American Legion Baseball: Docs fall to Washington, Barbers at Papa’s Pizza Tournament
By Knight Jarecki
EUGENE — Fifth place wasn’t the plan, but it was the result for Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s as early deficits and errors haunted the Docs in losses to the Washington Dirtbags and Portland Barbers on Friday and Saturday, respectively at Swede Johnson Stadium.
The Stewies fell to the Dirtbags 4-2 on day three of the tournament and lost handily, 12-6 to the Barbers, during the fourth day to wrap up pool play with a 1-3 record.
“We’re better than this,” Dr. Stewart’s head Coach Tim Sustaire said. “Obviously a rough stretch. We’ve got to be better in every part of the game.”
On Friday, the Docs found themselves in a hole early. Starter Rylee Cheney hit two batters and walked another to load the bases to begin the game. After a strikeout and sacrifice fly scored a run and put two outs on the board, Clyde Umscheid and Miles Trotter stroked RBI hits for the Dirtbags to stretch the lead to three.
The three-run cushion was all Washington starter Sean Laizans needed as the right-hander allowed just two runs on four hits while striking out six in a complete-game effort. Dane St. Clair had a two-run triple in the third that was the only offensive success Roseburg had all game.
After the first inning, Camden Hartsell came in for the Docs and managed the damage. The Roseburg High School graduate and Umpqua Community College pitcher hurled six strong innings in relief, striking out nine and allowing just one unearned run.
“Everything clicked. I got in there and wanted to compete,” Hartsell said. “We got punched early and had to have someone come in and close the door and give the team a chance.”
Usually a starter, Hartsell pounded the zone in relief and got better as the game went on. The righty had five strikeouts in the last nine batters he faced.
“Slider and fastball worked well. Pretty much all I threw all game,” Hartsell said. “Got ahead early. Got up 0-2 and 1-2 a lot, which put me in a good spot to flash a fastball or my slider or whatever I needed.”
On Saturday, Roseburg again found itself in an early hole, trailing 2-0 after the first and was down 9-1 through four to the Barbers.
“We didn’t get the pitching needed,” Sustaire said. “When you have more errors than runs. It’s going to be hard to win.”
Portland peppered the Docs pitchers throughout the contest, finishing with 16 hits and seven errors defensively hurt the Docs, extending innings.
Ryan Shaver went 3-for-3 in the contest for Dr. Stewart’s, scoring three runs. Paxton Burke led the team with three RBIs on two hits and Logan Anderson drove in a pair of runs on two hits. Ty Hellenthal went one-for-two with a double and two runs.
Roseburg was back in action early on Sunday morning at Hamlin Sports Complex in Springfield to wrap up the Papa’s Pizza Tournament with a game against the Chugiak Mustangs from Alaska.
“Right back to it,” Sustaire said. “They know they are better than this — every single one of them. We just got to go out there and prove it.”
Friday’s Game
Washington 300 010 0 — 4 4 3
Roseburg 002 000 0 — 2 4 1
Laizans and Questad. Cheney, Hartsell (2) and Robbins. W — Laizans. L — Cheney. 2B — Vandervort (W), Trotter (W), Withers (R). 3B — St. Clair (R).
Saturday’s Game
Roseburg 001 020 3 — 6 9 7
Portland 202 503 x — 12 16 2
Reigard, Wertz (3), Coleman (4), Burke (6) and Hellenthal. Bishop, Keljo (6) and Kelly. W — Bishop. L — Reigard. 2B — Hellenthal (R), Chun (P), Coltman (P). O’Brien (P).
