Bulldogs pummel Weiser

The Bulldogs slugged 20 extra-base hits, including seven home runs, 10 doubles and three triples in the doubleheader at the Baker Sports Complex. The games were played in blustery winds and temperatures at or below 40 degrees.

“For a cold day the kids stayed focused throughout the doubleheader,” said Baker coach Dan Blankenship.

“I told the kids you have to get good at-bats. The ball didn’t carry as well because of the cold, but the wind helped balance that out,” the Baker coach said.

Blankenship also was pleased with the Baker pitchers.

“Our pitchers threw better today. They threw well,” he said.

“And, I was pleased with our outfield play with a tough wind.”

In the first game, Dekker Smith’s two-run single and an RBI hit by Matt Gorrell sparked a 4-0 lead after one inning.

Weiser answered with five runs in the top of the second, using four hits and a pair of passed balls to take its only lead of the day.

Baker regained the lead for good in the bottom of the second, tallying five times. Jordan Harlow’s two-run double, and Gorrell’s two-run single helped the Bulldogs take a 9-5 lead.

Derek Blankenship’s two-run single, and a run-scoring triple by Gorrell highlighted a four-run Baker third to build the lead to 13-5.

Cole Brown added a two-run double, and Harlow and Trace Richardson sacrifice flies to give Baker its final margin in the fourth.

Gorrell finished the game 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Brown, Smith and Ty Everson all finished 2-for-2, and Blankenship 3-for-4.

Brown threw the first four innings, allowing five hits and striking out nine. Smith allowed one hit in a scoreless fifth.

As if the first-game fireworks weren’t bad enough, things got wilder in the second game.

Baker sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring eight runs.

Smith, Blankenship and Jon Woolard each slugged two-run doubles. Everson and Brown each added RBI singles.

Richardson’s RBI double boosted Baker’s lead to 9-0 in the second inning.

Then the roof caved in on Weiser. Baker scored 11 runs in both the third and fourth innings.

In the third, Alex Clark got the ball rolling with a solo homer to left. Blankenship followed with the first of his two homers in the game. Then, after Smith and Harlow were hit by pitches, Richardson lined a three-run homer to center. Blankenship later added a two-run single, Will Barr an RBI single, and Woolard an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

In the fourth, the Bulldogs slugged four homers — a grand slam by Harlow, and two-run shots by Woolard, Barr and Blankenship. Smith added another RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Blankenship finished the game 6-for-6 with two doubles, two homers and seven RBIs. Richardson was 3-for-5 with a double, triple, homer and four RBIs, Everson 3-for-4 with a triple, Woolard 2-for-3 with a double, homer and five RBIs, Harlow 2-for-2 with a homer and four RBIs, and Coleman Lay 2-for-2 with a double.

Everson threw the first three innings allowing two hits and striking out one. Lay threw the last two innings allowing one hit, walking one and striking out three.

“We still have a ways to go, but I was pleased with the way the kids played,” Blankenship said.

Baker (4-1) travels to John Day Tuesday for a non-league twinbill against Grant Union.

Game One

Weiser    0    5    0    0    0    —    5

Baker    4    5    4    4    x    —    17

Swain, Svedin (3) and Lopez. Brown, Smith (5) and Gorrell. WP – Brown. LP – Swain.

Weiser hits – Bowers 2, Parker, Winegar, Svedin, Eisenbarth. Baker hits – Brown 2, Blankenship 3, Smith 2, Richardson, Gorrell 3, Everson 2, Harlow.

Weiser RBI – Parker, Winegar, Svedin 2. Baker RBI – Brown 2, Blankenship 2, Smith 2, Richardson, Gorrell 4, Harlow 3.

2B – Parker, Svedin, Brown, Everson, Harlow. 3B – Gorrell.

Game Two

Weiser    0    0    0    2    0    —    2

Baker    8    1    11    11    x    —    31

Salazar, Coover (3), Parker (3), Lopez (3), Svedin (4), Eisenbarth (4) and Winegar. Everson, Lay (4) and Gorrell. WP – Everson. LP – Salazar.

Weiser hits – Bowers, Eisenbarth, Lopez. Baker hits – Everson 3, Brown, Blankenship 6, Smith, Woolard 2, Harlow 2, Richardson 3, Clark, Gorrell, Barr 2, Lay 2.

Weiser RBI – Lopez, Loomis. Baker RBI – Everson, Brown, Blankenship 7, Smith 3, Woolard 5, Harlow 4, Richardson 4, Clark, Barr 3.

2B – Blankenship 2, Smith, Woolard, Richardson, Gorrell, Lay. 3B – Everson, Richardson. HR – Blankenship 2, Woolard, Harlow, Richardson, Clark, Barr.