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Turlock win ends league-opening set against Downey
Turlock baseball
Turlock’s Mason Baker connects for a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the sixth, plating two in the Bulldog’s league contest against Downey. Turlock won 14-5 (JOE CORTEZ/The Journal).

Junior catcher Owen Miller and junior center fielder Mason Baker each clubbed fifth-inning home runs as Turlock High took the rubber game 14-5 in a three-game, Central California Athletic League set against Downey on Friday at Mark De La Motte Field.

With the victory, the second in a row after dropping six straight, the Bulldogs improve to 3-6 overall and 2-1 in league. Downey, meanwhile, dips to 4-5 and 1-2.

Staff ace Payton Hawkinson earned the victory, scattering six hits, walking one batter and hitting another. The 6-foot-7 lefty retired the first nine hitters he faced and struck out the side in the third inning on his way to 10 total punch-outs.

After taking a 3-0 lead, Downey tied the game up in the fourth before Gannon Evans (2-for-5) broke the deadlock with a double that plated Riley McCord.

An inning later, Miller gave his batterymate more cushion when he smashed a 2-2 fastball onto Marshall Street, plating Carson Gonzales (2-for-2, 3 runs) to make it 6-3.

“I was just trying to stay back, facing a slower pitcher after facing a guy who was faster,” said Miller, who walked twice and singled in his final at-bat. “I got a fastball and put a good swing on it.” 

After Carter Crivelli grounded out for the first out of the frame, Baker deposited an 0-1 fastball over the fence in left to make it 7-3.

“He started me change-up, change-up,” said Baker (2-for-4), whose final plate appearance resulted in a bases-loaded double over the center fielder’s head as THS broke it open with seven runs in the sixth. “I faced him last year and I knew he had a really good curveball, so I was thinking curve. I got it and I crushed it.”

Miller, Baker and Hawkinson all admitted that the history-making wet winter has had some impact on the team, as it’s struggled to get in practice time, let alone games.

“It hasn’t really felt like baseball season,” said Miller.

But winning the opening CCAL series of the season helped.

“It’s been tough on the guys physically and mentally,” said first-year coach Mike Souza. “But what are you going to do? It’s Mother Nature.”

Up next for the Bulldogs is a three-game set against Enochs. Turlock will host the Eagles in Game 1 on Monday, slated to start at 4 p.m., then travel to Modesto on Wednesday for Game 2.

The final game will be played on Friday at 1 p.m. at John Thurman Field, home of the California League’s Modesto Nuts.