Baseball improves to 4–1 in league

By Ian Ferguson

With wins against league Lynden Christian and league powerhouse Burlington-Edison, the Blaine baseball team is on its way to building a successful season

in 2A.

The Burlington-Edison Tigers were undefeated in league play when they came to Pipeline Field April 6. Blaine won the Northwest Conference (NWC)

game 5–2.

Jonathan Starcer was the starting pitcher for the Borderites and allowed one run in five innings. Blaine batters scored two runs in the second inning and three in the fourth. Cody Gobbato pitched the last two innings and allowed one run for his third save of the season. With the win, Starcer is 4–0 on the mound.

“It was probably our best game yet this season,” sais Blaine head coach Larry Hoffman. “Burlington-Edison is always tough. They’re well coached and they’re always one of the last teams in the postseason, so it felt good to get the win.”

Anthony Ball hit an RBI double in the second inning. Jared Vogee and Josh Fakkema hit back-to-back doubles in the fourth.

“Starcer pitched well,” Hoffman said. “We stick him out there in the tough games and he does a nice job.”

The next day, Gobbato started on the mound in a dominant team performance against Lynden Christian. The Borderites won the April 7 away game 11–0 in five innings.

Gobbato shut out the Lynden Christian batters except for a bunt single in the second inning.

Jalen Kortlever led the Borderites at bat, going two for three with two RBI, two doubles and two runs. Vogee went one for two with two RBI, Fakkema hit one for three with two RBI and Ball hit two for four with an RBI.

With the win at Lynden Christian, the Borderites improved to 4–1 in league games and 7–5 overall, tying Bellingham for the best record in 2A NWC.

The team’s next game is at home against Bellingham Tuesday, April 14. The game begins at 4:30 p.m.