BAKER — Adam Henry hopes spring break won’t be too large a distraction for Baker School’s baseball team.
The Gators entered the break on a three-game winning streak and had last Friday’s District 3-1A home game with South Walton canceled due to weather concerns. Baker returns to the field Friday for a district game at Freeport.
“The momentum swing couldn’t have come at a better time,” Henry said. “The difference is they are playing with heart and intensity right now. They have a little bit more fire for them.”
Senior Austin Davis — one of the players who has helped lead the team in the surge — was 3-for-3 with a triple, three runs batted in and was hit by a pitch in Thursday’s win over Rocky Bayou Christian. He also played flawlessly at shortstop despite wet field conditions.
“Austin is irreplaceable,” Henry said. “We are truly going to miss him next year. He plays hard every play, during practice and games.”
The three wins have brought Baker’s record to 5-8, but Henry knows there is a lot of work to do before the team gets to .500.
“We’ve got to hit the ball better,” he said. “We have to take a better approach at the plate. We have a good two-strike approach and put the ball in play.
“Our top two pitchers, Austin and Gabe (Nelson), have pitched well. We have to have a few more behind them pitch well. And we just have to stay healthy.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker baseball team prepares for stretch run