Baker baseball sweeps

Baker’s sweep, coupled with Ontario’s sweep of La Grande on Friday, leaves the three teams tied atop the GOL standings with 5-3 records.

“All even again, and here we go,” said Baker coach Dan Blankenship.

Baker travels to La Grande Saturday then hosts Ontario in the GOL finale May 15. Ontario hosts Mac-Hi Saturday, and La Grande hosts the Pioneers May 15. The top two teams advance to the Class 4A state playoffs.

“The boys deserved these wins. They’ve worked hard this week,” Blankenship said.

Baker ended a three-game losing streak with the sweep.

It took the Bulldogs a while to get going in Game 1. Baker trailed 6-3 entering the bottom of the fourth inning. The Bulldogs then woke up big time, scoring a dozen runs in the inning.

Derek Blankenship’s bases-loaded double was the big blow in the inning. Blankenship also had an RBI single in the frame.

Stephen Talbot added a solo home run, Trace Richardson a pair of RBI singles, Dekker Smith an RBI single, Ty Everson an RBI groundout, and Will Barr an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Everson ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run homer. Talbot added an RBI single in the inning.

The Bulldogs had 14 hits in the game. Barr was the winning pitcher.

Baker led 2-1 in Game 2 before scoring seven runs in the third inning.

Everson’s second homer of the day, a two-run shot, sparked the inning. Richardson added a two-run single, Barr an RBI single, and Talbot a sacrifice fly.

Baker ended the game by 10-run rule in the bottom of the fifth. Winning pitcher Matt Gorrell drove home one run with a single. The final run scored when the Mac-Hi pitcher was called for a balk with Everson on third base.

Gorrell finished the game with four hits, and Everson three. The Bulldogs had 10 hits as a team.

“The kids did a nice job hitting the ball to right, and hitting the ball hard,” Coach Blankenship said.

“And they did a great job of baserunning, and a great job of execution all day.”

Baker hosts Burns in a non-league doubleheader at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

First game

Mac-Hi    2    0    2    2    1    —    7

Baker    1    0    2    12    4    —    19

Romero, Knight (4), Sheets (4) and Croghan. Barr and Richards. WP – Barr. LP – Romero.

Mac-Hi hits – Watts 2, Romero, Cuellar 2, Good, Croghan 2, Garcia. Baker hits – Lay, Talbot 3, Richards, Everson 2, Gorrell, Blankenship 2, Richardson 2, Smith, Barr.

Mac-Hi RBI – Watts 2, Salazar, Romero, Croghan 2. Baker RBI – Lay, Talbot 2, Richards, Everson 4, Blankenship 4, Richardson 2, Smith, Barr.

2B – Croghan, Richards, Blankenship. HR – Croghan, Talbot, Everson.

Second game

Mac-Hi    1    0    0    0    0    —    1

Baker    2    0    7    0    2    —    11

Croghan, Salazar (3), Sheets, Croghan (3). Gorrell and Richards. WP – Gorrell. LP – Croghan.

Mac-Hi hits – Good, Croghan, Salazar, Sheets. Baker hits – Everson 3, Gorrell 4, Richardson, Barr, Lay.

Mac-Hi RBI – Salazar. Baker RBI – Everson 2, Gorrell, Richardson 2, Barr, Talbot.

2B – Everson. HR – Everson.