Docs hand Medford first league losses in doubleheader sweep

Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s rose to the occasion in an Area 4 doubleheader against first place Medford on Wednesday night at Bill Gray Legion Stadium at Champion Car Wash Field.

Jake Johnson took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and led the Docs to a 4-1 win in the opener. Evan Corbin and Colton Siewell combined to allow just one run in the nightcap as Roseburg secured the sweep with a 5-1 victory.

“It’s good to see we’re getting wins, playing quality baseball. But I think there’s still a lot for us to grow with,” Docs coach Eric Savage said.

If this is the starting point, there could be big things on the horizon for Roseburg.

Medford (24-9-3, 6-2 Area 4) came into Wednesday’s matchup with an undefeated league record. The losses to Roseburg (13-13-1, 7-3) dropped the Mustangs into a tie with Eugene, and the Docs are right on their heels.

“We’re playing some real good baseball recently,” Corbin said. “I feel we’re coming together as a team.”

The team game was evident in both contests as the Docs overcame a number of defensive miscues. Savage pointed out “a lot of selfless play today.”

“We also picked up each other. When someone made a mistake, we came through and got us out of jams,” the coach said.

Johnson retired the first eight batters in Game 1 and didn’t allow a hit until Kellen Willer hit a single in the top of the seventh inning.

Medford managed to load the bases in the final inning, but Johnson finished the game by striking out Easton Curtis for his 10th punchout of the night. Johnson allowed the one unearned run on one hit and three walks.

“I felt pretty good on the mound. My stuff was pretty good and I definitely got some help a little bit behind the plate and that was nice to have,” Johnson said.

The rising senior-to-be at Roseburg High School attributed his success to being able to locate his arsenal of pitches. “That’s a big part of the game and when I have that I feel like I can beat anyone.”

“He’s continuing to develop his change-up, which makes him just lethal,” Savage said.

The offense backed up Johnson with three runs in the second inning. Logan Anderson drew a bases-loaded walk to score the first run of the game and Paxton Burke plated two more with a two-out double.

Cal Robbins earned an RBI after reaching on an error in the fifth inning, stretching Roseburg’s lead to 4-0 at the time.

Medford struck first in the nightcap. Curtis scored in the first inning after reaching base with a leadoff walk. He later scored on a passed ball to put the Mustangs ahead 1-0.

That was all the Mustangs would muster against Corbin and Siewell. Corbin tossed three no-hit innings and finished with five strikeouts and two walks to earn his second win of the season.

Siewell took over in the fourth and pitched four scoreless innings, scattering five hits with two strikeouts and one hit batter.

“We got the start out of Evan Corbin that we needed,” Savage said. “Colton Siewell came in and got us out of a few jams.”

Roseburg’s offense quickly responded to its first deficit of the day. The Dr. Stewart’s pushed across two runs in the first inning on a two-out single by Robbins.

Dr. Stewart’s extended the lead to 5-1 with three runs in the second. Anderson knocked in one run with a single. Ty Hellenthal scored on a wild pitch and Brooks Avery drove in a third run with a sacrifice fly.

Avery continued his hot hitting. He was 2-for-5 between the two games and extended his hitting streak to five games. Avery is 10-for-17 (.588) during the streak.

Tauj Flora had two hits in Game 1 and Hellenthal and Anderson both had a pair of hits in the nightcap.

“Everywhere in our lineup we’re getting production. It’s nice to see. We’re contributing from everywhere and we’re finding the ball a little bit more and scoring some runs,” Savage said.

Dr. Stewart’s will play a doubleheader with Medford at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Jim McAbee Field at North Medford High School.

“We have momentum. We’re playing the best baseball we have all summer. So Friday should be fun,” Corbin said.

First Game

Medford;000;001;0;—;1;1;1

Roseburg;030;010;X;—;4;7;4

Rhoden, Lewis (3) and Havey; Johnson and C. Robbins. W — Johnson (5-1). L — Rhoden. 2B — Burke (R), Flora (R).

Second Game

Medford;100;000;0;—;1;5;3

Roseburg;230;000;X;—;5;7;1

Daffron and Havey; Corbin, Siewell (4) and Hellenthal. W — Corbin (2-4). L — Daffron. Sv — Siewell (2).