OTHELLO – The last few seasons, the third-ranked Othello baseball team has inched closer toward its first outright CWAC regular-season championship in two decades.

Three years ago, the Huskies finished three games back of perennial Class 2A state contender Selah.

In 2024, Othello was just one behind the Vikings.

And last year The Huskies were part of a three-way tie for first place with Selah and East Valley.

If Saturday afternoon is any indication, this year’s oft-tight race atop the CWAC could be Othello’s for the taking.

In a showdown with the No. 4 -ranked Red Devils, the Huskies showed that a second-straight trip to Bellingham’s Joe Martin Stadium for the 2A finals is well within reach with a convincing sweep.

Othello junior Xzyyvn Martinez – with Seattle U-bound Quade Gonzalez recording the final out – tossed a no-hitter in a 5-0 opening victory.

Huskies senior Aiden Garza followed with a gem of his own, scattering five hits and striking out 11 in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-1 win. Gonzalez again closed it out for Othello.

As impressive, the Huskies were able to score on East Valley ace Brandon Stone in the opener. The Washington State signee and reigning CWAC Player of the Year hadn’t surrendered a run this season, while striking out 33 in 17 2/3 innings.

“The confidence is really going to be riding high,” Othello coach Sonny Garza said. “Brandon Stone is a great pitcher, to be able to do that will help us grow.”

The Huskies had five hits against Stone, and took advantage of three Red Devils errors. Just one of the five runs was earned. Othello scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the second.

Stone would give up just two more hits after that, but the damage had been done.

“It was typical of a no-hitter, they got a couple defensive plays,” East Valley coach Craig Hyatt said. “They got hits when they needed them, and for the first time ever Brandon had an off-day.”

Martinez struck out 10, and walked three. The Red Devils had just one runner reach second base.

“That was a huge day for him, and he’s been pitching really well for us for a couple years,” Garza said. “Our kids stayed aggressive and were able to get some clutch hits.”

Those timely hits continued in the second game. Both teams totaled five hits, but East Valley only strung multiple hits together in the seventh, when it loaded the bases on three singles before Gonzales recorded a strikeout, and fly out to leave the sacks full.

“It was a tough day to be off,” said Hyatt, noting that spring break might have played a part in East Valley ‘s struggles. “You can’t be flat against a team like that.”

The schedule will continue to be tough for both teams. Among the top contenders – East Valley, Ellensburg, Othello and Selah – only the Bulldogs and Vikings had met before Saturday’s twin bill.

“It picks up really fast,” Hyatt said.

Gonzalez doubled in a run in the opener, and Tyler Suarez had two hits, including a double, in the opener for Othello (7-0 CWAC, 10-2 overall).

Gonzalez had two RBI in the second game, RJay Garza – bound for Whitworth to play baseball and football – added two hits, one of them a double, and drove in a run.

Braden Albrecht’s home run to left field provided the scoring in the second game for East Valley (7-2, 10-3).