MEDFORD — With season openers usually come a lot of firsts and Monday’s start to the American Legion baseball season for the Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s definitely fit that mold.
The Docs (1-0) earned a 9-4 win over Medford (0-1) at Harry & David Field, the first win over the Mustangs since 2021 and new head coach Eric Savage notched his first win as the program’s leader.
“It’s a good feeling,” Savage said of win No. 1. “It’s a step in the right direction with this club. A lot of good things tonight. We definitely saw some things we’ve got to get better at to sustain wins like this. But overall, I can’t be more excited.”
The Docs jumped on the Mustangs early and built a 5-0 lead by the top of the third inning.
Evan Martin drove in the first run of the season with a single in the second inning. Jace Johnson put Roseburg ahead 2-0 in the third with the first of two doubles on the day.
Dr. Stewart’s added two more runs in the third on a trio of Medford errors.
Johnson gave Roseburg its largest lead of the night with a three-run triple in the sixth inning. The recent South Umpqua High graduate finished 2-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored.
“It was kind of rolling over for me from high school ball,” Johnson said of his success at the plate. “I was on a roll. I hit two home runs and batted .430, or something like that, and it’s just kept going for me.”
Knox Hubbard, a Roseburg graduate, plated a final insurance run in the eighth inning on a single.
The offensive success helped make life easier for the Docs’ pitching staff. Savage used five pitchers total, with Colton Siewell from Bandon getting the start and the win.
The rising senior pitched the first two innings without giving up a hit or a run, while striking out three and walking two.
Medford’s biggest outburst came in the third inning when Jeremiah Robbins and Kaleb Long each drove in a run with back-to-back doubles.
Roseburg’s victory snapped an 11-game losing streak against Medford, dating back to July 18, 2021.
The Docs and Mustangs will meet for another nonleague game on Wednesday for Roseburg’s home opener at Bill Gray Legion Stadium at Champion Car Wash Field. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Dr. Stewart’s 023 003 010 — 9 11 2
Mustangs 002 001 001 — 4 6 3
Siewell, Withers (3), Corbin (4), Ledbetter (7), Burke (9) and Hubbard; Schwenk, Jackson (3), Daffron (6), Cope (8) and Robbins. W — Siewell (1-0). L — Schwenk (0-1). 2B — J. Johnson 2 (DS), Robbins (M), Long (M).
