KEIZER, Ore. — A tree grows here in the Willamette Valley. The Pacific red alder stretches its broad leaves into a summer sky blotted out by haze and ash from distant forest fires.



The tree is located between Interstate 5, with its constant whine of traffic, and the left-field fence at Volcanoes Stadium, a low-slung collection of aluminum bleachers and salmon-colored plastic seats that is home to the Giants’ modest affiliate in the short-season Northwest League.



The tree is 60 feet tall. Maybe 70. And now it has a name.



Locals are calling it the Bart Tree.



“It was like the wrath of God,” said Wes Tucker, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes’ play-by-play broadcaster, of the baseball that rocketed off Joey Bart’s two-toned bat, cleared the fence and rustled the uppermost leaves of the tree. “That’s how I described it on air. Honestly, that’s what it was.”



Bart, the catcher from Georgia Tech...