A6 BAKER CITY HERALD • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022
SPORTS
BAKER VOLLEYBALL
Bulldogs sweep into state tournament
Baker routs Philomath, will play
Tillamook in quarterfinals Friday
at Springfield High School
BY JAYSON JACOBY
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
They had to play volleyball in the
wrong season, when the leaves were
budding rather than falling.
Sometimes they had to wear masks,
and sometimes they had to wave at their
opponents from across the court rather
than the customary hand slaps.
And then the Baker Bulldogs, even
when they won, lost out on a chance to
play in the state tournament.
But finally, after years of frustration
during a pandemic over which they had
no control, the Bulldogs achieved one of
their most cherished goals.
Baker played one of its best matches of
the season Saturday, Oct. 29 in the Baker
gym, sweeping past Philomath to clinch
a berth in the state tournament this com-
ing weekend at Springfield High School.
The dominating 25-11, 25-15, 25-12
victory propelled Baker into a quarterfi-
nal match against Tillamook on Friday,
Nov. 4 at 8 a.m.
“It’s just such a great feeling,” Maken-
zie Flanagan, one of Baker’s five seniors,
said after Saturday’s match.
Baker coach Ali Abrego said she’s ec-
static that her players, and in particular
the seniors, whose high school years
were affected by the pandemic, will have
a chance to play in a state tournament.
“They deserved to go last year,”
Abrego said. “It’s great to see their hard
work pay off.”
A year ago Baker also was one of the
final eight Class 4A teams playing.
But the Oregon School Activities As-
sociation limited the state tournament to
four teams, rather than the usual eight.
So Baker’s loss to Philomath, in a
match at Baker almost a year ago to the
day, on Oct. 30, 2021, cost the Bulldogs a
trip to the tournament.
Abrego said one of the team’s goals,
from its first practice in August, was to
fill that gap in its resumé, and on Satur-
day the Bulldogs played like a team with
a mission to fulfill.
Sophomore Kaydence Thomas had a
kill, and fellow sophomore Sofia Hanson
an ace serve to give Baker a 2-0 lead.
Philomath scored three straight to go
up 3-2.
The Warriors wouldn’t lead again.
Baker scored five straight points, the
POWDER VALLEY
VOLLEYBALL
Badgers top
South Wasco,
advance to
state tourney
Baker City Herald
Lisa Britton/Baker City Herald
Baker senior Jozie Ramos goes up for a kill against Philomath on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in the Baker gym.
Baker vs. Tillamook
Baker, 17-5 overall, will play Tillamook,
16-4, in a quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 4
at 8 a.m. at Springfield High School.
The teams had no common oppo-
nents this season.
The Cheesemakers, who were 12-0
in the Cowapa League, have won eight
straight matches, including a sweep of
last on senior Taylor Dalton’s ace, to lead
7-3. Philomath never got closer than
three points after that.
Flanagan and Thomas combined on
a block that boosted Baker’s lead to 14-8
and prompted a Philomath timeout.
Thomas and senior Jozie Ramos com-
bined on a block to give Baker an 18-
10 lead, and another Warriors timeout
couldn’t stem Baker’s momentum.
The Bulldogs scored seven straight
points with Hanson serving, and breezed
to the first set win.The second set fol-
lowed a somewhat similar pattern.
Ramos had a powerful kill on a Philo-
math over pass for the first point, and af-
ter the score was tied at 5, 6 and 7, Baker
scored five straight, the last on Flanagan’s
kill, leading to another Philomath tim-
eout.
Hidden Valley in a first-round playoff
match on Saturday, Oct. 29.
If Baker beats Tillamook, the Bull-
dogs would play the winner of the Crook
County-Marshfield match on Friday at
6:30 p.m. If Baker loses to Tillamook, the
Bulldogs would play the loser of the
Crook County-Marshfield match on Satur-
day, Nov. 5 at 8 a.m.
The Bulldogs extended the run to
nine points, with sophomore Ashlyn
Dalton serving, to take control.
The final set was anticlimactic, with
Baker leading 5-1 early as Ramos had
two straight kills on over passes.
Senior Campbell Vanderwiele had a
kill to make it 6-1, and Baker led by as
many as 12, at 16-4.
Philomath had a minor rally but the
outcome was never in doubt.
