Legion Baseball: Bowers send Docs past Hillsboro 3-2 in state elimination game
MEDFORD — A couple of weeks ago, Amos Bowers was struggling to just make it from the parking lot to the dugout. A knee injury suffered during the Star Spangled Tournament in Corvallis over the Independence Day weekend had left the Dr. Stewart’s catcher hobbled.
After weeks of rest and rehab, Bowers was back on the field Sunday and delivered the game-winning hit in a 3-2 walkoff victory against the Hillsboro Wet Sox that kept the Docs alive at the AAA American Legion state tournament.
“It meant everything to get back out on the field,” said Bowers, who started at first base while his knee continues to improve.
“That’s awesome right there,” Docs head coach Cody Walton said. “That’s electric for the guys and a gutsy finish. You know, that’s a high-note to finish the day on there.”
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Bowers pulled a ground ball past Hillsboro third baseman Judah Campos to score Hayden Thompson and keep the Docs’ season alive for one more day. Roseburg (20-14) will face the Portland Hillsdale Merchants in another elimination game at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Harry and David Field.
Hillsboro (21-18) was eliminated with the loss.
Roseburg’s offense had struggled much of the day, but came to life in the late innings. Thompson reached base with a single to start the seventh and set the table for Bowers to cash in.
“I was just thinking I need to get the job done for my boys. Hayden (Thompson) did a great job in the lead off (at bat) to get on base. Mason (Young) did a phenomenal job to bunt him over and it was my turn. I’ve got to manufacture that run and I’m glad I was able to do it.”
“I’m super proud of him,” Walton said about Bowers. “For him to be injured that way, he’s been an excellent teammate and stepped up and been a leader like we asked him to do. To see him get in there and be on top there at the end was pretty awesome.”
Roseburg jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on an inside-the-park home run by Teagan Sprague. He lifted a ball down the right field foul line that narrowly landed fair and out of reach for Hillsboro’s Stanley Ritter. The ball rolled deep into the outfield corner and Sprague was able to touch them all for the Docs’ first home run of the season.
Danner Wertz was able to hold off Hillsboro through the first five innings. The powerful right-hander allowed just two hits over that time and only had one base runner reach second.
The Wet Sox countered with Hayden Grot, who pitched four no-hit innings after giving up the lead in the first. At one point he retired 10 consecutive batters to help keep the game within reach.
Hillsboro finally broke through in the sixth inning. Trevor Olsen singled and David Hoskins walked to put two runners on with one out. A single by Travis Hale got down in left field and the throw back in got away at home plate, allowing the Wet Sox to tie the game at 1-1. Ritter gave Hillsboro a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly.
Roseburg, faced with the possibility of elimination, managed to tie the game in the sixth on an RBI single by Christian Korba.
The late rally was sparked by five hits over the last two frames.
“I hope that’s going to springboard us with some of that momentum and energy and these guys are starting to build on that and it’s super fun to see,” Walton said.
Wertz tossed all seven innings to get the win. He struck out five and walked one while allowing four hits. Grot took the loss after going 6 1/3 innings. He surrendered seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Hillsboro;000;002;0;—;2;4;0
Roseburg;100;001;1;—;3;7;3
Grot and Scharringhausen; Wertz and Bowers. W — Wertz (2-4). L — Grot. HR — Sprague (R).
