Barbers cut down Docs 3-1 on Day 2 of state tournament

EUGENE — The Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s went cold at the plate and will face elimination at the AAA American Legion baseball state tournament after losing 3-1 to the Portland Barbers on Sunday at Swede Johnson Stadium.

The Docs will take on the Grants Pass Nuggets in an elimination game at 1 p.m. Monday.

Roseburg (24-17-1) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Portland starter Lucas Plenert.

Paxton Burke led off the game with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Brooks Avery gave the Docs a lead with a base hit to right field.

There was only one more base hit for the Docs the rest of the game. Dane St. Clair returned from an injury and led off the second inning with a base hit, but was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double.

Plenert pitched all seven innings for the Barbers and faced just two batters over the minimum. The George Fox University commit pitched five perfect innings to finish off the complete-game victory. He recorded nine strikeouts and allowed one walk.

The Barbers overcame the early deficit with three runs in the home half of the first. Declan Francis, Ian Salbeda and Zach Jaeger all drove in runs in a three hit frame for Portland.

The lead was enough to support Plenert and keep the Barbers on the winner’s side of the bracket as they look to defend their title from 2023.

Roseburg’s pitching staff settled in and managed to keep Portland off the board the rest of the game. Jake Johnson held the Barbers to just two hits after the first inning. Tristan Ledbetter and Cam Hartsell combined to throw two scoreless, no-hit innings of relief for Johnson.

Roseburg;100;000;0;—;1;3;2

Portland;300;000;0;—;3;5;1

Johnson, Ledbetter (5), Hartsell (6) and C. Robbins; Plenert and Trojan. W — Plenert. L — Johnson (6-2). 2B — Montgomery (P).