) hitting a solo home run.

The Warriors continue tournament play today.

• Hickman was named the East Region MVP this past week. Hickman, a freshman catcher, hit .486, had 21 home runs and drove in 77 runs.

Spokane’s Cassaundra Seifert was named Pitcher of the Year; while Spokane’s Terry McIntyre and Walla Walla’s Logan Parker were co-Coaches of the Year.

CBC had two players named to the first team: catcher Halli Lott (American Falls, Idaho), and infielder Laci Ross (Selah).

WWCC had four players earn first-team honors: utility player Juliana Berinobis (Hawaii), infielder Kaydence Hector (Ephrata), pitcher Paige Richardson (Moses Lake), and outfielder Maddy Schumacher (Pendleton).

More state qualifying

Baseball — Othello plays at Anacortes at 11 a.m. Saturday in a 2A crossover game. Winner heads to state, loser is out. … In the 1A district tournament Saturday in Ephrata, Royal plays Chelan at noon, while Connell takes on Naches Valley at 2:30 p.m. Winners will earn state tourney berths. … In 2B, three-time defending state champion Tri-Cities Prep has already qualified for the state tournament. River View must win two times on Saturday in Moses Lake to get a state berth. The Panthers meet Tonasket at 1 p.m. in a loser-out game. If they win that, they meet Cle Elum at 3:30 for a state berth. … The following area 1B teams have already qualified for the state tournament: Liberty Christian of Richland, Sunnyside Christian, Dayton and DeSales.

Boys soccer — Connell and Royal will play in the District 5 third-place game at 3 p.m. Saturday at Royal. Both have already qualified for the state tournament. Wahluke will meet Okanogan at 11 a.m. Saturday in Royal City in a winner-to-state, loser-out contest.

Softball — College Place won the District 5 1A championship on Wednesday, beating Naches Valley 8-3 in the title game. At 2 p.m., Saturday, Colville visits Royal in a glue crossover game at 2 p.m., with the winner earning a state berth. … River View has already earned a state 2B berth. On Saturday in Moses Lake, Tri-Cities Prep meets Warden at 1 p.m., with only the winner advancing to state. … Liberty Christian and Sunnyside Christian have both already earned 1B state tournament berths. District is set at Franklin Park in Spokane both Friday and Saturday. DeSales and Dayton are still battling for state tourney berths.

Track and field — MCC teams are prepping for the final month. The MCC Championships are at Walla Walla High School on Friday and Saturday. The 3A and 4A District 6 Championships will be held at Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley

-Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.