AURORA, ORE. – The Roseburg Pepsi Bottlecaps scored six runs on three extra base hits in the fifth inning to take a lead over South Medford and then held on for an 11-8 win in the first round of the American Legion Class A State Tournament Wednesday.
Jacob Westwang, Spencer Six, and Doran Gillespie all drove in runs for Pepsi with extra base hits in the fifth. Westwang started the scoring with a double that scored one run. Six followed with a 3-run double and Gillespie drove in the fifth run of the inning with a triple. Gillespie scored the sixth run on a throwing error that got away as he was reaching third.
Brody Black picked up the win in relief for the Bottlecaps. Black entered the game in the third inning for starter Doran Gillespie.
The contest went back-and-forth over the first three innings. Roseburg started the scoring with a pair of runs in the first inning. South Medford rallied in the top of the second to tie the game 2-2.
Brody Black drove in two of three runs for Pepsi in the bottom of the second inning and the Bottlecaps retook the lead 5-2 heading to the third inning.
The Colts cashed in on a few Pepsi errors in the top of the third inning and scored five times to lead 7-5. South Medford scored its final run in the sixth.
Up next for Pepsi will be the winner of North Willamette Valley and the Umpqua Lions, who play Wednesday night at 8 p.m. The Bottlecaps will play again on Thursday at 8 p.m.
South Medford 025;001;0 – 8
Roseburg 230;060;X – 11