Roseburg, Kelso move to semis

It was just what the doctor ordered for the Roseburg (Ore.) Docs.

The Oregon state champ erupted for 10 runs in the final two innings to pull away from the Boise Gems 16-5 in the quarterfinals of the Northwest Regional American Legion baseball tournament Friday at Gonzaga University.

All nine Docs had at least two hits, led by No. 9 hitter Derek Priestley, who had a home run and a double to go with three RBIs.

“Coach (Scott) Shaver has really been working with me, staying back on baseballs, because I really try to be aggressive and hit the first pitch I see,” Priestley said. “Sometimes I get ahead of myself. It felt good to finally get a good swing on the ball.”

In a pitchers’ duel and the best-played game thus far in the tourney, Washington state champ Kelso Pacific Tech held off Wyoming champ Cheyenne 3-1 in the late quarterfinal.

Roseburg (30-13), seeking its first trip to the World Series since 1984, takes on Kelso (36-20) in the semifinal tonight at about 7:30.

Boise (29-13) drops into the consolation bracket and takes on Montana champ Missoula (65-10) in a loser-out game this afternoon at 1. Cheyenne (64-11) meets Wisconsin champ Wausau (31-18) in an elimination game at 4:30.

Roseburg 16, Boise 5: When Vince Ampi picked up the Docs’ final hit, a two-run double, it broke up the symmetry. Prior to his third hit, each Doc had two. They finished with 19, 12 more than on Thursday.

“Vince has been swinging it well lately,” Priestley said. “There’s really not an easy out in our order.”

Priestley knows Roseburg is two wins away from earning a World Series berth and staying in the area. The World Series will be held starting Friday at Avista Stadium.

“We’re all thinking about it, but we need to take it one game at a time,” Priestley said.

Shaver was impressed with Priestley.

“He’s not a typical No. 9 guy,” he said. “We don’t really have one.”

Through four innings, the Docs trailed 5-2. Roseburg scored four runs in the sixth to take the lead for good. Priestley had an RBI double, Johnny Farrington had a run-scoring single and Cameron Newell had a sacrifice fly.

The Docs started to pull away in the eighth. Boise starter Cody Hamlin got two quick outs but then gave up back-to-back walks before Mitch Huff hit a three-run homer that chased Hamlin after 137 pitches.

Shaver said the Docs’ poise is something he’s grown accustomed to.

“Teams are going to score runs, and that’s fine, but don’t let them get the big innings and we need to keep chipping away,” Shaver said.

Kelso 3, Cheyenne 1: Trailing 1-0, Pacific Tech took the lead in the seventh.

Carl Johnson knocked in Kelso’s first run on a double, then a Cheyenne error allowed Johnson to score from second.

Kelso pushed the lead to 3-1 in the eighth when Blake Giles perfectly executed a hit and run, singling sharply through the vacated shortstop hole to knock in Nolan Enriquez, who reached on a walk.

Giles relieved in the ninth to pick up his third save. Starter Dustin Hamilton (4-1) stymied Cheyenne by striking out 15 and allowing just four hits in 7 1/3 innings.