OTHELLO – In the top of the fifth inning of the regional game of the Othello Huskies versus WF West Kal El Ozuna made a play he said he will never forget. Two Huskies inch away from second and third base as he steps up to bat.  

“We were down five to zero to start the game out, and we just kept clawing our way back,” he said.  

Down 5-6 in the top of the sixth, Ozuna stepped up for his second at bat, knowing they had two outs, and the Huskies needed a big play. The WF pitcher unloaded a high-velocity pitch at Ozuna, and he sent it straight out to left-center field.  

Two Huskies made it home, and Ozuna sprinted to third base. Ozuna fired up the dugout as the Huskies took a 7-6 lead. They would go on to win 14-8. 

“With me pumping my chest with my fist, getting the whole crowd hyped. That just felt amazing. I keep watching that video over and over every day,” Ozuna said.  

Ozuna said he has been playing baseball since he was 6 years old in pee-wee baseball in Othello. He said as he grew older and began playing on travel teams, his love for the sport bloomed. He enjoyed the feeling he got when he got a big hit and saw the smiles on his teammates and family's faces, he said.  

“I feel very amazing that I stepped up when my team needed me and I delivered to keep going, and every time when either I or someone else does that for the team, it just always feels amazing,” Ozuna said.  

According to Ozuna, his favorite aspect of baseball is nothing technical. It’s not line drives and home runs. It’s not throwing the perfect pitch. He said it was the time he got to spend around special players like his teammates at Othello High School. He said getting to share special moments like the play against WF West is what he will always carry with him.  

“It's the experience of just being around special players and giving them positive feedback and just competing against each other. I will always love just being around everybody and having those special moments with those players,” he said.  

Alongside fellow seniors Jordan Montemayor and Sonny Salazar, Ozuna came into the Huskies baseball program well acquainted with the other players. According to him, he grew up playing with most of them through little leagues and travel ball in Othello.  

The trio shared a unique experience when they arrived at Othello. They all became key players for the varsity team and remained that way in all four years on the Huskies baseball team. According to head coach Sonny Garza, they all had their own leadership styles.  

“They were all players that a certain type of kid could follow and try to emulate, so having three leaders that have very different styles of leadership is something that had been very crucial to molding the team that we've had the last few years,” Garza said.  

According to Garza, Ozuna played with heart and determination, which he said was contagious in the dugout. Garza said he led by example and was not afraid to be vocal with his teammates. Ozuna said it’s all a part of his desire to win.  

“I just want to keep competing and keep winning in this sport and at life,” Ozuna said. “I'm a hard worker, I want to keep on putting pressure on more and more people. So we can all be better, better people and better ball players.”  

Though he was an outfielder for the Huskies, Ozuna said he grew up wanting to be a third baseman. He wanted to be just like Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, who also shared a similarity with Ozuna, they’re both left-handed.  

He enjoyed watching Seager hit and play at third base as a lefty and has had desires to emulate him on the diamond, he said.  

During his time with the Huskies, Ozuna made the Central Washington Athletic Conference All-Conference honorable mention in his Sophomore and Junior seasons. However, he was never concerned about being named by the CWAC as long as he felt he was performing for his team, he said.  

Ozuna also played football for the Huskies, taking snaps at receiver and defensive back. Though he enjoyed the sport, he said baseball was his first choice for a sport. However, he said he’ll never regret putting the same level of effort into football.  

Looking ahead to this fall, Ozuna said he will be joining the Big Bend Community College Vikings baseball team. He said that after a strong tryout and good experience with the coaches, he was offered a roster spot. According to Ozuna, he had not received any offers throughout his senior year and planned to try to walk onto Walla Walla’s team.  

He said he plans to bring that same level of heart and determination to the Vikings baseball team.  

“The number one goal for me is to always be the best player out there who keeps on hustling, who keeps on competing, and always have a good attitude of the sport, but I'll always have a goal of being a good leader and trying to help others,” he said.  

    Huskies Kal El Ozuna prepares to take a bunt swing in a previous game. Ozuna is committed to Big Bend Community College and will join the Vikings baseball team this fall.
  

    Huskies Kal El Ozuna throws a pitch during a previous game. Ozuna played on the varsity team at Othello for all four years of his high school career.
  

    Huskies Kal El Ozuna takes a swing at home plate in a previous game. Ozuna said his favorite part of baseball is being around his teammates and pushing each other to be better players and people.
  

    Huskies Kal El Ozuna (10) throws his arms in the air to celebrate his teammates touchdown in a previous game. Ozuna was a dual sport athlete at Othello High School, balancing football and baseball during his high school career.