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2009: A look at area sports fetes
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The past 12 months have been a year of championships and near championships for athletic teams in Baker County and North Powder. Powder Valley won its first Class 1A state boys basketball title in years back in March. The Badgers’ Trenton Dixon and Baker’s Walker Kaseberg claimed high jump titles at the 1A and 4A track and field state meets, respectively, in May. Baker’s football and baseball teams both advanced to the Class 4 state championship games only to finish second. There were even more district, league and individual titles, as well as successes at the collegiate level involving former area athletes. Here is a brief look back at the past year in Baker-area athletics.
Baker marched through the season, equalling a school-record 11 wins, before losing 55-16 to Marist in the Class 4A state football title game in early December. “We’re really proud of these kids,” said Baker coach Dave Johnson. “Finishing 11-2, and running the season the way we did. We’re proud of our second-place trophy and happy for the boys.”
Baker won the Greater Oregon League baseball title, then advanced to the Class 4A state championship game before falling 8-6 to Astoria in June. “I’m proud of these kids,” said Baker coach Dan Blankenship. “We had a great run with these kids, winning 25 games. All the credit goes to the kids; they’re never going to give up.”
The last time Powder Valley won a Class 1A state boys basketball title the 2009 players were in elementary school. But last March the Badgers defeated two-time defending champion Mohawk 73-59 in the Baker gym for their first crown since 1994. Powder Valley, the Old Oregon League and district champion as well, was led by Trenton Dixon with 22 points, 19 rebounds and five assists. Jordan Pratt added 12 points, 19 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Dixon was later named the Class 1A player of the year. Powder coach Kyle Dixon was named 1A coach of the year.
Kaseberg cleared 6 feet, 5 inches to win the Class 4A high jump title in Eugene. Dixon cleared 6 feet, 3 inches to take the 1A crown at Monmouth. Dixon also placed sixth in the long jump.
Pine-Eagle’s Kyle Dennis placed second at 171 pounds in February at the Class 2A state wrestling tournament. Dennis lost 5-4 in the title match to three-time defending state champion Caleb Cardwell of Lowell.
“Our Fantastic Four, all the guys who returned from last year, placed,” said Baker coach Dee Gorrell in February. Andrew Gettle placed fourth at 145 pounds, Ted Shaw was fifth at 189, Andrew Porter seventh at 130, and Jake Shukle eighth at 215. Anthony Constantine (152) finished the state tourney at 2-2 but did not place.
Former Baker coach and athletic director Mike Doherty earned his 800th win in high school basketball Jan. 29 when Oregon City defeated Putnam. Doherty, a Baker High School graduate, coached at BHS from 1991 through 1995.
The Linfield Wildcats women’s softball team advanced to the Western Regionals in May. The Wildcats, coached by Baker graduate Jackson Vaughan, finished the season with a record-setting mark of 39-6. That tied the single-season record for fewest losses in a season and set a new mark for best winning percentage. Linfield also won its sixth consecutive Northwest Conference title.
Ben Merrill, a 1997 Baker High School graduate, coached the 8-man East squad at the 14th annual East-West Shrine Football Game Nov. 28 at Eagle, idaho. Merrill played in the Oregon East-West game in 1998. Merrill, who coaches football at Notus High School, was named Idaho 1A Coach of the Year.
Baker softball players Tori Brown and Becca Joseph joined players from Ontario and Western Idaho on a women’s softball team that placed fourth at the Triple Crown (ASA) Sports Softball World Series in Park City, Utah. It was the second straight year the two young women had played in the Series.
Baker defeated La Grande 51-31 in March to claim their first Greater Oregon league girls basketball championship since 2000.
Tara Talbott was named Greater Oregon League softball player of the year last spring. Talbott helped lead Baker to second place in the GOL. She hit .493 with 10 home runs and 26 RBIs.
Baker won the Greater Oregon League girls district track and field championship May 16 at Ontario. A dozen Bulldogs qualified for the Class 4A state meet.
The East edged the West 17-13 in the 57the annual East-West Shrine All-Star Football Game in August at Bulldog Memorial Stadium. Baker’s Ted Shaw and former Bulldog Grant Marcum were members of the East squad.
Former Baker standout Grant Johnson was named starting left guard for the Oregon State Beavers football team. Johnson is a 2007 BHS graduate.
Baker successfully defended its Greater Oregon League girls cross country championship for the second consecutive year in October. The Baker boys also qualified for state by placing second at district.
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