Docs earn series win with Area 4 split against Medford
MEDFORD — The Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s American Legion baseball team earned its first series win against the Medford Mustangs since 2019 with a 5-3 win in the opener of an Class AAA Area 4 doubleheader Friday at Jim McAbee Field at North Medford High School.
The Mustangs rallied to win the nightcap 10-0 in five innings and avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Docs.
The doubleheader split wrapped up a string of six consecutive league games for Roseburg over a five-day span. The Docs went 4-2 during the stretch with wins on the road against league-leading Eugene and second place Medford.
“That’s a really great week,” Docs coach Eric Savage said. “A lot of growth. Still a lot of things that we can get better at.”
Ty Hellenthal pitched around trouble in Game 1. The senior-to-be at Umpqua Valley Christian went five innings on a sweltering day in the Rogue Valley, scattering eight hits and allowing just three runs. Hellenthal had one walk and three strikeouts.
Brevin Harrison took over in the sixth inning and pitched two scoreless innings of relief. The Roseburg High School graduate did not allow a hit and faced one over the minimum in his two innings.
“We threw some punches early. Got some runs across. Ty Hellenthal kept them off-balance all game and did a heck of a job,” Savage said. “We were able to put another run on the board for a little cushion and I think that let everyone take a deep breath, relax a little bit and finish the game out.”
The offense provided plenty of support for the pitching staff.
Roseburg (14-14-1, 8-4 Area 4) recorded 14 hits, with nine of those coming from the top four hitters in the lineup.
Daniel Withers was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. His first inning single drove in Brooks Avery to give the Docs a 1-0 lead. Withers added another run with a single in the third.
Jake Johnson was also 3-for-4 and stretched Roseburg’s lead to 4-0 with a two-run single in the third inning that knocked Medford starting pitcher Tristan Mallari from the game.
Medford (25-10-3, 7-3) rallied with three runs in the fifth inning. Easton Curtis drove in a run with his third hit of the opener and Eli Havey plated two with a two-out single to left field.
Dr. Stewart’s tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, but didn’t need it as Harrison retired the side in order.
Dane St. Clair was also 3-for-4 for the Docs in Game 1.
The Mustangs jumped on the Docs early in Game 2 and ran away with the mercy-rule victory.
Medford put up five runs in the first inning off of Docs’ starter Cam Hartsell. Curtis capped a five-run fifth inning with an RBI single that ended the contest early.
Curtis finished the twin bill going 4-for-5 at the plate with a double, two RBIs, three runs scored and two walks.
“You could just see it in our body language. We were just hot and tired,” Savage said about the Game 2 performance.
The Docs return to nonleague action on Sunday with two games at Willamette University in Salem. Roseburg faces the Salem-Withnell Dodgers at 1 p.m. and the Portland Barbers at 3 p.m.
First Game
Roseburg 103 000 1 — 5 14 0
Medford 000 030 0 — 3 8 1
Hellenthal, Harrison (6) and C. Robbins; Mallari, Sickler (3) and Havey. W — Hellenthal (3-2). L — Mallari. Sv — Harrison (2). 2B — Curtis (M).
Second Game
Roseburg 000 00 — 0 5 0
Medford 500 14 — 10 9 0
Hartsell, Ledbetter (1), Flora (5) and Hellenthal; Stofflet and Morgan. W — Stofflet. L — Hartsell (1-3). 2B — Rosenthal (M), Havey 2 (M), Carr (M). 3B — Cope (M).
