When the current Blaine fastpitch team was in middle school, Borderites coach Sean Miller and his staff knew they would be a special group upon reaching high school.
After the COVID-19 pandemic and a warm-up year last season, that group has taken the Northwest Conference by storm. Currently first in the league as of May 2 with an 11-1 overall record (10-1 Northwest Conference), the Borderites are the squad nobody wants to face.
“Blaine, as long as I can think back, we’ve never been the hunted,” Miller said. “We’re the hunted now.”
That resumé speaks for itself, but the team’s incredible 1.6 average runs allowed per game is thanks, in large part, to Blaine’s star pitcher, junior Emersyn Bakker.
Bakker has burst onto the scene this season, compiling an eye-popping stat line that has shades of former Nooksack Valley ace Jordyn Relethford’s 2022 season, when she led the Pioneers to their first-ever 1A state championship.
“We just kind of flipped a switch this year,” Bakker said.
Through 57 innings pitched (10 games), Bakker has allowed 37 hits, 23 bases on balls and seven earned runs while striking out 104 batters. She currently possesses a 0.86 ERA.
“I think a lot of it just has to do with her mentality,” Miller said. “She’s kind of a bulldog. There’s not a lot that fazes her.”
Senior pitcher Piper Nissen and Bakker have combined to throw five shutouts this year, leading the Borderites to a 109-19 run differential. Nissen has pitched 14 innings, allowing 11 hits and one earned run while striking out 15 batters.
The duo is a luxury Blaine has not had in the past.
“We’re fortunate that I feel like we have two dominant pitchers,” Miller said. “We’ve had decent pitchers, but not dominant.”
Bakker, in addition to her strengthened mindset, credits much of her success to her coaches, her father and her teammates.
“My teammates and I have always been super close,” Bakker said. “We’re a family; we’ve grown up with each other since kindergarten.”
Whenever Blaine needs a strong presence in the circle, Bakker is always there to deliver.
“She rises to the occasion, and she likes those big moments,” Miller said. “There really is no fear once she starts throwing. It’s fun to watch her.”
The other key duo — Bakker and senior catcher Makenna Wright — is so effective that Miller and the coaching staff stopped calling pitches for them. It’s all on them, and the pair study film together to learn how to attack certain batters.
As the breadth of Bakker’s pitching inventory has grown, so has her motivation to succeed. Part of that motivation comes from having her grandmother — who was recently diagnosed with cancer — present at every game.
Despite all the team’s regular season success, they are focused on what’s right in front of them. Bakker’s current goal is to continue improving the location of her pitches and continuing to build the culture within the program.
Much of Bakker’s passion for the game comes from her father, a former college baseball player.
“My dad and I have a really big passion for the game,” Bakker said. “I think following in his footsteps is really cool.”
Her pitching coach, Ed Eliason, has also been integral in her development, especially regarding her mindset, Bakker said. Through all her practices and coaching, Bakker said she is pitching almost daily.
Bakker hopes her talents will lead her to playing softball beyond high school.
“I think I see college softball in my future,” Bakker said. “I think it’d be really fun.”
In addition to Bakker’s dominance, Blaine’s season thus far has been fueled by the whole team’s camaraderie. They have bought in and it’s paying off, Miller said.
“Our dugout is unmatched with the amount of enthusiasm that’s going on inside of there,” Miller said. “That’s a tribute to the kids. We preach that kind of stuff, but the kids have to buy into it.”
At the 1A level, the Borderites have a real shot to replicate the magic Nooksack Valley captured last year. Strong pitching and solid fielding could send Blaine to a deep postseason run.
“I think this team is comparable to that [Nooksack] team in a lot of ways,” Miller said. “It’s not just the athleticism on this team, it’s the chemistry.”
