By CHRIS COLLINS

For the Baker City Herald

Baker High School will send its senior Mock Trial team to the state contest later this month after topping the competition at Saturday’s regional contest in Baker City.

One Baker team and one Vale team will represent the region at state March 14-15 in Portland. Other teams competing in Baker Saturday were a second team from Baker and Vale and single teams from Burns, Grant Union High School at John Day, Ontario, and Providence School at Lostine.

andquot;They did a wonderful job,andquot; Leanne Winegar, program and advisor and coach, said today. She was assisted by Bob Moon, a Baker City attorney, and Bob Whitnah, deputy district attorney.

The Baker and Vale teams will join top winners from nine other regions at the state competition. The winning state team will represent Oregon at the National Mock Trial Championship at New Orleans in May.

Winegar said the junior team will accompany the state qualifiers to Portland in two weeks to observe the competition. The Student Council has contributed $1,200 to help pay travel expenses.

andquot;It was really wonderful,andquot; Winegar said of Saturday’s contest. andquot;It was very well run. Judge Baxter did a great job.andquot;

She noted that attorneys from throughout the region traveled to Baker City to judge the event. Baker City residents also volunteered as judges.