BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021 BAKER FOOTBALL PLAYS ITS SECOND STRAIGHT GAME AT HOME Bulldogs blow out Ontario on Senior Night By Corey Kirk ckirk@bakercityherald.com Playing at home for the sec- ond straight Friday, the Baker Bulldogs dismantled Ontario 41-8 on Senior Night March 26 at chilly Baker Bulldog Memorial Stadium. Baker improved to 2-2 on the abbreviated season. Ontario fell to 1-3. Wide receiver Carlos De- larosa was among the Baker seniors playing for the fi nal time at home. He celebrated with a big night, catching fi ve passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. “It felt great. We had a lot of energy and I am just happy to be out here,” Delarosa said. Coming off a big win in overtime March 19 against Nyssa, Baker coach Jason Ra- mos said he emphasized the need to maintain momentum. “Now that we’ve gotten into a place where we’ve gotten some things going, now we are getting better with high energy, and it’s showing and we are making those improve- ments,” Ramos said. It didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to show the improve- ments against Ontario. Just 15 seconds into the game, Baker senior quarter- back Gabe Gambleton ran 55 Baker volleyball sweeps Ontario about 45 minutes late due to a delay in the offi cials arriving. “Disappointed obviously — Carlos Delarosa, Baker that their senior year is what senior wide receiver it is. I want it to be better, we had high expectations com- commanding lead, Ramos said ing back from last year with he didn’t need to make any all those kids coming back,” major changes, just a bit of Ramos said. “We are beyond tinkering on defense. that now, we are just trying to “There were a couple of fi nish strong and give them a things on defense, how we positive experience going for- needed to attack certain ward and we’ve done that. Our things they were doing,” two games at home were good Ramos said. After a quiet third quarter games for our seniors to have in which neither team scored, that experience and hopefully we can get a couple more.” Baker struck again early in Baker travels to Pendleton the fi nal period as Gambleton this Friday, April 2, to play again found Delarosa, from six Pendleton/Nixyaawi (3-1) at 7 yards out. p.m. Ramos hopes to schedule “Just trusting our quarter- a fi nal game for the following Corey Kirk/Baker City Herald back, trusting the reads, and week. Baker’s Kaden Myer, No. 15, hauls in a pass from quarterback Gabe Gambleton, No. 3 holding out blocks,” Delarosa in background. Offensive lineman Alex Ritter, No. 55, is at left. said. “It was great, felt awe- Ontario 8 0 0 0 — 8 some to score a touchdown.” Baker 13 14 0 14 — 41 B — Gabe Gambleton 55 run (kick fails) yards for a touchdown. to Delarosa from 13 yards. Gambleton fi nished with 89 Meanwhile the Baker O — 20 pass (two-point conversion) Ontario responded almost Ramos said he was pleased yards on seven carries to lead defense, thanks in part to B — Kaden Myer 30 pass from Gambleton kick) as quickly. On the Tigers’ fi rst with his wide receivers. all Baker rushers, to go along recovering three fumbles, kept (Zellars B — Carlos Delarosa 13 pass from Gambleton possession they took an 8-6 “They’re getting better, with 169 passing yards. Ontario off the scoreboard. (Zellars kick) B — Gambleton 1 run (Zellars kick) lead on a 20-yard touchdown they’re running good routes, Having a versatile quar- “It was awesome, we did B — Delarosa 6 pass from Gambleton (Zellars kick) pass and two-point conversion. and catching the ball and terback is a boon to Baker’s a great job capitalizing,” De- B — Dylon Freeman 21 run (Zellars kick) Ontario’s fi rst, and last, lead they’re doing exactly what we offense, said Delarosa, who ac- larosa said. didn’t last long. are asking them to do,” he said. counted for 91 of Gambleton’s Junior Dylon Freeman Individual statistics (Baker only) The Bulldogs retaliated soon To fi nish the half, Gamble- passing yards. capped the scoring with a 21- Rushing — Gambleton 7-89; G. Bloomer 13- 50; Freeman 4-32; D. Bloomer 3-22; Delarosa after with a pair of Gambleton ton got to the end zone again, “It’s great because he was yard touchdown run. 1-5. touchdown passes, the fi rst, scoring on a one-yard run to able to run, he’s able to do Ramos said he was proud of Passing — Gambleton 9-18-169; Hobson of 30 yards, to senior Kaden push Baker’s halftime lead to everything,” Delarosa said. the 14 seniors who were hon- 1-2-25. Receiving — Delarosa 5-91; Myer 3-90; Spike Myer, the second going again 27-8. Going into halftime with a ored before kickoff, which was 1-4. “It felt great. We had a lot of energy.” and the girls adapted very well and played composed and strong,” coach Baker’s volleyball team won its Ali Abrego said. second straight match on Saturday, Abrego said the consecutive wins March 27, sweeping the Ontario — Baker swept Nyssa on March 15 Tigers in the Baker gym to improve — gives the Bulldogs a confi dence to 3-5 on the season. boost as they prepare for a busy Baker won 25-16, 25-22 and 25-16. week with four matches in fi ve days. “I am super proud of them. We had “Oh, it was crucial. A good mo- some absences with spring break mentum shift going into this loaded By Corey Kirk ckirk@bakercityherald.com week,” Abrego said. She hopes the fi nal stretch of this pandemic-shortened season will be benefi cial for her players. “I hope that they can gain a sense of working as a cohesive unit, and re- ally fi nd value out of a weird season,” Abrego said. Baker’s schedule this week in- cludes: • Tonight at La Grande, 6 p.m. • Wednesday, against unbeaten Powder Valley in the Baker gym, 6:30 p.m. • Friday, April 2, against Vale in the Baker gym, 6 p.m. • Saturday, April 3, at Nyssa, 1 p.m. PDT. Baker fi nishes its season on April 5 at Burns. Your unwavering dedication today and every day. In honor of National Doctor’s Day, Saint Alphonsus thanks the many doctors and providers who’ve worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. Even during the most uncertain times, your compassion and perseverance has brought us hope, because it’s who you are. It’s your calling. And for that, we thank you. Our calling is you.