Legion Baseball: Docs can’t hold a lead in two league losses against Eugene
The Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s American Legion baseball team had its chances at victory against Eugene Sunday night at Champion Car Wash Field, but the Challengers stole a pair of Area 4 wins right out from under the Stewies.
“Emotional, if I had to use one word,” Docs coach Cody Walton said when asked to describe the night. “A lot of ups and downs. Guys did a lot of real good things and those are some games that you want to be on the other side of and we thought we were there at one point. So, a lot of emotions and I thought guys hung in there and did a lot of good things.”
Eugene (9-0, 4-0 Area 4) scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to win 5-3 in Game 1. The Challengers finished the night by overcoming a three-run deficit with three runs in the seventh and then snatching a 6-5 win in extra innings.
“We’ve got to do a lot better job of closing out ballgames. We’re putting ourselves in games and then get in those spots and some of the youth shows a little bit,” Walton said. “I think guys got a little bit tighter and gave up that three-run inning, we’ve just got to be better at finishing those out.”
Danner Wertz, Paxton Burke and Logan Anderson all drove in a run for Roseburg (0-5, 0-4) in Game 1. The Docs led 3-2 through five innings behind a quality start from Fletcher Coleman.
Coleman scattered seven hits over five innings and allowed two runs (one earned) with one walk and no strikeouts. He was in position to get the win before the Challengers got to the Docs’ bullpen.
Eugene took the lead with three runs on four hits and one Docs error in the sixth. A single by Braden Corgain tied the game and a single by Chase Hartley tacked on two more. A throwing error in the frame contributed to Eugene’s comeback.
Logan Shipman was tagged with the loss allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
Burke hit a leadoff single in the sixth inning, but was left stranded at second base. Caleb York reached base in the seventh with two outs, but the Docs couldn’t mount a rally.
Hartley was 3-for-3 to lead Eugene at the plate. Burke and Amos Bowers both had three hits in the game for the Docs.
The Docs went to youngster Wade Molatore to start Game 2 and the incoming freshman at Roseburg High School looked in control through six innings.
“He looked awesome,” Walton said. “I wanted Wade to get a victory there. He deserved it the way he pitched. He did a great job and kept us in it. We couldn’t ask him to do much more.”
Molatore allowed just two runs (one earned) on three hits. He struck out three and walked two.
The offense had given the southpaw a good amount of run support. Quinn Gaylor drove in a pair in the second with a single up the middle. Coleman hit an RBI single in the fifth and Christian Korba smacked a sacrifice fly to tack on another run. A wild pitch helped the Docs stretch the lead to 5-1 in the fifth inning.
Eugene slowly clawed back into the game with an unearned run in the fifth and another run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. The Challengers were down to their final three outs, but managed to plate three runs in the seventh to even up the score.
A wild pitch by Korba scored one and a sac fly got the Challengers within a run. Brock Johnson tied the game with a two-out single and sent the game to extras.
The Challengers scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on a single by Hartley, who finished the day with five hits total.
The Docs have started the season 0-5 for a second consecutive year. Walton acknowledged that his young and inexperienced team has gone through a gauntlet facing two veteran and experienced teams in Medford and Eugene to start the summer.
“That’s what you want, but at the same time too, it’s sometimes tough when you’re trying to put a young group together and get them excited. But hopefully we can learn from all of this and we can be a better team at the end of June,” Walton said.
Dr. Stewart’s will host the Fairfield Expos for a nonleague matchup at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Champion Car Wash Field.
First Game
Eugene;010;013;0;—;5;11;0
Roseburg;100;200;0;—;3;10;3
Miller, Weed (6) and Corgain; Coleman, Shipman (6) and Bowers. W — Miller. L — Shipman (0-1). SV — Weed. 2B — Berry (E), Robbins (E).
Second Game
Eugene;000;011;31;—;6;8;0
Roseburg;020;030;00;—;5;6;3
Roudabush, Weed (5), Corgain (7) and Hibler, Corgain; Molatore, Korba (7), Burke (7), Coate (8) and Young. W — Corgain. L — Burke (0-1). 2B — Litten (E). 3B — Berry (E).
