Docs’ season ends with 8-2 loss to Eugene in state Legion tournament
EUGENE — A series of miscues proved costly for the Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s American Legion baseball team on Day 4 of the AAA state tournament.
Looking to advance to the final day of the tournament for the first time since winning it all in 2010, the Docs stumbled against Area 4 rival Eugene and saw their season come to an end with an 8-2 loss Tuesday at Swede Johnson Stadium.
“There were some things that didn’t go our way and some things that we could have done differently that could have added to a better game for us today, but in the end I’m super proud of what we’ve done all year,” Roseburg coach Eric Savage said.
Roseburg (25-18-1) committed four errors that resulted in six unearned runs for the Challengers. The miscues came in the first, when Eugene (44-8) scored two runs and in the fifth when the Challengers broke the game open with five runs.
“We responded really well in that second inning,” Savage said. The second-year head coach continued to say that the Docs “came out and smacked the ball. Did what we were capable of doing” and managed to tie the game at 2-all.
The game remained tied until the fifth when Eugene took advantage of Roseburg’s misplays.
“A few mistakes made us more anxious than we should be. We just couldn’t stop a few things from happening and I talked to the kids and said ‘that’s just life sometimes’,” Savage said.
“For whatever reason, when one thing goes wrong against the Eugene Challengers, it feels like three things go wrong,” Savage continued. “That’s just something we have to take forward for next year. We’ve lost to the same team in the same game two years in a row now and we’ve got to use that as motivation to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Eugene remained undefeated in the state tournament and will face the Mid-Valley Southpaws of Albany for the championship at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Southpaws beat defending-state champion Portland 6-5 on Tuesday and will need to defeat the Challengers twice on Wednesday to claim the title.
Dr. Stewart’s starter Drew Camp settled in after giving up two hits and a pair of runs — one earned — in the first. The southpaw tossed three consecutive innings without giving up a hit or a run.
The Challengers found their groove the third time through the lineup against Camp. He gave up three more hits in the fifth, but was hampered by a fielding error and a couple of wild pitches.
“Drew Camp did a heck of a job on the mound and gave us an opportunity to stay in the ballgame,” Savage said.
Cam Hartsell took over for Camp with the score 5-2 in Eugene’s favor. Another wild pitch and fielding error allowed the Challengers to stretch the lead to 7-2.
Hartsell was tagged with another run in the sixth on an RBI double by Grady Saunders. The Oregon State commit had a pair of run-scoring doubles for the Challengers.
Eugene used four pitchers to keep the Docs in check. Roseburg scored both of its runs in the second on an RBI double from Brevin Harrison and a groundout by Tauj Flora.
Kyle Miller notched the win with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed no hits and struck out three.
The Docs will have a chance to build off the momentum from the 2024 season as a majority of the team is eligible to return in ’25.
“The future is bright. With the guys we have coming back they’re going to help lead us to a new era,” Savage said.
Seven of Roseburg’s nine starters on Tuesday and 13 of the 19 players rostered this summer will be eligible to return. Harrison, Brooks Avery, Tristan Ledbetter, Evan Corbin, Cole Collins and Tyler Haynes will all age-out of the program.
Roseburg;020;000;0;—;2;5;4
Eugene;200;051;X;—;8;7;0
Camp, Hartsell (5) and C. Robbins; Richardson, Lucas (2), Miller (5), Jackson (7) and Gould. W — Miller. L — Camp (3-2). 2B — Harrison (R), Saunders 2 (E).
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