An underdog Class 3A team from Wallowa County took advantage of a rare chance to play a Class 4A squad, breaking a 4-4 tie with a run in the seventh inning and then holding off the Baker/Powder Valley Bulldogs for a 5-4 win on Tuesday, April 22, at the Sports Complex.

The team comprising players from Enterprise, Joseph and Wallowa, all Class 1A schools that as a combined squad compete at the 3A level in baseball, snapped a three-game losing streak.

In their only other game against a Class 4A opponent, the Outlaws lost 5-3 to Crook County on March 26.

Baker coach Tim Smith said the Bulldogs didn’t take the Outlaws as seriously as they should have.

“I think we came in not mentally prepared for a battle,” Smith said. “We didn’t swing the bats well. They absolutely hit the ball better than we did.”

Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa had 14 hits, Baker 10.

The Outlaws went ahead 4-2 with two runs in the top of the fifth, stringing together three straight hits with two outs, including a double by Gabe Nobles.

Jaxon Logsdon led off the bottom of the fifth with a double, but he was stranded there after three straight outs.

“We just have to be better with runners in scoring position,” Smith said.

After Logan Crawford, who relieved starter Colby Capon in the fifth, held the Outlaws scoreless in the sixth, Baker tied the score with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.

Ethan Fletcher led off with a single, and Crawford’s sacrifice bunt move Fletcher to second.

Talon Gyllenberg drew a walk, and Sage Joseph singled to load the bases with one out.

Pinch hitter Aldo Duran singled to shortstop to score one run, and Joseph also scored with an aggressive baserunning move.

Baker loaded the bases again with two outs but couldn’t get the go-ahead run.

The Outlaws put two runners on to start the seventh on Kooper Grover’s single and an intentional walk to Nobles. After a strikeout, a single off the pitcher’s mound plated what turned out to be the game-winning run as Grover scored after stealing third.

Joseph drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh but again the Bulldogs couldn’t get a timely hit with a runner on base.

Smith also credited the Outlaws’ defense. Nobles, playing centerfield, robbed Gyllenberg of an extra-base hit and RBI when he leaped to make a catch just in front of the fence in the bottom of the fourth.

Smith said Logsdon had a good day at the plate, going 4 for 4 with an RBI. He hit a home run to left field in the first inning to give Baker a 1-0 lead, and then tripled to deep center in the third and scored on a throwing error.

Malcolm Albee and Garland Whetsler were both 3 for 4 for Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa. Whetsler started on the mound and went 3.1 innings. Albee relieved Whetsler in the fourth and earned the win. Grover came on in the seventh and got the final out.

Baker, 7-7 on the season, returns to Greater Oregon League play against Ontario on Friday, April 25, starting at 2 p.m. at the Sports Complex.