By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
WILLAMINA, Ore.– Lainee Barton hit two massive Home Runs for Willamina/Sheridan in the Bulldogs 14-4 victory over Taft on Tuesday afternoon at Willamina High School.
Each one of her Home Runs played a factor in big innings that Willamina/Sheridan had in the victory. Her first, coming in the bottom of the second inning, was a Grand Slam that capped a six-run inning that the squad had. The Bulldogs took a 6-1 lead into the third inning following that rally.
Barton’s second, coming in the bottom half of the sixth, was a solo Home Run, but it triggered a rally that saw Willamina/Sheridan end the game in six innings come the end of it. Ironically, Barton ended the game with an RBI hit to close out the game.
“I love it because it keeps the energy up. It gives all the girls all hyped and we keep the energy up ready for the next one,” Barton said.
Tuesday’s game was the Bulldogs seventh of the season. In their last ten games, the Willamina/Sheridan squad has won seven games and are 7-8 after starting the year 0-5.
A young team this Spring, the Bulldogs graduated eight seniors from their 3A State Playoff team last season. But those returning, plus adding a few players from co-oping with Sheridan, have been steadily gelling and adjusting to new roles coming down the stretch of the regular season in probably the toughest league in 3A.
“We definitely had a tough preseason and are trying to figure out where people are going and where they’re going to play. Going into the second half of the season, we’re just trying to nail down on how they’re going to help and contribute offensively, defensively,” starts Willamina Head Coach Caitlyn Manley. “We’re in a tough league and within our league, if we can secure the wins and play competitively against those other top three teams, I’ll take it as a huge win for us.”
And Tuesday’s game against the Tigers was just another opportunity to get better and work towards polishing up those little things.
Taft chipped away at the deficit over the third, fourth and fifth innings, adding a run in each of those innings. All the while challenging the Willamina/Sheridan defense to keep them from tearing the game open. And the Bulldogs succeeded in that each time as they led 9-4 going into the bottom half of the sixth inning. Willamina added those three extra runs in the bottom half of the third inning.
“That we can come back. At the beginning of the game, we were low-energy, we were down 1-0 second inning. Then we scored two runs and then that Home Run really kicked us up and our energy went up from there,” Barton said. “We’re a very young team, so we’re building up from the last few years, but we’re going great. We’re coming back strong. We’re learning our positions and getting to know each other as a team and where goes where and what goes what.”
The Bulldogs are in Salem on Thursday to play Blanchet Catholic before hosting Yamhill-Carlton on Monday.
Bridgette Manley struck out seven batters in five-and-a-third innings pitching and drove in three runs offensively. Elizabeth Neese also drove in three runs for the Bulldogs.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
