Mid-Columbia roundup: Tri-Cities Prep shines at new baseball home

The Tri-Cities Prep baseball team opened up the school’s new baseball and softball complex with two historic wins.

The Jaguars beat DeSales 14-0 and 2-0 at the Ray Whitlow Memorial Athletic Complex, which was named after Tri-Cities Prep’s first athletic director and dedicated before Saturday’s games.

It was the Jaguars’ first sweep of the Irish.

“Ray was definitely shining down on us today,” Tri-Cities Prep coach Jason Jarrett said.

Phillip Geist pitched all five innings in the first game, allowing one hit, walking none and striking out three.

In Game 2, Trent Mercado gave up two hits, struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter in seven innings.

At the plate, Jacob Amato and Colin Dickson each had two RBIs in Game 1 for the Jaguars (13-2 overall, 7-1 Southeast 2B), who took advantage of 11 walks. Chase Wilson went 2-for-3 in the second game.

“We probably had close to 300 people here,” Jarrett said. “It was phenomenal.”

WALLA WALLA 3-6, RICHLAND 0-8: The teams resumed their MCC doubleheader that was suspended Friday with host Walla Walla leading 2-0 entering the bottom of the second inning in Game 1. The Blue Devils (11-5, 7-3) scored again in the sixth to secure the win.

In Game 2, Griffey March and Josh Mendoza each drove in two runs to help the Bombers (11-5, 8-2) salvage the split.

CONNELL 13-10, RIVER VIEW 1-0: The host Eagles (13-5, 6-0 SCAC East) dominated on the mound in their sweep of the Panthers (3-13, 1-5).

In Game 1, Gabe Tolrud pitched a two-hitter with seven strikeouts. Tristen Garland, who went 3-for-4 with a home run in the opener, struck out nine and allowed one hit in the second game.

KIONA-BENTON 3-13, ROYAL 2-3: Darrel Wheeler was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing in the winning run for the host Bears in Game 1 of their SCAC East doubleheader against the Knights.

Ki-Be’s Nate Rossine pitched six innings of the opener, striking out 12 and not allowing an earned run.

In Game 2, Rossine went 3-for-3 with two doubles and six RBIs, including a two-run home run, while Lino Rivera struck out eight in five innings to lead the Bears (12-3-1, 4-0) to the sweep.

Kaden Jenks hit a three-run homer in Game 2 for Royal (6-10, 0-4).

TOUCHET 6-3, LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 5-4: The host Patriots salvaged a split in their Southeast 1B doubleheader on a walk-off wild pitch in the seventh inning of Game 2. Freshman Matt McClure, courtesy running for pitcher Trey Davis, scored the final run.

STANFIELD WINS TWO: Brody Woods pitched a shutout through six innings before being tagged for four runs in the seventh, but Ryan Bailey got the final two outs to close out Stanfield’s 6-4 win over Taft in Lincoln City, Ore.

Stanfield (17-2 overall) then prevailed in a back-and-forth matchup with Monroe, winning 6-5 in the eighth inning after Makiah Blankenship was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Tony Flores drove in two runs against Taft. He pitched the first four innings against Monroe, giving up one hit and four runs — one earned — and striking out 10.

Softball

SELAH 8-11, OTHELLO 6-16: Othello’s Kirsten Quigley had six hits and three home runs on the day, leading the Huskies to a CWAC split on the road against the Vikings.

Both teams entered the day undefeated in CWAC play. Selah leads the CWAC with an 11-1 record, while Othello is 9-1.

EAST VALLEY 18-16, PROSSER 0-2: Sydney Stearns drove in the Mustangs’ only runs of the day as Prosser lost both games of its CWAC doubleheader against the Red Devils, who racked up 43 hits.

KIONA-BENTON 28-14, ROYAL 17-1: The Bears racked up 15 runs in the fourth inning of Game 1, and Momo Calzadillas had eight RBIs on the day as the Bears swept the Knights on the road.

Kiona-Benton improved to 10-3 overall and 6-0 in SCAC East play, while Royal fell to 7-6, 3-3.

RIVER VIEW 15-15, CONNELL 1-13: Rachel Doran went the distance in both games, pitching a two-hitter in the five-inning opener and striking out 17 with zero walks on the day, as the Panthers swept the host Eagles.

