The Roseburg High School baseball team split a Southwest Conference doubleheader against the Grants Pass Cavemen on Saturday at Bill Gray Legion Stadium at Champion Car Wash Field.
Jake Johnson allowed just two runs on four hits to help the Tribe pick up an 8-3 win in the opener. Some defensive lapses and the inability to come up with clutch hits in the nightcap resulted in a 7-4 loss for Roseburg.
“Game 2 could have been a different story had we played clean defense and gotten a timely hit with runners on base,” Roseburg coach Troy Thompson said. “Once again, unfortunately, that’s the game and that’s how it played out today for us, but those are things we can improve on and will continue to work on.”
Johnson was able to pitch with the lead through his six-inning outing in Game 1. The junior earned his second win of the season, striking out six, walking four and hitting two batters.
“I think he threw fairly well and limited the opportunities against a team that has some good offensive players,” Thompson said.
Roseburg (3-3, 2-1 SWC) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to three consecutive walks issued by Grants Pass starter Logan Zavolta. Johnson, Camden Hartsell and Kash Richardson all had RBIs in their first at bats.
The Indians added two more runs in the second and fifth innings. Brooks Avery drove in a run with a double in the second and Amos Bowers helped push a run across in the fifth with a bases-loaded single.
Grants Pass (2-2, 2-1) scored a run in the second, third and seventh innings. Luke Morgan was 2-for-4 to lead the Cavemen at the plate.
It was the Cavers that jumped out to the early lead in the nightcap and kept the pressure on.
Troy Osborne plated the first run for G.P. with a triple in the first inning and Jace McGowan gave the Cavemen a 3-2 lead in the second on a leadoff inside-the-park home run.
Grants Pass broke the game open with four runs in the fifth inning. The Cavemen got four consecutive two-out singles to pull ahead 7-2.
The Indians rallied for two runs in the seventh inning on a single by Johnson, but the comeback fizzled out.
McGowan finished Game 2 going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Osborne and Reese Reynolds also had multiple hits in the game.
Heath King was 2-for-3 for Roseburg and finished the day with a combined three hits.
Brevin Harrison took the loss for Roseburg. The senior was touched up for seven runs on nine hits, while walking two and striking out three. The Indians committed three errors defensively.
Roseburg will continue play on Monday with the start of a spring break tournament at the Hamlin Sports Complex in Springfield. The Indians face South Eugene at 4 p.m.
First Game
Grants Pass;011;000;1;—;3;6;1
Roseburg;320;021;X;—;8;6;0
Zavolta, C. Ireland (4), Reese (7) and Osborne; Johnson, St. Clair (7) and Bowers. W — Johnson (2-1). L — Zavolta. 2B — Osborne (GP), Avery (R).
Second Game
Grants Pass;210;040;0;—;7;11;0
Roseburg;200;000;2;—;4;7;3
Osborne, Carnes (6) and Valenzuela; Harrison, Hartsell (6) and Bowers. W — Osborne. L — Harrison (1-1). 3B — Osborne (GP). HR — McGowan (GP).
