Bulldogs win GOL baseball title

There was plenty of joy in Bulldogville Saturday.

That’s because the Bulldogs swept La Grande 6-1, 6-2 to claim the Greater Oregon League baseball championship at the Baker Sports Complex.

The sweep gives Baker the GOL crown, and improves the Bulldogs’ season record to 20-2.

“We always set goals at the beginning of the season,” said Coach Dan Blankenship. “Two of our goals were to win the GOL title and get 20 wins. Accomplsihing it in the same day was just awesome.”

And, accomplishing it while only getting six total hits in the two games also was a fete.

Baker’s pitching and defense helped turn the tide. The Bulldogs turned four double plays in the twinbill, and picked off four La Grande runners.

“That was as well a defensively played doubleheader as I’ve seen,” Blankenship said.

The first game turned into a pitcher’s duel between Baker’s Cole Brown and La Grande’s Josh Yundt. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning.

That’s when Baker scored six runs on just one hit.

Yundt hit Brown with a pitch to open the inning. Then after intentionally walking Derek Blankenship, Yundt hit Dekker Smith to load the bases. Jordan Harlow and Trace Richardson then drew back-to-back walks to drive home two runs.

Two outs later, Stephen Talbot drew yet another walk to plate another run. Grant Marcum then lined a two-run single to right field. The final run scored on an error.

All told the Bulldogs drew four walks, had two batters hit by pitches, and advanced on a balk in the inning.

Yundt got one run back in the seventh when he lined a solo home run to right.

Brown threw a three-hitter, striking out nine and walking two.

“Cole Brown gave us a tremendous pitching performance,” Blankenship said.

Marcum started on the mound for Baker in Game 2, and gave up an early run.

Baker answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring four times again on just one hit.

Three walks and two hit batsmen helped plate the runs. Will Barr and Coleman Lay were hit by pitches to earn RBIs.

Harlow added an RBI double in the fourth, and Smith an RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth.

Marcum pitched the first three innings, giving way to Blankenship in the fourth.

“Grant gave us three strong innings, and Derek came in and threw very well,” Coach Blankenship said.

Baker travels to Ontario Thursday to complete the GOL regular season.

First game

La Grande    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    —    1

Baker    0    0    0    0    0    6    x    —    6

Yundt, Mattson (6) and Humphry. Brown and Marcum. WP – Brown (5-2). LP – Yundt.

La Grande hits – Nice, Humphry, Yundt. Baker hits – Woolard, Blankenship, Marcum.

La Grande RBI – Yundt. Baker RBI – Harlow, Richardson, Talbot, Marcum 2.

3B – Blankenship. HR – Yundt.

Second game

La Grande    1    1    0    0    0    0    0    —    2

Baker    4    0    0    1    0    1    x    —    6

Nice, Miller (4) and Humphry. Marcum, Blankenship (4) and Barr, Marcum (4). WP – Marcum (2-0). LP – Nice.

La Grande hits – Boyd, Miller 2, Jacobs, Humphry, Stein. Baker hits – Brown 2, Harlow.

La Grande RBI – Humphry, Ezell. Baker RBI – Barr, Lay, Harlow, Smith.

2B – Stein, Harlow.