Baker 15-year-olds advance to state

The Baker 15-year-olds qualified for the State Babe Ruth baseball tournament Sunday despite losing 17-3 to SRV Nationals att he District 3 tournament in La Grande.

Baker enters the state tournament, July 20-25 at Ontario as the district runnerup.

To reach the title game Baker defeated SRV Americans 12-8 and lost to SRV Nationals 10-0 Thursday, topped Wallowa Valley 23-2 Friday, defeated Harney County 17-11 Saturday and 17-6 Sunday.

SRV Nationals 17, Baker 3

Baker managed just two hits against SRV, doubles by Dillon Blankenship and Dustin Hull.

“Everything we did SRV had an answer,” said Baker coach Nathan Hull

Baker 17, Harney 6

Dustin Hull and Anthony Shankle each slugged a pair of home runs for Baker.

Hull, the winning pitcher, had a grand slam, a two-run homer and a pair of doubles. Shankle added a three-run homer, a solo homer and three singles.

Kody Younger added three singles, Blankenship a double, Kipp Miller two singles and a double, Darren Dolby two singles, Austin Cline two singles and a double, and Jesse Corr a double and a single.

Saturday games

Baker 17, Harney 11

Baker slugged a “cycle” of home runs in this game — a solo shot, a two-run homer, a three-run homer, and a grand slam.

Shankle had the grand slam, Hull the three-run hit, Braden Phillips the two-run hit, and Corr the solo shot.

“The boys just crushed the ball. It was awesome,” said Coach Hull.

Shankle added a double and single, Blankenship three singles, Hull two singles, Miller two singles and two RBIs, Younger a single, and Alex Turner a single.

Blankenship pitched the first five innings for the win. Shankle threw the final two innings.

Friday games

Baker 23, Wallowa Valley 2

Hull and Phillips combined to shut down Wallowa Valley.

Shankle and Corr led Baker with a pair of doubles each. Hull and Younger each added a double and single, Blankenship two singles, and Turner a single.

Thursday games

Baker 12, SRV Americans 8

Hull got Baker started with a first-ining homer. He later added a single.

Shankle finished with two singles and a double, Turner two singles, Corr two singles, Blankenship a single, and Phillips a single.

Miller pitched the first two innings before giving way to Blankenship who earned the win after three innings of relief.

The game ended after five innings due to rain.

SRV Nationals 10, Baker 0

Baker managed just two hits, singles by Younger and Shankle.

“We hardly hit the ball,” Hull said.