Four home runs lift Bulldogs

The Bulldogs (23-3) combined solid pitching, tough defense and powerful hitting to hand Douglas (16-11) a 12-2 loss at the Baker Sports Complex.

“The boys showed up to play today,” said Baker coach Dan Blankenship.

“The boys made some awefully good defensive plays and then started swining the bats after the fourth inning.”

Catcher Grant Marcum threw one runner out at third, pitcher Cole Brown picked two runners off base in the same inning, and right-fielder Jon Woolard threw another runner out at third to snuff a potential rally.

Baker trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the fourth thanks to Douglas’ Trinity Castner’s solo home run in the second inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, Dekker Smith was hit by a pitch, Jordan Harlow singled and Trace Richardson walked to load the bases with no outs. Woolard then drove Douglas center fielder Bryson Norton to the center field wall with a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 1-1.

Will Barr then laced a single down the left-field line to score two more runs and give Baker a 3-1 advantage.

“The kids did a great job of swinging the bats with two outs in the fourth,” Coach Blankenship said.

Brown, who allowed two hits in the first four innings, then gave way to Derek Blankenship in the top of the fifth. Douglas scored its second run in the inning on a wild pitch.

“Cole Brown did a great job on the mound, and Derek came in threw mostly fast balls with our lead,” Coach Blankenship said.

Baker then pulled out the long-ball bats in the fifth inning, slugging three home runs in the frame.

Brown and Smith got the first two, solo shots that traveled well over 400 feet over the center field fence.

Then, with two outs, Woolard doubled, Barr walked and Coleman Lay was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Marcum then unloaded them with a grand slam homer over the center field fence.

Baker completed the home run barrage when Harlow lined a two-run shot to right field in the sixth.

“This was a one-game series,” smiled Blankenship.

“Now we have another one-game series Friday.”

Baker hosts Newport Friday in the 4A quarterfinals.

Douglas    0    1    0    0    1    0    0    —    2

Baker    0    0    0    3    7    2    x    —    12

Woods, Polamalu (5) and Dahl. Brown, Blankenship (5) and Marcum. WP – Brown (6-3). LP – Woods.

Douglas hits – Castner 2, Bellando, Woods. Baker hits – Brown 2, Woolard 2, Harlow 3, Barr, Marcum 2, Smith.

Douglas RBI – Castner. Baker RBI – Brown, Woolard 2, Harlow 2, Barr 2, Marcum 4, Smith.

2B – Woods, Brown, Woolard. HR – Castner, Brown (4), Harlow (7), Marcum (3), Smith (8).