American Legion Baseball: Slow start burries Docs in 4-2 loss to Merchants at state tournament

PORTLAND — The Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s had troubles stringing together hits early against Maxwell Stewart and the Portland Hillsdale Merchants in the first round of the American Legion Baseball AAA Oregon State Tournament and a late rally wasn’t enough in a 4-2 loss Saturday at Joe Etzel Field at the University of Portland.

Cody Roletto hit a three-run home run in the first inning to give the Merchants a 3-0 lead and he added another RBI in the third to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Stewart held the Docs to just two hits through the first five innings and Roseburg (21-19) left four runners stranded on base. The Stewies finally saw success against Stewart in the sixth inning and scored a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly by Dane St. Clair and a two-out single by Danner Wertz.

Hillsdale (28-7) got through the inning as Stewart induced a ground ball for a force-out at third base, leaving the bases loaded for the Docs.

Roseburg’s rally came up short as Cooper Yudhishthu came out of the bullpen to get a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh and earn the save.

Jake Johnson took the loss for the Docs, allowing just four runs on five hits over four innings. He had two strikeouts and a pair of walks.

The Docs will face elimination on Day 2 of the state tournament at 10 a.m. Sunday. Roseburg faces Stayton Post 58 Canyon Crushers, who lost 10-3 against Medford.

Roseburg;000;002;0;—;2;5;0

Hillsdale;301;000;X;—;4;5;2

Johnson, Hartsell (5), Sprague (6) and Robbins; Stewart, Yudhishthu (7) and Roletto. W — Stewart. L — Johnson (1-2). SV — Yudhishthu. HR — Roletto (H).