Legion Baseball: Docs fall to Corvallis 11-1 in state tournament opener

MEDFORD — Things started off on the right foot for the Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s, but things quickly got out of hand as the Corvallis Marketmen ran away with an 11-1 win over the Docs in the first round of the AAA American Legion state tournament at Harry & David Field.

The Docs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out double to deep center field by Christian Korba. That was the only hit Roseburg was able to manage Corvallis starter Kaden Shafer.

Shafer pitched all five innings in the mercy rule-shortened game. He managed to work around four walks and a hit batter to earn the shutout win. Shafer finished with four strikeouts.

The Docs had a prime scoring opportunity in the third inning. Shafer walked two batters and hit Korba with a pitch to load the bases with just one out. Danner Wertz grounded into an inning-ending double play and wiped out the scoring opportunity. Shafer didn’t allow another hitter to reach base.

Corvallis (24-11) tied the game in the bottom of the first with a two-out bloop single by AJ Altishin. The Marketmen grabbed a 2-1 lead with a run in the third on a sacrifice fly.

The fourth inning is when the wheels fell off for Roseburg (19-13). Corvallis scored four runs to build a 6-1 advantage. A triple by Cason Jacobs, a double by Ben Weiss and a two-out single by Caleb Babcock all drove in runs.

The Marketmen ended the game early with five runs in the fifth. Babcock shut the door with a single through the right side to push the lead to 10-runs.

Wade Molatore took the loss for the Stewies. The young lefty was sharp early, striking out back-to-back hitters in the first. Things started to unravel the second time through the order for Corvallis. Molatore lasted 3 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

Weiss was 3-for-3 for Corvallis with a triple, double, a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored. Babcock was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

The Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s will face the Hillsboro Wet Sox at 1 p.m. Sunday in an elimination game. Corvallis advances to face the Medford Mustangs at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Roseburg;100;00;—;1;1;1

Corvallis;101;45;—;11;10;0

Molatore, Coate (4), Shipman (5) and Young; Shafer and Waldrop. W — Shafer. L — Molatore (2-2). 2B — Korba (R), Weiss (C), Street (C). 3B — Weiss (C), Jacobs (C).