EPHRATA — Ephrata dropped three home games across a four-day stretch, losing a doubleheader to Prosser Saturday, April 11, and falling to East Valley Tuesday, April 14.

The Tigers seek to rebound when they host second-ranked Othello this Saturday, April 18 in a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.

April 11 at Ephrata — Prosser 8, Ephrata 4, Game 1

Tiger bats were hot in the first inning. Mitchell Johnson led off with a hit-by-pitch, Caleb Froewiss singled and Cooper Vasquez's bunt single scored two. Elijah Davis singled home Vasquez, and Clayton Wolther's RBI double gave Ephrata a 4-1 lead before the inning was done.

It was the only offense the Tigers could generate. Prosser's relief pitching shut them out over the final six innings, and the Mustangs gradually clawed back to take the opener 8-4.

For Ephrata, Vasquez worked 5.1 innings on the mound, with Kai Kaleohano and Wolther finishing in relief.

Prosser 10, Ephrata 8, Game 2

For one half-inning, Game 2 looked like it might go differently. Cale Fronsman put on a clinic and retired the side in the top of the first on just eight pitches, striking out the leadoff hitter and getting two quick groundouts.

In the bottom of the inning, Prosser starter RJ Esperanza-Jensen struggled to find the strike zone, recording just one out before exiting as Ephrata went on to send 12 batters to the plate and score eight runs.

The barrage started when Mitchell Johnson singled to lead off, Caleb Froewiss bunted him to third and Cooper Vasquez singled Johnson home. Kai Kaleohano singled in Vasquez, and Clayton Wolther singled to score Kaleohano, sending the Tigers up 3-0.

Elijah Davis, Charles Poirrier and Mayson Stredwick reached on walks. Wolther scored on a passed ball to make it 4-0. Andrew Rowlands was hit by pitch to score Davis, Johnson walked to score Poirrier, and Froewiss singled home Stredwick.

Vasquez lined a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Rowlands after tagging up on third.

All told, Ephrata posted eight runs on six singles, four walks, a hit-by-pitch and a passed ball. 

But then the Tigers bats went cold – they managed just two more hits after the second inning — while Prosser heated up. The Mustangs scored four runs in the second inning, two more in the third and three in the fourth to take a 9-8 lead. Micah Lampman's RBI single in the seventh sealed the visitors' 10-8 win.

Fronsman started and took the loss, allowing four earned runs and striking out five. Froewiss pitched two innings in relief, giving up three runs and striking out two, Wolther finished the final two innings, allowing one run on two hits.

A special ceremony followed Saturday's games. The program gathered on the field to celebrate EHS Baseball Alumni Day and honor long-time coach Gary Archer whose contributions to Tiger baseball span six decades.

A 1965 EHS graduate, 2021 school Hall of Fame inductee, and 31-year assistant coach, Archer played collegiate baseball at Eastern Oregon University and Spokane Falls before returning home to Ephrata to teach and coach in 1971.

Archer coached alongside legends Dave Johnson and Marty O'Brien in both baseball and basketball. His legacy extends well beyond the field. Also a talented artist, he designed he Ephrata School District's iconic logos — the Ephrata "E" and the "Archer" Tiger, both still in use today.

April 14 at Ephrata — East Valley 9, Ephrata 1

Ephrata's only run in Tuesday's home loss came in the third inning with the Tigers trailing 3-0.

Andrew Rowlands reached on an error to start the rally, Mitchell Johnson walked, and Caleb Froewiss bunted a single to load the bases. Cooper Vasquez grounded to the pitcher, and Rowlands was thrown out at the plate, but Johnson moved to third. 

Kai Kaleohano's RBI single to right to score Johnson, cutting the East Valley lead to 3-1 with two out. The inning ended with two runners still on base when Froewiss was picked off at third.

The Red Devils expanded their lead with a six-run fourth inning and the Tigers couldn't respond.

Charles Poirrier took the loss on the mound, throwing 3.2 innings and surrendering 5 earned runs on four hits. Fronsman came in relief in the fourth, giving up two runs on three hits. Clayton Wolther closed the game with a clean seventh inning, striking out two.

With the trio of losses, Ephrata is 3-12 for the season and 2-8 in Central Washington Athletic Conference play.

Ellensburg leads the CWAC at 8-0, Othello is second at 7-1 and East Valley is third at 8-2. All three rank in the WIAA 2A statewide RPI top 10: Othello second at 10-3, East Valley sixth at 11-3 and Ellensburg eighth at 9-4. Othello's lone league loss came last week, 3-2 to Quincy.

Othello, which has allowed just five runs in eight league games, comes to Johnson-O'Brien this Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. While Ephrata has shown it can score in bunches, Saturday's question is whether the Tigers can make those runs count against the stingiest pitching staff in the CWAC.