By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
HILLSBORO, Ore.– Yamhill-Carlton’s Josie Barker has been slowly getting back into it pitching wise after suffering a wrist injury during cheerleading season.
But nonetheless, the incoming Tiger senior has, and still is, working her back to 100 percent. And on Friday evening, to start the Valley Invite, Barker went four innings pitching with the NW Dirtbags 16U squad. Her and Dayton’s Charly Upmeyer helped anchor a Dirtbag defense that allowed two runs and allowed their offense enough time to come around in what would be a 12-2, six inning victory.
“It started off pretty good, and it slowly went downhill for me. Just have a positive attitude… and come ready to go and not worry about my wrist,” said Barker.
Barker and Upmeyer both combined to strike out three batters and allowed five hits in the victory. Coming into the bottom of the fourth inning, the NW Dirtbags were tied with the American Freedom team that they were playing at two. But over the course of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, the Dirtbags wheeled off ten runs to close out the victory. Courtney Gills and Sophie Jackson each hit home runs in the rally, and the two and Upmeyer each had a home run in the game to lead a Dirtbag offense that produced 12 hits. Pearl Pruett, Aryana Adams, Paisley Conway, and Gills each led the offense with two hits each.
“We just knew that we needed to get it moving. Usually, the higher energy we have, we’ll start getting hits. So we tried our best to keep everything up and keep it rolling and pass the bat,” said Gills. I think we’re ready for tomorrow, no matter who we come across. We’re here to play, and we’re going to try our best.”
The NW Dirtbags will play two Saturday, back at the PCC-Rock Campus that they played at Friday night. The games are scheduled for 4p and 7:30pm
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
