EPHRATA — The Ephrata Enforcers 14U softball team has been making large strides in its summer season, taking second in its hosted tournament in June and third last weekend in Wenatchee.  

“We’ve worked on their fundamentals, worked on their skills, honing all that in and they’re just firing on all cylinders right now,” said Enforcers Head Coach Lesa Trevino. “We’ve gotten to a point where they’re understanding the game a lot more and they’re competitive.” 

Trevino said she has been working with this group of girls since they were playing in 10U and have since deepened their understanding of softball. The Enforcers began their 14U season in April with their first tournament, in which the girls finished with two ties and two losses.

Their next tournament took place in May where the Enforcers finished 2-2, earning wins over the Columbia Basin Diamonds and TC Strike 14U. 

The Enforcers hosted their first tournament of the summer with their third annual BJP Tournament. This tournament is held in honor of the late Bobbie Jo Peters, who had a deep and lasting legacy on softball in Ephrata, according to Trevino. 

Alongside the BJP tournament, the Enforcers also traditionally hold a community service project. This year the project was an annual food drive where teams are challenged to donate the most food, with the winner receiving a team bat. 

This year their expectations were exceeded as the food drive gathered 907 pounds of food that were donated to the Ephrata Food Bank, said Trevino. In previous years, the drive had usually collected about 200 pounds of food, so reaching this amount meant a lot to the team, Trevino said. 

“We're super excited that these teams come and are willing to not only play in the tournament but play for a good cause and play in memory of someone who meant so much to our Ephrata teams and to my coaching staff,” she said. 

Ephrata finished the BJP Tournament with a 4-2 record to take second place on the bracket. 

“I think that these girls deserve some recognition,” Trevino said. “They’re phenomenal in every way, so we’re raising good humans, but also good ball players too.” 

A week after hosting, the Enforcers were on the road to Selah, where they went 3-1 and took third place. 

Their most recent success came from their tournament in Wenatchee July 11-12. The Enforcers went 3-2, which was enough to claim another third-place finish for the season. 

“We’ve been pretty competitive,” said Trevino. “We’ve had those tough losses where we’ve lost by one, especially this weekend, we lost by one going to get into the championship and that was a tough loss, but I think those ones are the ones that teach us the most and what we really need to work on.” 

As the Enforcers have gone through their season, their main goal has been focused on having fun while giving their best effort, Trevino said. 

“They’ve done everything that we’ve asked for over the winter and it’s really starting to show,” she said. “We’re just trying to teach them hard work pays off.” 

In just this season alone, Trevino said she has seen great improvement from the players in their hitting and being aggressive at the ball. She said the girls have already gotten to the point that they know what to do on the field without being told. 

The coach said that for the last week she has had the players focused on getting the ball in play, looking at line drives and getting ready to go up against tough defenses.  

On the pitching side of things she wants the players to focus on one pitch at a time and take the time they need to reset on the mound. 

“I think just us going over that this week is going to be helpful and just let them know that it’s okay to take a breath when you’re on the mound – your defense has your back,” said Trevino. 

The Enforcers prepare for another busy tournament in Selah this weekend as they begin their first game at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for pool play. Bracket play will begin Sunday for the tournament. 

“These girls are raring to go,” said Trevino. “They’re really excited. I think that all the success that we’ve had this summer has shown them that all their hard work has paid off.” 

    Players from the Enforcers warm up by dancing outside the dugout this summer.
  

    Enforcers players gather for a photo next to the Ephrata Food Bank truck after the team helped raise 907 pounds of food during the Bobbie Jo Peters Tournament this summer.