Baker, ‘Jacks take another shot

St. Maries junior ace Dalton Baker took opposing hitters to school last season.

At the state tournament, he learned a lesson of his own.

After posting an 8-0 record in the regular season, Baker had control issues in the state opener and, despite allowing only one hit, he and the Lumberjacks suffered a 5-1 loss to American Falls.

“It was pretty rough,” Baker said of the loss. “They were a good ball club, and after we lost that game I think we were pretty down, because we made some uncharacteristic errors and lost the next game (to South Fremont) in the last inning by one run.

“But we learned a lot from those losses: It’s so important to play solid defense in the big games – it makes the difference between winning or losing.”

As is the case with star pitchers in high school baseball, Baker is put upon to play several different positions.

“I play catcher and anywhere else coach puts me,” he said of the guidance of D.J. Eberlin, who was once a pitcher-catcher for SMHS. “I don’t have any problem with it, as long as it helps our team.

“Going from pitcher to catcher in a doubleheader can be pretty tiring, though – but I try to have fun with it.”

Being familiar with both ends of the battery, Baker is probably more hands-on than most pitchers when it comes to what his catcher is doing.

“My first two years, my brother was my catcher, so it was really easy for me to get along with him,” he said. “This year, we have a new catcher, so he struggles sometimes, so I try to help him – and he helps me, too.

“We’re getting a lot better, but it’s kind of different being the pitcher and calling the catcher out to talk to him about something – usually it’s the other way around.”

According to Baker, the defending Intermountain League and District I champs are poised for another deep run into the postseason.

“We’re a really good team, and we play really well together,” Baker said of the ‘Jacks. “And we’ve got a really good coach – so we’ve got everything it takes.

“Now we just have to go out and execute.”

The goal, of course, is to establish St. Maries baseball as a perennial powerhouse.

“My first two years of high school, we went to state and finished fifth,” Baker said. “St. Maries has never won state, but we got second, like, five years ago.

“Our coach says it, and we say it: Fifth isn’t going to be good enough – he wants us to take first, and I think we have a really good chance.”