ROSEBURG — The Eugene Challengers spoiled the Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s first game of their home tournament with a 15-4 thumping at Bill Gray Stadium at Legion Field on Thursday.
Eugene (2-3) put up nine runs in the top of the first off of Docs’ starter Dallas McGill and the Challengers added runs in all but one inning after that. The game was called after six innings due to time restrictions.
“Every team that’s going to be on our schedule would love nothing more than to beat us, so they’re going to play one of their better games when they play us,” said Dr. Stewart’s coach Jeremiah Robbins. “We’re going to have to match the tempo and the energy and be consistent from pitch one and we weren’t that today.”
Cole Wilkinson went 4-for-5 for the Challengers to pace an offense that collected 14 hits. Wilkinson finished with a double, a triple and had five RBIs.
McGill didn’t get out of the first inning. The lefty from Reedsport faced 12 batters and allowed nine runs on six hits, while walking two and beaning one. McGill dropped to 0-2 on the year in two starts.
The Docs (3-2) defense didn’t help McGill, committing two of their four errors in the first inning.
“When we play with a different tempo, a different mindset, a different competitiveness, we’re 3-0,” said Docs coach Jeremiah Robbins. He pointed to the similarities between the loss to Eugene and an early loss to the team from Lake Oswego and said it’s concerning to see his team play like that.
“We got to put a stop to it. The kids need to start to understand the expectations of the program and what it means to put on the Dr. Stewart’s uniform and they will. We had a great meeting after the game. We are in no means in any sort of panic-mode right now.”
Roseburg scratched back with two runs in the bottom of the first on a throwing error and a double by Jett Black. The momentum was short-lived as Eugene started Cam Parks shutout the Docs over the next three innings.
Parks went the distance for the win. He allowed 10 hits and only two earned runs.
Griffin Lavigne led the Docs’ offense going 2-for-3 in only his second start of the year. He drove in Dr. Stewart’s last run of the game in the sixth.
The Docs will continue the Tyree Oil Father’s Day Summer Kickoff Tournament on Friday with a contest against the Dallas Post 20 Dirtbags. First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Follow Dr. Stewart’s baseball on 1490 KSKR-AM or watch online at 541radio.com.
In other action during the first day of tournament games; Medford defeated Grants Pass 5-4 and Willamette Valley beat Grants Pass 14-3. The final game of the day between Corvallis and Salem finished after the newspaper deadline.
The Tyree Oil Father’s Day Summer Kickoff Tournament runs through Sunday at Legion Field. Friday’s games start with Dallas and Medford at 11 a.m.
Eugene 911;103 — 15;14;3
Roseburg 200;011 — 4;10;4
Parks and Jones, Lugo (5); McGill, Meisner (1), Burke (5) and Lavigne. WP — Parks. LP — McGill, 0-2. 2B — Wilkinson (E), Bracy 2 (E), Black (R). 3B — Wilkinson (E).
