Baker softball sweeps Pioneers

Controversy.

Raw nerves.

Final jubilation.

All emotions experienced during Baker’s Greater Oregon League softball doubleheader against Mac-Hi Friday at the Baker Sports Complex.

When all was done the Bulldogs (4-4 in the GOL) had swept Mac-Hi 5-3 and 3-2 to move into second place in the GOL standings.

“The girls held their composure much better than I did,” said Baker coach Al McCauley following the second game.

“These were two big wins for us.”

The second game almost got away from Baker, thanks, in part, to two calls by the umpires.

Baker led 3-0 entering the top of the seventh inning, then almost let the win slip away.

Mac-Hi’s Stephanie Baker opened the inning with a harmless walk. She then came around to score on a double to left by Lauren Sams. Or did she?

That’s where the first bit of controversy came into play. Baker left fielder Ashley Shively retrieved Sams’ hit at the fence and fired a strike to Tara Talbott. Talbott in turn fired a shot to catcher Rebecca Joseph at the plate.

The ball was up the third base line and Joseph moved forward to make the catch. Baker slid in to the plate at approximately the same time. The umpire first called Baker out, then changed his call saying that Joseph had obstructed the plate without the ball.

McCauley raced out to question the call, even getting the opinion of the base umpire, to no avail.

“My interpretation of the obstruction rule and his were obviously different,” McCauley said later.

Shaunee Garcia followed with another double that scored Sams to cut Baker’s lead to 3-2. Garcia also appeared to be out at second when Mackenzie Srack cut the throw off from the outfield and hit Andrea Wilson with a perfect throw at the bag. Garcia appeared to slide into Wilson’s glove on the play, but again was ruled safe.

Mac-Hi put in a pinch runner for Garcia, and that too proved to be a mistake. Srack replaced Tori Brown in the circle and got Chelsea Boyd to pop a ball up to Brown at first base. The runner broke toward third on the play, and couldn’t get back to second before Brown threw her out for a double play.

Srack then got the final batter to pop to third to end the game.

Darryn McCauley drove in two Baker runs with an RBI single and double. Talbott drove in the other run with a double.

Brown pitched six innings to get the win, with Srack earning the save.

In the first game, Baker trailed 3-1 after four innings then scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth to earn the win.

Joseph’s double scored Morgan Johnson, who also had doubled with the first run in the fifth. Courtesy runner Aubrey Shepherd later scored on a fielder’s choice by Ashley Vela.

In the sixth, Talbott reached on an error and scored on a single by Brown. Brown then scored on a sacrifice fly by McCauley.

“We got some big hits in both games, and Tara ran the bases just amazing,” said Coach McCauley.

“Tori battled in the second game, but her breaking pitches just weren’t there today. Mackenzie Srack had outstanding control of all three of her pitches today, and did a great job in both games.”

Srack struck out seven in the first game.

Baker hosts Grant Union in a non-league doubleheader Tuesday at 3 p.m.

First game

Mac-Hi    0    0    3    0    0    0    0    —    3

Baker    0    1    0    0    2    2    x    —    5

Garcia and Harrington. Srack and Joseph. WP – Srack (3-4). LP – Garcia.

Mac-Hi hits – Harrington 2, McElrath, Odman, Boyd 2, Sams. Baker hits – McCauley, Johnson 2, Joseph, Brown.

Mac-Hi RBI – Harrington, Baker. Baker RBI – McCauley, Johnson, Joseph, Vela, Brown.

2B – Harrington, Johnson, Joseph.

Second game

Mac-Hi    0    0    0    0    0    0    2    —    2

Baker    0    0    2    0    1    0    0    —    3

Brumbach, Erm (5) and Sams. Brown, Srack (7) and Joseph. WP – Brown (4-3). LP – Brumbach. S – Srack (1).

Mac-Hi hits – Baker, Sams 2, Garcia. Baker hits – Johnson, Wilson, Talbott, McCauley 2, Srack, Stephens.

Mac-Hi RBI – Sams, Garcia. Baker RBI – Talbott, McCauley 2.

2B – Sams 2, Garcia, Talbott, McCauley.