Bulldogs edge La Grande for title

Trailing 1-0 entering the seventh, Baker rallied for both of its runs.

Stephen Talbot opened the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Everson then singled to put runners on first and third. Everson then promptly stole second base. Talbot scored on Matt Gorrell’s sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1.

Derek Blankenship then walked and stole second. An out later Everson scooted home on the passed ball.

“It was a close play,” said Baker coach Dan Blankenship. “Ty was safe, but it was close.”

Blankenship said the game was a classic.

“This is what playoff baseball is all about,” he said. “Two good teams going at it and playing well.

The game was a pitcher’s duel between Gorrell and La Grande’s Zach Nice. Gorrell allowed just two hits through six innings, striking out four.

“Matt battled the whole game,” Blankenship said. “He threw well and they didn’t hit many balls hard. We turned a couple of double plays behind him that also helped.”

Will Barr faced just four batters while pitching a scoreless seventh to earn the save.

“It was nice to see Will come in and do the job,” Blankenship said.

Baker scattered six hits in the game, but couldn’t get them in groups.

“We hit the ball hard a lot,” the Baker coach said. “We just didn’t get the big hit when we needed it.

“There was a lot of excitement, a lot of opportunities. We knocked on the door several times against a quality pitcher. You just have to take advantage of situations when they come up.

“We just competed well as a team today,” Blankenship said.

The win means Baker will host Scappoose in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs May 25 at the Baker Sports Complex.

The Bulldogs (19-5) defeated Scappoose 10-3 in a non-league game at the Complex in March.

“Scappoose has been playing well of late,” Blankenship said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

Baker    0    0    0    0    0    0          2 — 2

La Grande    0    0    0    0    0    1          0 — 1

Gorrell, Barr (7) and Richards, Gorrell (7). Nice, Miller (6) and Arnoldus. WP – Gorrell. LP – Miller. S – Barr.

Baker hits – Everson, Gorrell, Blankenship, Richardson, Barr 2.

Baker RBI – Gorrell.

2B – Richardson, Barr.