Baker finding familiar route around bases

Guy Cipriano

UNIVERSITY PARK — A 6-foot-3, 232-pound prolific college home run hitter barreling around the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park bases has turned into a common sight.

State College Spikes designated hitter Aaron Baker went 3 for 5 during Saturday’s loss to Williamsport. Baker singled in the first, doubled in the fifth and tripled during the bottom of the ninth. The triple was Baker’s league-leading seventh.

That total is surprising considering Baker’s college career. Baker cracked 28 homers, but legged just five triples during three years at Oklahoma.

“It’s not like I’m going up there to hit triples,” he said. “I’m just trying to go up there, get on base and drive in runs. Everybody has a thing they are supposed to do. I’m trying to get on base and help the team.”

Baker’s power potential represented one reason the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the 11th round of this year’s draft. He leads the Spikes with 21 extra-base hits, with his lone homer coming Aug. 3 against Jamestown.

The combination of Medlar Field’s spacious gaps and Baker’s deceptive speed has led to four triples in the past seven games.

“Once he gets going, he runs well,” Spikes manager Gary Robinson said. “He has long strides. Our gaps help him. Baker is not afraid. He likes to run bases. He wants to delay steal all the time and I say, ‘Bake, we pick and chose times to do that, so leave me alone about that.’ He’s innately pretty aggressive. He likes to run bases.”

Baker, who has increased his batting average to .250. moves well for somebody his size. Yet his unassuming side emerges when he’s asked about the speed.

“I guess it’s nice to have,” he said.

Last time here

The Spikes have a chance tonight to compile the best home record in their four-year history.

The team enters the home finale 20-17 at Medlar Field, which equals the mark compiled by the ‘07 team. The Spikes also won 19 games here in ‘06.

Tonight’s game begins at 6:05 p.m. Tyler Cox, who started this year’s home opener, will start the finale. Cox’s eight wins are tied for the league lead with Brooklyn’s Mark Cohoon and Collin McHugh.

The Spikes end the season with seven straight road games — two Batavia, three at Williamsoprt and two at Mahoning Valley. They must finish 5-3 to match the franchise-record 39 victories compiled by the ‘06 team.

Pointers

The Pirates selected four former Spikes — shortstops Brian Friday and Chase D’Arnaud and pitchers Daniel Moskos and Tony Watson — to appear in the Arizona Fall League. Friday, Moskos and Watson played here in 2007 while D’Arnaud spent last season here. ...The Spikes are averaging 3,895 fans per game through 35 home games. They averaged 4,036 fans per game last season. ...State College entered Saturday night’s play trailing Staten Island by 61/ 2 games in the wildcard standings.

Williamsport trailed the Yankees by 31/ 2 games.