EPHRATA — Ephrata’s Isaiah Davis and Mitchell Johnson both made the Tillage League All-Star team after having strong performances with the Tigers Baseball Club during the summer season. After competing in a few tournaments, the All-Star lineup finished the summer with a 4-7 record.  

“It was really fun,” said Johnson. “I enjoyed playing with new people and meeting all the new guys and it was a fun group of guys to play with.” 

The All-Star team got off to a slow start as they fell to the Central Washington Sixers 18U and then struggled to earn a win in the following End of Summer Classic tournament.

Davis said their struggle early on for All-Star play was the team’s lack of chemistry. As time went on, the players all began to bond with one another which eventually translated toward success on the diamond. 

“Everybody on the team was cracking jokes with each other, and we were just playing more like a team,” he said. “Hanging out pregame, waiting for the next game to get over, everybody’s chilling near the cages and everybody’s just talking at hotels and stuff. Just getting to know your teammates, that really helps.” 

The next weekend, the Tillage players traveled to compete in the Top Tier Whitworth Prospect Series. Over the four days of competition, the All-Star team found greater strides as they went 4-2 against their opponents in Spokane to finish their summer baseball season. 

The Tillage All-Stars were also facing higher competition as they were mostly incoming sophomores and juniors facing against 18U and 19U teams. 

“Seeing some of these kids that it’s an 18U tournament, so this is their last shot,” said Davis. “Like you’re really seeing the real deal out there.” 

With the summer season now at a close, the boys can look back on a successful summer of growth for both themselves and the baseball program in Ephrata.  

For Johnson and Davis personally, competing at the All-Star level provided a unique challenge that helped develop their skills for future seasons. For Davis, he said the greatest experience was having the opportunity to rise to the occasion against tough and experienced opponents. 

“Some of these kids out here, this is their life and when you see really good people play it makes you play better,” said Davis. “Just being able to see those west side teams compete and kind of get on their level.” 

Johnson said the exposure to the higher competition helped him grow as an athlete as he and his teammates held their own against more experienced competition.  

Davis said adapting to that level of play required quicker pitching, as the opposition had trained to hit the ball harder. Many of the Tillage League players also had to get used to a different playing field as the tournaments took place on turf fields. 

Being able to compete in the Tillage League and on the All-Star team also brought in a strong social aspect to the players’ development. Davis said the ability to hang out with his teammates both in and outside of games helps build the bonds of these players and will benefit them in their journeys outside of baseball.  

“A lot of these high school baseball players are multisport athletes,” said Davis. “Just good moments and bonding with people after games, it’s just really important and it just strengthens the community overall especially after a good season like that in the Tillage League.” 

Johnson said he appreciated the opportunity both with the Tigers Baseball Club and the Tillage All-Star team to compete alongside a strong group of dedicated athletes. 

“This summer was one of the most fun times I’ve had playing baseball and that was because of the success we had, and everyone wanted to be there and play,” he said. “It just makes you want to win for each other and if you want some motivation, you win for the person standing next to you instead of for anyone else.” 

Despite having a few weeks off from athletics until the start of the school year, both players are staying active in keeping their athletic skills sharp. Whether it’s going to the gym on their own, coming up with ways to keep their bodies healthy or just taking time to rest, the journey to improving themselves never ends. 

“It’s important because you don’t want to lose everything you’ve gained,” said Johnson. “If you just stay sharp then you can keep building year-round and that’s one of my goals this offseason.” 

    Ephrata’s Isaiah Davis prepares to sling a pitch during the last tournament with the Tillage League All-Star team.
  

    Mitchell Johnson, who joined the All-Star team as a catcher, and Isaiah Davis, who joined the team as a pitcher, chat on the mound during the tournament in Spokane.