Ethan Fletcher, seen here against La Grande on April 3, 2024, drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the game-winning run in a Class 4A play-in game May 17, 2024, at Marshfield.

Ethan Fletcher drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning to give Baker a 6-5 lead, and relief pitcher Jaxon Logsdon pitched two scoreless innings as the Bulldogs held on for a win in a Class 4A play-in game Friday, May 17, at Marshfield.

Baker advanced to a first-round playoff game, and will travel to Klamath Falls to take on top-seeded Henley on Tuesday, May 21, at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast live at https://www.mybasin.com/category/sports/watch/.

The Hornets are 26-1 and went 16-0 in the Skyline League.

Baker’s win over Marshfield, at Coos Bay, was “our best game of the year in terms of playing seven complete innings,” coach Tim Smith said. “Happy for the boys, they deserve it. They have worked hard all year.”

After Marshfield scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the score, Baker manufactured the game-winning run in the top of the sixth.

Logan Crawford led off with a walk. John Garcia singled, and Will O’Connell’s sacrifice bunt advanced both runners. Logsdon then drew an intentional walk to load the bases and set up Fletcher’s game-winning RBI.

“Offensively we got on base and executed the bunt game perfectly,” Smith said. “We got the hits we needed with guys in scoring position.”

In the seventh, Baker closed the game with a double play to seal the win.

Jake McClaughry started on the mound for Baker and held Marshfield to two runs in the first four innings. He struck out eight batters in five innings.

“Jake McCaughry threw well,” Smith said. “We had a couple of errors that kept innings alive.”

After Marshfield’s rally in the fifth, Logsdon came on in relief.

“Jaxon Logsdon came in as a closer for two innings, he did his job well,” Smith said. “Defensively we played very well considering the very strong winds off the coast. Fly balls were very tough, we made some great plays considering.”

Baker started fast, scoring three runs in the first inning. Logsdon’s double drove in O’Connell with the first run. Fletcher had a bunt single and scored on Sage Joseph’s two-out triple.

Baker boosted its lead to 5-2 in the third as McClaughry doubled to score Logsdon and Aldo Duran.