Cal Robbins powers Roseburg to 13-3 win over South Eugene in SWC baseball
By Knight Jarecki
Catcher Cal Robbins cleared the left-field fence for a home run as the slugging sophomore finished 4-for-4 with five RBIs and a double shy of a cycle in Roseburg’s 13-3 victory over South Eugene in Southwest Conference baseball Tuesday at Champion Car Wash Field.
The contest was stopped after six innings due to the mercy rule. With the win, the Indians (16-7, 11-5 SWC) locked up a top three spot in the SWC and officially punched their ticket to the Class 6A playoffs with two games left to play.
Roseburg, playing its first mid-week home game in nearly a month, had a party at the plate. The Indians racked up 13 hits and all nine batters reached base safely in the 10-run win. Seven of the Tribe’s hits went for extra bases, highlighted by Robbins’ towering three-run blast in the bottom of the third.
“I really was seeing it well today,” Robbins said. “It felt great being able to get my pitch and hit it well.”
Robbins singled, tripled and homered in his first three at-bats to set up a highly anticipated fourth appearance in the fifth with a chance at the cycle. In that at-bat, Robbins got the green light on a 3-0 pitch and singled up the middle for his fourth hit, in what would be his final at bat of the game.
In the sixth, Robbins was robbed of a fifth plate appearance — and a second chance at the cycle — as he watched on from the on-deck circle during Dane St. Clair’s ripping two-run double down the right-field line that ended the game in walk-off fashion.
“I wanted it (the cycle) pretty bad. I came close a few times last year, but I haven’t gotten it done yet,” Robbins said. “Dane’s a hard worker and a great teammate. I’m glad he was the one to win it for us.”
Rylee Cheney picked up his second straight win as the junior tossed six solid innings, allowing just two earned runs (three overall) and four hits. The right-hander was efficient, firing only 67 pitches to keep his count low and preserve his arm ahead of a big doubleheader against Grants Pass Saturday.
Roseburg entered the day tied with North Medford atop the SWC standings, but the Black Tornado tumbled at Grants Pass on Tuesday, losing 3-2 to give the Indians sole possession of first place and a one-game lead ahead of the Tribe’s final two regular-season games.
Roseburg holds the tiebreaker over North Medford, winning the season series 2-1. With the one-game lead in the standings and the tiebreaker, any win on Saturday would clinch the conference title for the Indians.
Saturday’s first game versus the Cavemen gets started at noon. Roseburg will have a bye for the final week of the regular season before the 6A playoffs get started on May 26.
S. Eugene;012;000;—;3;4;1
Roseburg;245;002;—;13;13;2
Trent, Alexander (3), Bush (5) and Bush, Grilli (5); Cheney and C. Robbins. W — Cheney (3-2). L — Trent. 2B — Austin (R), St. Clair (R), Johnson 2 (R), C. Robbins (R), Humphrey (SE). 3B — C. Robbins (R), Van Ryzin (SE). HR — C. Robbins (R).
