Photo by GEORGE HANSON

The Hilanders head into the dugout to get ready to take on the Baker Bulldogs. 

The Burns baseball team opened up the season with a 12-5 victory over the Baker High School JV team on Tuesday, April 13, in Baker City.

After a scoreless first inning, Burns jumped on the scoreboard in the second inning, going up 1-0. Baker answered back in the bottom of the second with two runs.

The Hilanders were able to get another run in the third to even the score, but Baker was able to pick up three more runs putting the score 2-5 in favor of the Bulldogs heading into the fourth inning.

Burns was able to get five runs in the fourth inning and add another five runs in the seventh to bring home to victory.

J.D. Medley was the winning pitcher, going three and a third innings and giving up zero hits and walks, but striking out eight batters.

Devon Otley-Smith picked up the save, pitching one inning and striking out two batters.

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The Hilanders traveled to Vale and split their first doubleheader of the season 17-8, 11-12 on Friday, April 16.

In the first game, neither team was able to put any points on the board for three innings. 

In the top of the fourth, the Hilanders were able to get the bats going and scored 11 runs, while the Vikings answered with two runs.

Burns put up another run in the fifth inning, but Vale struck back in the bottom of the fifth and added five runs.

After a scoreless sixth inning from Burns, Vale added another to cut the lead to 12-8. 

Burns was able to add another five runs in the top of the seventh and hold the Viking scoreless to take the victory 17-8.

Mike Purcella was the winning pitcher, throwing four innings while giving up four hits and four earned runs, while striking out six batters and walking one.

In the second game against the Vikings, Burns held an 11-6 lead going into the seventh inning. Vale was able score five runs in the bottom of the seventh to even the score for extra innings. 

After Burns was unable to score, Vale took the opportunity to win the game by scoring in the bottom of the eighth.

Mike Purcella came in the eighth inning to try and win the game, but he was unable to do so and took the loss. 

Devon Otley-Smith pitched three and two-thirds innings and gave up three hits, four earned runs, while striking out seven and walking one.

Garrett Johnson pitched two inning and gave up no hits, two runs, and struck out five batters and walked four.

With the loss, the Hilanders are 2-1 on the season. Their next game is Friday, April 23, at Nyssa starting at 11 a.m. (MT).