Docs split a pair of games on opening day of Palouse Summer Series

LEWISTON, IDA. — It was a rocky start to the Palouse Summer Series for the Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s on Thursday at Harris Field at Ed Cheff Stadium, but the Stewies bounced-back to finish the first day with a win.

The hometown Lewis-Clark Twins jumped all over the Docs for an early eight-run lead and shutdown Roseburg’s comeback attempts for a 9-4 victory.

Lewis-Clark (8-6) scored seven runs on 10 hits against Roseburg (6-6) starter Evan Corbin, who exited the game after just 1 1/3 innings. The Twins were ahead 7-1 when Tristan Ledbetter took over in the second inning.

Ledbetter minimized the damage, allowing two runs on three hits over the final 4 2/3 innings, but the deficit proved too much for the Docs to overcome.

The first three batters in the lineup all had two hits for the Twins. Tucker Green was 3-for-4 and Guy Krasselt was 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Hayden Line and Cody Ray also drove in a pair of runs for Lewis-Clark.

The Docs didn’t notch their first hit until the fifth inning. Roseburg had the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth inning, but was unable to cut into the deficit.

In the second game, the Docs took a 3-1 lead over Reality Sports in the third inning. Jake Johnson and Daniel Withers drove in runs that gave Roseburg the lead for good.

Johnson baffled the Reality Sports hitters, allowing just one run on six hits over six innings of work. He finished with eight strikeouts and four walks against the Tacoma and Auburn-based Washington team.

The Docs ended the game early with a six-run sixth inning. Tournament rules state a game will be ended early if a team takes an 8-run lead in the fifth inning or later.

Roseburg scored all six of its runs in the sixth with two outs. Tauj Flora got it started with a solo home run over the left field fence. Brooks Avery added a pair with a bases-loaded double.

The Docs are in third place out of five teams in the Gleason pool. Lewis-Clark and Kalispell went 1-0 on the first day. Roseburg is 1-1 in pool play, while Reality Sports and Northwest Bandits are 0-1.

Only the top team in the pool will advance to the semifinals on Sunday.

Up next, the Docs will face Northwest Bandits at 1 p.m. Friday at Harris Field on the campus of Lewis-Clark State College.

Roseburg;100;021;0;—;4;3;2

Lewis-Clark (ID);431;100;X;—;9;13;1

Corbin, Ledbetter (2) and Hellenthal; Line, Topp (6) and Goicoa. W — Line. L — Corbin (0-3). 2B — Ray (LC), Barden (LC), Schumacher (LC).

Reality Sports (WA);100;000;—;1;6;2

Roseburg;102;006;—;9;8;0

Latvala, Morgan (5), Philbrick (6) and Rankin; Johnson and C. Robbins. W — Johnson (3-0). L — Latvala. 2B — Lavassar (RS), Avery (R), Withers (R), Anderson (R). HR — Flora (R).