EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers (8-9) earned a pair of convincing victories over the Othello Huskies (6-7) during the Tigers senior night. Both games were high energy as the Tigers honored their lone senior Dakota Durfee, with the excitement getting members of the opposing dugout involved in the fun.  

“Our first game was really good, we had some really good defense, we were there offensively,” said Durfee. “Second game, we had a little slump in the road, but we ended up getting the win.” 

During game one, the Tigers were the first on the board after Bailey Falconer doubled to centerfield to score a run. Ephrata increased their lead to eight in the third inning after Sindey Chornuk, Ella Piturachsatit, Falconer and Hannah Hull each made hits to score runs. 

The Huskies got on the board in the fourth inning and closed the gap in the fifth with five runs off hits from Evony Gomez, Alizay Pruneda and Alexa Prochet to put the game at 6-12. Ephrata remained vigilant in the final innings to gain a 7-14 victory. 

Haley Trusty pitched the entirety of game one for the Tigers, throwing six strikeouts. Prochet started on the mound for Othello, striking out four and Kenzie Martinez followed with three. 

In game two, the Huskies got on the board in the first inning, after an error, and hits from Kenzie Martinez and Maylen Valdez. The Tigers turned things around in the bottom of the first, starting with a home run from Cami Martinez. By the end of the first Ephrata gained a 5-3 lead. 

The Tigers increased their lead in the second inning, scoring three runs. After going scoreless in the second, the Huskies worked to climb back and put the game at 6-8 in the fifth inning. 

Then in the fifth and sixth innings the game was halted when the sprinklers came on. As officials worked to turn off the sprinklers, both teams decided to have fun on the field and dance together to keep their energy up for the Ephrata senior night. 

“That was our goal was to keep our dugout loud, and they did their job, so that was really cool to see,” said Tigers Head Coach Lesa Trevino. 

Even with the Huskies being down at this point in the game, the players were seen still having fun on the field alongside their opponents on the field. Huskies Head Coach Dominique Martinez said keeping a positive mindset is something the team has made great improvements throughout this season. 

“When the time comes and you can put it all together and we do win, that’s even better, but focus on the little things, and it’ll come together when it comes together,” said Coach Martinez. 

The Huskies battled, but the Tigers closed out game two with a 7-10 victory. 

“It was really good to have a two-game victory on senior night,” said Durfee. “My team really pulled out and did it for me.” 

Chornuk pitched all seven innings for the Tigers where she threw 11 strikeouts. Kenzie Martinez started on the mound for the Huskies pitching two innings with four strikeouts, followed by Prochet who threw six strikeouts in four innings. 

Trevino said the team's goal coming into this matchup was to bring the intensity throughout and the players did exactly that against a tough Central Washington Athletic Conference rival. 

“I honestly think that their level of intensity and just being there for each other and keeping themselves all the way up and not letting the energy dip, they’re learning that is where we’re thriving,” said Trevino. “To see them in the dugout and to see them coming out and being there for each other, that’s what they’re doing phenomenal at.” 

Despite taking two losses Thursday, Coach Martinez said she was proud of the effort that the players gave as Othello was down a few players.  

“I was very proud of how our girls came out either way,” said the Huskies Coach. “They gave it their all.” 

As the Huskies eye the end of the regular season, Coach Martinez said facing Ephrata helps prepare them for tough matchups down the road. Facing a strong playoff contender like the Tigers is something that will help as they look toward tough postseason opponents like East Valley, Selah and Ellensburg. 

“(Ephrata) they’re a very good hitting team, so playing them in that situation, they were showing us what we need to work on,” she said. 

Coach Martinez said she knows each of the Huskies have something that they want to work on and have shown consistent improvement throughout the season. 

For Ephrata moving forward, Trevino said the focus is to keep pushing their defense further and keep up the good work that they’ve been displaying in these last few games. The Tigers coach said she is having bittersweet feelings. 

“It’s my first year and I lose my lone senior ... (Durfee’s) phenomenal, so we’re going to miss her,” said Trevino. “Just coming in and being able to take this team and have all the confidence in the world, and for them to finally see it. I think that’s probably the best part of this sport is being able to instill that confidence that I already had in them, but in themselves.” 

Durfee said she is looking forward to growing closer with her teammates as they get more double plays and continue to pump each other up. 

“They’re a family,” said the senior. “You can always count on them to have your back.” 

The Tigers faced the Quincy Jackrabbits Saturday afternoon in another CWAC rivalry matchup. Results from that game will be featured in Tuesday’s paper.  

Ephrata is set to finish off the regular season on the road in a doubleheader against Ellensburg on May 2 with the first game starting at 11 a.m. The Huskies have two more home doubleheaders, facing Ellensburg on Wednesday afternoon starting at 3:30 p.m. and Toppenish on May 1 starting at 3:30 p.m. 

BOX SCORE:  

GAME ONE:  

OTHL: 0-0-0-1-5-0-1: 7 

EPHT: 0-2-5-5-0-2-x: 14 

GAME TWO:  

OTHL: 3-0-2-1-0-0-1: 7  

EPHT: 5-3-0-0-0-2-x: 10

    Tigers coaches Lesa Trevino and Jordyn Martinez dance to the “Macarena” alongside the Huskies and Tigers players while Huskies Head Coach Dominique Martinez records off to the side.
  

    Ephrata senior Dakota Durfee steps up to bat during Thursday’s doubleheader against Othello.
  

    Alizay Pruneda, a senior from the Huskies runs to third base during Thursday’s road doubleheader against the Tigers.
  

    Tigers player Cami Martinez cheers as she rounds the bases after hitting a home run in game two against the Huskies.
  

    Othello’s Kenzie Martinez (10) gears up to throw a pitch to an Ephrata batter with teammate Alizay Pruneda (17) at first base ready on defense.
  

    Sidney Chornuk, one of the pitchers for Ephrata, gears up to hurl the ball to an Othello batter during Thursday’s doubleheader.
  

    Chita Lara from the Huskies steps up to bat during Thursday’s doubleheader against the Tigers.