Docs take early lead, hold off Eugene for 6-3 league win
Dr. Stewart’s hurler Colton Siewell let out a holler as he ended a 12-pitch at bat with a strikeout to finish off a 6-3 Area 4 victory over Eugene Thursday night at Bill Gray Legion Stadium at Champion Car Wash Field.
Eugene’s Brock Johnson didn’t go down without a fight. The Thurston High School product fouled off pitch after pitch to stay alive, but the final delivery had him frozen as the umpire signaled strike three.
The win evened up the league series between Roseburg and Eugene. The two Area 4 programs will meet again for a doubleheader on July 8 at Swede Johnson Stadium in Eugene.
Roseburg (3-3, 1-1 Area 4) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after two innings. Cal Robbins, Cole Collins and Dane St. Clair all drove in runs to put the Docs in front and give starting pitcher Jake Johnson a cushion to work with.
“It’s just always a better feeling going on the mound knowing you’ve got the lead and you’ve got a little bit of room to work with,” Johnson said.
The incoming senior at Roseburg High School went six innings, allowing two runs on three hits, while walking three and striking out two. Johnson said he didn’t feel as if he had his best stuff, but at one point the right-hander retired nine consecutive batters, including getting six straight groundouts.
“I was just trying to live low and make them hit it on the ground. Give my infield a chance. That’s where I feel like we’re the best. We can really make some stuff happen on the infield. We’ve got some good guys,” Johnson said.
The Roseburg defense was solid, but had a couple of hiccups in the seventh inning that kept the door open for the Challengers. Eugene (8-2, 1-1) got two runners on base against Siewell, but the Bandon High School graduate finished the game with the emotional punch out.
“He stuck through it,” Johnson said of Siewell’s battle for the final out. “(He) Kept throwing it over the plate and finally got him. It was awesome.”
Former Dr. Stewart, Jalen Riddle, and Brock Johnson had RBIs for the Challengers, who have lost back-to-back games after starting the season 8-0.
Docs head coach Eric Savage made some tweaks to the Roseburg lineup, including moving Cole Collins to the leadoff spot. Collins was productive, going 1-for-3, with a walk, a run and two RBI’s.
“Good change,” Collins said. “Didn’t really change my approach. I just kept playing my game I’ve been playing.”
Collins’ spark at the top of the lineup helped boost the Docs to seven hits, including two hits from both Brevin Harrison and Ty Hellenthal.
The Docs will now get ready to host a six-team Father’s Day Tournament at Champion Car Wash Field. Medford, Mid-Valley, Klamath Falls, Corvallis and Salem will all be in town for the three-day event.
Roseburg plays its first game against the Salem Withnell Dodgers at 7:45 p.m. Friday. The tournament begins with the Mid-Valley Southpaws and the Klamath Falls Falcons at 3:15 p.m. Friday.
All games will be played at Champion Car Wash Field.
Eugene;001;100;1;—;3;4;2
Roseburg;120;003;X;—;6;7;3
Richardson, Hernandez (6) and Gould; Johnson, Siewell (7) and Hellenthal. W — Johnson (2-0). L — Richardson.
