Ida Baker falls short, loses 2-0 to Collier in regional semifinal
All year, the winning formula had been pitching, defense and just enough offense.
The bats just weren’t there Tuesday night as Ida Baker lost 2-0 to Barron Collier in the Class 6A regional semifinals.
Baker (22-6) saw the best baseball season in the school’s young history come to an end with the loss on their home diamond.
“We just weren’t good enough,” Baker coach Bob VanDeventer said. “They were. That’s all. You can’t win any games scoring zero.”
Barron Collier (19-9) advances to the region championship, hosting Dunedin Friday in Naples. A trip to the state tournament at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers awaits the winner.
The Cougars put single runs on the board in the first and third innings, and the pitching combination of Nick Geller and Nick Denove made it hold up.
Baker’s best opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth, when Christian Proffitt opened the inning with his second single of the game. One out later, Dakota Kayatta singled to put runners on first and second.
Collier coach Charlie Maurer pulled Geller, who had thrown 83 pitches. One pitch later, a 6-4-3 double play had the Cougars out of the jam.
“First and second, and (Gabe Villaverde) did what we asked, to not to try to do too much,” VanDeventer said. “He just unfortunately hit it right at them.”
Proffitt (2-for-4) had half the Bulldogs’ four hits.
“We didn’t get bunts down,” VanDeventer said. “We didn’t field it well as we usually do either.”
Chris Shrowe went the distance for Baker, giving up two runs on six hits. He struck out six, gave up one walk and hit one batter.
“He’s going to be solid every time,” VanDeventer said.
Logan Langham drove in both Cougars runs. His single scored Marcus Crabtree in the top of the first, and he doubled home Billy Zeliff in the third.
Baker’s defense came up big to keep the Bulldogs in the game in the fourth inning. With nobody out, Collier tried a suicide squeeze. Zeliff struck out, and Villaverde threw to Ryen Clay at third to tag out Crabtree.
“We were prepared for that,” VanDeventer said. “We executed it perfectly and it paid off. I thought that was going to be a turning point for us, but the offense just didn’t play all night, just couldn’t get anything going.”
This is the first Baker team to win a district championship, and the Bulldogs won their first-round state playoff game over Lely before falling Tuesday.
“We’ve done something that nobody’s done at this school,” VanDeventer said. “We got our district title. That was a big one. Like I told them, only one team in each class each year doesn’t have this (loss to end a season) speech.”
Collier’s Geller struck out six and walked two batters. Denove had one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings of work to earn a save.
The Bulldogs lose four seniors off this year’s squad, but will have plenty coming back in 2017.
“Basically the entire defense,” VanDeventer said. “I think if we win this game, I believe, I really do, we’re playing in JetBlue.”
Region 4A-3 Fnal: Bishop Verot advanced with a 4-1 win over Cardinal Mooney Tuesday night.
The Vikings face Jacksonville Providence in the state Class 4A semifinals at JetBlue Park next week.