Jadyn Kohl hit a grand slam that gave River View a big lead early in Game 1.

Becka Harrington and Kindra Klaustermeyer each homered for Connell in the second game, but the Panthers (10-4 overall, 4-2 SCAC East) scored three runs in the sixth to rally past the Eagles (3-11, 3-3).

DESALES 10-11, TRI-CITIES PREP 2-0: Maddy Thomas hit for the cycle in Game 2, helping the Irish sweep the Jaguars in Southeast 2B action at the Ray Whitlow Memorial Athletic Complex in Pasco.

Maddie Brandner had four hits and two doubles on the day for Tri-Cities Prep.

TOUCHET 16-21, LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 6-14: Cierra Jo McKeown struck out 18 on the day, and Jennifer Aceves drove in eight runs as the Indians swept the host Patriots in Southeast 1B action.

Katie Steele had five hits and six RBIs on the day for Liberty Christian, which took a 14-1 lead in the first inning of Game 2 before Touchet rallied for the win.

SOUTHRIDGE 6-8, KENNEWICK 0-6: Madison Martin hit a two-run, two-out double in the top of the eighth inning in Friday’s nightcap, helping the Suns complete an MCC sweep of the host Lions.

Southridge put up five runs in the second inning to cruise to its Game 1 win. Bailey Ball went 2-for-4 to lead the Suns (7-5, 5-3).

Marivel Macias went 3-for-5 in Game 2 for Kennewick (3-11, 2-6), which tied the score with three runs in the seventh.

Julianne Hammond led the way for Southridge in the nightcap, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs.

▪ The Richland-Walla Walla softball doubleheader, which was rained out Friday, was moved to 3 p.m. Monday at Murr Sports Park in Walla Walla.

Soccer

PASCO 3, SOUTHRIDGE 0: Jesus Meraz-Rodriguez scored a pair of goals and Edwin Aquino one as the Bulldogs picked up an MCC win at Lampson Stadium.

Pasco (13-1, 11-1), which leads Chiawana by two games with two left to play, is a win away from claiming the league title.

Martin Ruiz had a busy day in goal for the Suns (5-9, 5-7) with seven saves. Southridge was outshot 18-8.

CHIAWANA 3, HANFORD 0: Chiawana and Hanford each took nine shots on goal, but Shambel West found the net twice for the Riverhawks (9-4, 9-3), giving them the road win over the Falcons (6-8, 6-6).

RICHLAND 2, WALLA WALLA 0: Ryan Wolski scored on a penalty kick in the 28th minute, and Jason Pietrok had an insurance goal 10 minutes later to lead the host Bombers (4-9, 4-8) past the Blue Devils (0-12 overall and MCC).

Quinn McHie made five saves for Walla Walla.

KAMIAKIN 3, KENNEWICK 2 (SO): The Braves won the shootout 3-2 to prevail in an MCC game against the visiting Lions.

Isaiah Arechiga scored in regulation and in the shootout for Kamiakin (7-7, 7-5), as did Armando Ponce for Kennewick (7-7, 6-6).

OTHELLO 1, ELLENSBURG 0: Jose Chairez made 10 saves for the Huskies, and Elias Garcia scored the only goal of the CWAC game in Ellensburg. Othello (9-3, 4-2) is tied for third place in league play.

Track and field

PROSSER ROTARY INVITE: Hanford’s Joseph Gauthier and Lele Williams were named the outstanding male and female athletes of the meet at Art Fiker Stadium as the Falcons swept the team titles.

Gauthier won the 100 meters in 11.36 seconds and the 200 in 22.81. He also anchored the Falcons’ 4x100 relay to a win.

Williams was first in the 300 hurdles (45.40) and third in the 100 (16.33), which was won by teammate Nyenuchi Okemgbo (16.08). Williams also helped the Falcons take first in the 4x100 relay and second in the 4x400.

Hanford’s Amanda Andersen won the pole vault, matching her school record of 11 feet.

Richland was the boys and girls team runner-up, led by four field victories on the boys side and a win in the girls 400 by Breezy Horne (1:01.54).

This story was originally published April 23, 2016 at 8:24 PM with the headline "Mid-Columbia roundup: Tri-Cities Prep shines at new baseball home."