Tuesday's small-school baseball roundup

Garrett Stephens pitched a complete game and hit a grand slam as the visiting Zillah Leopards stunned the top-seeded Connell Eagles 12-2 in the first round of the Class 1A District 5 baseball tournament Tuesday.

The SCAC West’s No. 4 seed, Zillah scored eight runs in the fifth inning to blow open a close game and claim the semifinal spot.

Connell will face Cle Elum/Roslyn at 4 p.m. Friday in an elimination game, while Zillah will play Columbia (Burbank) at 4 p.m. Friday with a regional berth on the line.

Frankie Meraz was 3-for-3 with both RBIs for Connell, which lost for just the fourth time this season.

Zillah 020 082 — 12 12 1

Connell 010 001 — 2 8 2

Garrett Stephens and Jake Smith. Austin Forsyth, Leo Bermudez (5) and Gabe Tolrud. Highlights—Z: Krueger 2-4, RBI; Ross 2-4, 2B, 2 RBIs; Stephens 1-4, GS. C: Jess Hawk 2-3; Forsyth 2B; Frankie Meraz 3-3, 2 RBIs.

Highland 5, Kiona-Benton 2: Parker Stohr allowed just two runs, struck out seven and hit a two-run home run as the Scotties upset the Bears in the first round of the Class 1A District 5 tournament in Benton City.

Highland, the SCAC West’s No. 3 seed, will now play at Naches Valley at 4 p.m. Friday in a semifinal.

Kiona-Benton will host Warden in an elimination game at 4 p.m. Friday.

James Deaton struck out seven for Kiona-Benton and Cody Zyph had an RBI single.

Highland 000 302 0 — 5 6 1

Kiona-Benton 002 000 0 — 2 5 2

Parker Stohr and Waldam. James Deaton and Darrel Wheeler. Highlights—High: Stohr 5 Hs, 7 Ks, 2-run homer; KB: Deaton 7 Ks, Zyph RBI single

Naches Valley 10, Warden 0: Cameron Walker struck out 10 while throwing a three-hit shutout for the Rangers, and was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs, as they advanced in the Class 1A District 5 first-round game.

Warden 000 000 — 0 3 4

Naches Valley 200 053 — 10 7 0

Yamane, Reyes (5) and Shuler. Walker and Spencer. Highlights—NV: Jay Whorton 2-3, Cameron Walker CG, 10 K, 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI.

Tri-Cities Prep 4, TOGP 3: Phillip Geist had the game-winning hit, banging a single to score Isaac Nelson in the bottom of the seventh as the Jaguars moved within a victory of the regional playoffs.

Nelson led off the seven with a double, moved to third on an Alex Montelongo sacrifice bunt, and scored on Geist’s base hit to win the Class 2B District 9 elimination game.

Tri-Cities Prep will play either Waitsburg-Prescott or Dayton at 11 a.m. Saturday at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla.

The winner earns a regional berth.

TOGP 000 030 0 — 3 5 7

TC Prep 300 000 1 — 4 9 2

Griner and Cocking. Philip Geist, Isaac Nelson (6) and Sam Harlow. Highlights—TCP: Nelson 3-4, 2B, 3B; Geist 3-4, 2 RBIs, GW hit.

This story was originally published May 14, 2014 at 12:52 AM with the headline "Tuesday's small-school baseball roundup."