FREEPORT — Baker School’s softball team closed out District 3-1A play Friday looking to improve its seeding and gain some momentum heading into the district tournament.
The tournament opens April 13 in Freeport.
If Friday’s game is any indication of how the Gators will fare in the tournament things should look good for Baker.
Gator hitters pounded out 16 hits on the way to a 9-6 win.
Baker at Freeport softball photos>>>
Allison Newell was dangerous at the plate and in the pitcher’s circle. Newell kept Bulldog batters off balance most of the night. And she helped her own cause with a pair of doubles and three runs batted in.
“I’m glad we came out on the right end of it (the scoreboard),” Gator Coach John Carlisle said. “They (Freeport) are a scrappy bunch. They play hard from the fist pitch to the last pitch.
“They get after it. But again I’m going to turn back to the resiliency of our girls making in game adjustments and coming back and getting after it.”
Freeport scored first when Taylor Stines led off the first inning with a single and later scored as Jimi Watts hit a ball that kangaroo hopped over Baker third baseman Emily Stewart.
The 1-0 Bulldog lead held up through three innings before the Gator attack got untracked in the fourth.
Baker sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs in taking a lead it would hold the remainder of the game. Seven of the 16 Gator hits came in the fourth.
Newell had the first of her two doubles and drove in a run in the fourth. Tori Foster delivered a two-out bunt single with runners on the corners that cleared the bases thanks in part to a Freeport error.
Courtesy runner Hannah Burlison, who was running for Newell, on third and Bethany McCranie on first when Foster came to the player. McCranie had reached on a single.
Foster dropped down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt. Freeport catcher Savannah Silvas threw the ball into deep right field trying to retire Foster which not only allowed Burlison to score, but allowed McCranie and Foster to score as well.
Newell’s second double of the night in the fourth inning scored sisters Ashley Black and Jessica Black to push the Gator lead to 6-1. Baker’s last three runs came on a three-run homer off the bat of Alexis Mitchem.
The Bulldogs rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the sixth as Newell hit a bit of a wild spell walking two batters. Freeport might have caught a break in the inning when the Gators thought a Bulldog base runner interfered with a Baker fielder. Carlisle pleaded his point to the umpires, but they would not change the call to favor the Gaors.
Baker finished the night with 16 hits. Jessica Black and Mykala McCranie each had three hits for Baker. Foster, Newell and Stewart each had two hits. Every Gator batter had at least one hit.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Newell leads Baker past Freeport (PHOTOS, VIDEO)