Legion Baseball: Docs clinch state tourney berth with split at Central Oregon

REDMOND — The Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s will play in the Oregon AAA American Legion baseball state tournament later this month after clinching the final berth out of Area 4 with a split against the Central Oregon Generals on Tuesday at the Jaqua Sports Complex.

The Docs and Generals were fighting for the final tournament spot for Area 4, but Roseburg (17-11, 4-7 Area 4) needed just one win against Central Oregon (14-15, 2-10) to clinch a berth. Dr. Stewart’s managed to bounce-back after a 1-0 loss in the opener to earn an 8-6 victory in Game 2.

“That second one was big and they knew it,” Docs’ coach Cody Walton said. “It took everybody. It took all the energy they had. So, very proud of them and excited to finish on that note.”

Roseburg’s Wade Molatore and Central Oregon’s Andrew Guthrie went toe-to-toe in the low-scoring opener. Neither pitcher allowed an earned run in the pitcher’s duel.

A dropped fly ball in deep center field allowed Central Oregon’s Ty Hattenhauer. to get all the way to third base and he scored on a single by Charlie Wiscovich in the fourth inning for the decisive run.

That was the only blemish for Molatore, who held the Generals to just three hits over five innings with one walk and four strike outs. Greyson Coate pitched a scoreless sixth inning and allowed one hit and had one strikeout.

Guthrie stifled the Docs’ bats over seven innings for the complete-game victory. He allowed just two hits and had one walk and two strikeouts.

“Credit to (Guthrie). He did a really good job. He filled up the zone and we hit the ball, but just right to guys,” Walton said. “Sometimes that’s how baseball goes.”

Roseburg’s bats came alive in Game 2. The Docs out-hit the Generals 12-8 with three extra-base hits.

The Stewies took the lead for good with four runs in the third inning. Logan Anderson highlighted the frame with a two-run double.

Tegan Sprague was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Fletcher Coleman was 3-for-3 with an RBI and Quinn Gaylor and Mason Young both had two hits and an RBI for the Docs.

Coleman also earned the pitching victory with four innings of work. He allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He left the game after reaggrivating an ankle injury while beating out an infield single in the fourth inning.

Danner Wertz took over on the mound and earned his first save of the season. He scattered four hits over three innings and allowed three runs.

The Docs earned the final state tournament berth out of Area 4 and have been paired up agianst the Area 3 champion, Corvallis, in the first round at 1 p.m. on July 25. The Medford Mustangs are hosting the state tourney at Harry & David Field.

First Game

Roseburg;000;000;0;—;0;2;2

C. Oregont;000;100;X;—;1;4;1

Molatore, Coate (6) and Young; Guthrie and K. Cooper. W — Guthrie. L — Molatore (2-1).

Second Game

Roseburg;004;220;0;—;8;12;1

C. Oregon;012;030;0;—;6;8;1

Coleman, Wertz (5) and Young; Gordon, C. Cooper (6) and K. Cooper. W — Coleman (1-0). L — Gordon. SV — Wertz (1). 2B — Anderson (R), Gaylor (R), Boehm (C.O.), Hattenhauer (C.O.). 3B — Sprague (R).