BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020
Season lost: Baker senior athlete
adjusts to a spring without sports
■ Spencer Shirtcliff was ready to finish his high school career with one more season on the baseball squad
By Corey Kirk
“I was kind of in shock.”
ckirk@bakercityherald.com
After spending his fall
under the Friday Night
Lights, and his winter on the
hardwood, Baker High School
senior Spencer Shirtcliff was
excited to fi nd himself heading
back to the baseball diamond.
After a strong season last
spring, he knew his develop-
ment was vital to the team’s
success.
“I played a whole summer
after my regular season my
junior year, and found myself
back in the cages a couple of
months before the season was
supposed to start,” Shirtcliff
said.
As the team prepared for
the season, Shirtcliff and his
teammates were excited to
face the opponents on their
schedule. When the Oregon
School Activities Association
announced it was following
the executive order made by
Gov. Kate Brown, all sports
ceased operations due to
COVID-19, which effectively
ended spring sports on April 8.
“I was kind of in shock,”
Shirtcliff said. “I actually
really didn’t believe it at fi rst.
We hadn’t really been hit by
it so I didn’t think it was that
bad.”
Now that this season is lost,
what hurts student-athletes
the most is the growth they
could have accomplished in
competition — something
that head baseball coach Tim
Smith sees as a problem for
his graduating seniors and the
—Spencer Shirtcliff, talking
about his reaction to
learning that his senior
season on the Baker High
baseball team was canceled
Ben Lonergan / EO Media Group
Spencer Shirtcliff drives a tractor while working as a ranch hand near North Powder
on Thursday afternoon. The Baker High School baseball player has been fi lling his
newfound free time working.
able to be there and at least
practice,” Smith said.
That is defi nitely the case
for Shirtcliff, who is currently
speaking with small colleges
in the area for a chance to
possibly play baseball on the
collegiate level.
“He’s looking at Blue Moun-
tain Community College,”
Smith said. “The coach is sup-
posed to be calling me.”
Coaches like Smith are now
facing hurdles of getting up-to-
Ben Lonergan / EO Media Group date fi lm and content to help
Spencer Shirtcliff tightens an eyebolt on an electric fence their student athletes who
while working on a ranch near North Powder.
have mutual interest in play-
ing their sport at a college.
rest of his team.
you don’t miss a season with-
“They are always interested
“Everyone lost something,
out having an impact to not be in how they will compete and
we haven’t been able to do
that,” Smith said.
Shirtcliff knows that the
loss this year puts him at a
disadvantage, as many of
these schools were interested
to see how his senior season
was going to turn out.
“It really sucks, my fellow
seniors and I were planning
on having a really good year,”
Shirtcliff said. “I was hoping to
have a year like last year, but
go deeper in the playoffs.”
Though his future career in
baseball remains uncertain,
Shirtcliff is motivated now
more than ever to have his
time on the diamond end on
his terms, and will play next
year.
“It does make me want to
play at the next level even
more because I have unfi n-
ished business,” Shirtcliff said.
He hopes that student-
athletes who are younger than
him will not let the pandemic
dictate their effort, and that
they will continue to practice
and work hard to be ready to
compete in their respective
sport.
“They need to not see this
as a disadvantage and keep
working,” Shirtcliff said. “They
need to try and not make it as
bad as it is and prove them-
selves.”
OSAA
talks
prep
sports
return
EO Media Group
WILSONVILLE —
More than two months
since the sports world
went into hibernation,
plans for the return of
athletics have started to
take shape.
The Oregon Schools
Activities Association
on Wednesday released
Phase 1 of the return of
high school sports and
activities during the
summer.
The following are
some of the key points
from the OSAA Execu-
tive Board meeting and
the six-page document
of the reopening plan,
and how athletes and
coaches must go about
the offseason training
in a social-distancing
world brought on by the
coronavirus pandemic:
• Beginning Tuesday,
May 26, schools can con-
trol what school athletic/
activities programs are
allowed to take place at
the school’s facilities.
• Gatherings of 25
people or more are
prohibited. Workouts
should consist of five to
10 athletes, or “pods.”
The pods should remain
the same to limit the
overall exposure. Social
distancing should still
be practiced during
workouts, which should
be done without a
spotter.
See Sports/Page 6A
SURPRISE BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL MOTHER, SISTER,
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AUNT, GRANDMOTHER & GREAT GRANDMOTHER!!
YES “JOAN” IT IS YOU WHO TURNS
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ALL OF OUR LOVE & BEST WISHES!
May 26, 1930 a lovely
baby girl “Betty Joan”
was born to Unnar &
Cleo Stevens.
Childhood days were
spent in Baker City with
her siblings Bob, Sharon
& Pat! She fell in love &
married Ralph Callo-
way in 1948 & raised
three children Jean, Sue
& Steve! Her family
continued to grow as their children married spouses
Bruce, Craig & Elaine! She has 8 grandchildren Shannon,
Michele, Tom, Chad, Cliff, Cory, Jason & April, 19 lovely
great grandchildren & lots of nieces and nephews! After
losing Ralph she married George Wilder adding to her
family Cristy & Dane & their families!
Joan worked as a secretary for Baker Co. Extension
Office & was 4-H sewing & cooking leader with Clarene
Rohner. Faith is very important to her, she leads a prayer
study group & is active in her church! She loves Spring-
time and flowers all season long! Hobbies include sewing
quilts, clothing, etc. She is famous for her
e PEACH
C COB-
BLER & RASPBERRY PIES!
“Grandma
you have meant
so much to me & my
family. Your unconditional l L
Love &
Support has made me the person I am today.
Thanks for always being there for all of us, we
could not have had a better role model. Love
you more than you will ever know.” Shannon
& Family
“Mom, I Love You Dearly!” Jean
“Happy 90th Birthday Mom, Thank You
for 48 years of being there for us but I Thank
You most of all for bringing Jean into this
World! “ Bruce
“Mom, Thank You For Inspiring Me!” Sue
“Thank you for always being
there & finding my wedding ring
Mom!” Craig
“Aunt Joan I have such fond memories as a youngster:
I remember having so much fun sliding down the inside
stairs at the ranch! Also lots of adventures exploring out-
side but most of all your loving hospitality & your whip-
ping up delicious baked treats & later great parties! Tons of
love to you my AMAZING AUNT!” Deepak
“A-lways welcoming with a warm hug
“U-nwavering strength & support
“N-ever better baker of FUN Birthday cakes
“T-hankful for ALL the memories
“J-ustifiably deserving of CELEBRATION
“O-utrageously generous
“A-dored by so many
“N-iece who loves you so very much!” Amy
“Grandma, kind, honest & loving are just a few words
to describe y you. You are a constant guiding light & source
of joy for so many throughout these amaz-
ing 90 years. You are truly a gift to all those
around you & we count ourselves lucky to
have you in our lives!” Cliff & Family
“Gram, Thank you for having such a positive influence
on my life. Since I was pretty much raised out at your
house, I have countless memories of you molding
me into the man I am today! You & Grandpa
were always there for me & I cannot imagine my
life without you! Thank you for all you’ve done
for me & your continued love & support! I know
we don’t see each other as much, but not a day goes by
without me thinking about you & reminiscing about all
the fun times we’ve shared!” Jason
“Grandma visiting your house in the summer was
always so much fun, from your amazing waffles
to playing in your amazing yard & delicious
BBQ’s & FUN at the Ranch! It was truly an
amazing place to visit & you made all that
possible! We love you!” Cory & Family
“Grandma I want you to know how very important
you are to our little family and I look forward
to every Thursday having you in my salon.
You are the light in my life and I love you very
much.” April & Family