Although Baker played well in all
phases, its defense was particular stellar.
Philomath had relatively few kills, as
the Bulldogs’ back row was consistent
in digging and the front line blockers
thwarted multiple attacks. Baker also
had several one hand saves to keep ral-
lies going.
“The biggest thing for us today was we
were consistent,” Abrego said. “Jozie had
four blocks in one rally. You rarely see
that. Our defense was phenomenal. We
definitely showed that we have the po-
tential to be a contender at state.”
Although Baker has achieved its long
sought after goal, Abrego said she’s not
concerned that the Bulldogs are satisfied
and will no longer play with the same ur-
gency they brought to the court against
Philomath.
“We’re in the top eight teams — that’s
incentive enough to want to keep it go-
ing,” she said. “This is just the first step.”
Flanagan agreed.
“This makes us hungrier,” she said.
“One step at a time.”
Flanagan said she can feel that the
Bulldogs have “new energy” this year.
“I can tell how much growth we’ve
had as a team,” she said.
Abrego said she’s proud of her team
not only for their play, but also for their
attitude.
Prior to Saturday’s match, the Bull-
dogs received the Regional Sportsman-
ship Award for Class 1A, 2A and 4A
schools in the area.
“This award is a tribute and a reflec-
tion of our girls and how they interact
with each other, officials, and coaching
staff,” Abrego wrote in an email to par-
ents.
NORTH POWDER — Pow-
der Valley is returning to the
Class 1A state volleyball tour-
nament, and the Badgers had to
battle to get there.
Powder Valley won a compet-
itive, four-set match over South
Wasco County on Saturday,
Oct. 29 in the Badgers’ gym.
Powder Valley won the first
two sets, 25-21, 25-23, and af-
ter the Redsides rallied to win
the third set, 25-22, the Badgers
closed out the match 25-22 in
the fourth set.
“We were able to overcome a
solid Wasco County team in four
close and hard-fought sets,” Pow-
der Valley coach Marji Lind said.
“We had moments of bril-
liance and some other moments
we struggled to find a consistent
rhythm, but in this team’s true
style and fashion, these girls
showed their mental tough-
ness and team unity and rallied.
They compete as a true team
and are successful because of it.”
Powder Valley, 24-7 overall,
will open the eight-team state
tournament against St. Paul
on Friday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. at
Ridgeview High School in Red-
mond.
It’s a rematch of the 2019 state
tournament match, which St.
Paul won in three sets.
If the Badgers beat St. Paul
Friday, it would set up another
possible rematch in the semi-
finals, this time with Crane,
which plays North Douglas in a
quarterfinal Friday.
Crane beat the Badgers in a
quarterfinal match in 2021, de-
nying Powder Valley a berth in
the state tournament, which last
year was limited to four teams
instead of the usual eight.
“Could not be prouder of
these young ladies and what
they continue to accomplish to-
gether,” Lind said. “We are very
excited to make it to the Elite 8
and be numbered amongst the
very best in Oregon 1A.”
SHANE ALDERSON
FOR
BAKER COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIR
My family has called Baker County home since 1935. We are enjoying raising our young daughter in this
beautiful community surrounded by small town values.
I promise to work hard for all citizens, do the work that needs to be done and
to provide the vital services taxpayer deserve.
I want to be your Baker County Commission Chair to mend the relationship
between Baker County and Baker City and other small cities and jurisdictions.
I pledge to:
• Work hard to to maximize fire and ambulance service throughout Baker County
• Continue to support local law enforcement agencies to reduce crime and hold
offenders accountable for their actions
• Be a strong supporter for water issues and other matters facing our local agricul-
tural producers
• Work to protect jobs at Ashgrove Cement and other mining entities
• Continue to work with all local entities (Chambers, Baker City Downtown,
Interpretive Center, local Museums, Economic Development Committee, etc.) to
provide resources to enhance our local tourism industry.
• Advocate and work with State and Federal agencies to provide affordable work-
force housing in our community.
• Work hard to bring traded sector jobs to our County that provide family wage
jobs for working families.
• Work with local entities to make sure that we have affordable day care for fami-
lies with working parents
I am not beholden to any special interest groups and will bring honest and open
communication to the County Commission. Please vote for Shane Alderson for Baker County
Commission Chair.
Paid for by Committee to elect Shane Alderson
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