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Justin Counts only saw two at-bats this spring at Linn-Benton Community College. He was almost exclusively a pitcher.
But after the Roadrunners’ freshman left-hander got final examinations out of the way, he returned to the place where those who know Counts say he’s always been a good hitter.
“I’ve known Justin for many years and I’ve watched him through the Roseburg program, and he’s one of our best outfielders,” Dr. Stewart’s head coach Scott Shaver said. “Whatever he does at the plate is a plus.”
The 18-year-old did a lot Monday.
The audience at Legion Field was made well aware of Counts’ prowess as a hitter during the unbeaten Docs’ 13-1, 8-0 sweep of young B&L Properties out of Fairfield, Calif. The summer center fielder hit a two-run homer, two-run double and an RBI single and scored two runs in the opener, which helped keep his team perfect on the season at 6-0.
The Expos, meanwhile, dropped to 12-8 overall.
Fairfield’s Game 1 starter Jonathan Russell gave up six runs, four hits and four walks in the first inning before being swapped out with no outs. The opener, which saw nearly every Doc in the batting lineup contribute at least one run or RBI, was shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule.
The Docs’ defense was just as oppressive. In the outfield, right fielder A.J. Royal made two all-out diving catches. In the infield, the Farrington brothers had their hands in a double play. Roseburg High junior Dakota Cavens and sophomore Brandon Jackson both went the distance to boost their summer records to 2-0. Jackson pitched a two-hit shutout, allowing just two walks and adding six strikeouts in the nightcap.
“My body felt good today and I just felt like I could throw strikes and just stay around the strike zone,” Jackson said.
Mitch Huff crushed a three-run triple off the right field wall in the bottom of the second inning to drive home Vince Ampi, Jered Stoffal and Counts in Game 2. Both Royal and Jordan Guthrie recorded doubles and RBIs, and Johnny Farrington scored two runs. Fairfield starting pitcher Christian Evans was relieved with one out in the second inning of the nightcap after surrendering seven runs, three walks and four hits and hitting two batters.
Meanwhile, Cavens gave up only one run, scattered six hits, fanned four and pried the Docs from the jaws of a few minor Game 1 jams — like when he struck out two consecutive batters with one out and runners on second and third base in the first inning.
Counts, who cooled off by going 1-for-3 in the nightcap, gave most of the credit to his teammates for his big day.
“My swing is off and I’m a little rusty, but just coming in here and seeing my guys hit, and they’ve been doing a good job, I think I’ve kind of followed them and was feeding off them,” Counts said. “It’s contagious.”
CLASS AA
Sheldon 11-3
Horizon 0-1
EUGENE — Errors proved costly for Horizon in its division-opening twin bill against Sheldon on Monday.
The squad committed seven errors in an 11-0 loss.
“We shot ourselves in the foot,” Horizon coach Ryan Hunter said.
Ryan Graf gave up seven hits and one walk and struck out four in the opener. Mark Fauria slammed the door on Horizon by belting a grand slam in the fourth inning.
Kyle Perry scattered four hits, walked two and allowed all three of Sheldon’s runs in the nightcap.
Austin Stone went 2-for-3 with a double in Game 2.
Horizon (1-3, 0-2 Area IV Northern Division) travels to play Grants Pass at 6 p.m. in a nine-inning game.
But after the Roadrunners’ freshman left-hander got final examinations out of the way, he returned to the place where those who know Counts say he’s always been a good hitter.
“I’ve known Justin for many years and I’ve watched him through the Roseburg program, and he’s one of our best outfielders,” Dr. Stewart’s head coach Scott Shaver said. “Whatever he does at the plate is a plus.”
The 18-year-old did a lot Monday.
The audience at Legion Field was made well aware of Counts’ prowess as a hitter during the unbeaten Docs’ 13-1, 8-0 sweep of young B&L Properties out of Fairfield, Calif. The summer center fielder hit a two-run homer, two-run double and an RBI single and scored two runs in the opener, which helped keep his team perfect on the season at 6-0.
The Expos, meanwhile, dropped to 12-8 overall.
Fairfield’s Game 1 starter Jonathan Russell gave up six runs, four hits and four walks in the first inning before being swapped out with no outs. The opener, which saw nearly every Doc in the batting lineup contribute at least one run or RBI, was shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule.
The Docs’ defense was just as oppressive. In the outfield, right fielder A.J. Royal made two all-out diving catches. In the infield, the Farrington brothers had their hands in a double play. Roseburg High junior Dakota Cavens and sophomore Brandon Jackson both went the distance to boost their summer records to 2-0. Jackson pitched a two-hit shutout, allowing just two walks and adding six strikeouts in the nightcap.
“My body felt good today and I just felt like I could throw strikes and just stay around the strike zone,” Jackson said.
Mitch Huff crushed a three-run triple off the right field wall in the bottom of the second inning to drive home Vince Ampi, Jered Stoffal and Counts in Game 2. Both Royal and Jordan Guthrie recorded doubles and RBIs, and Johnny Farrington scored two runs. Fairfield starting pitcher Christian Evans was relieved with one out in the second inning of the nightcap after surrendering seven runs, three walks and four hits and hitting two batters.
Meanwhile, Cavens gave up only one run, scattered six hits, fanned four and pried the Docs from the jaws of a few minor Game 1 jams — like when he struck out two consecutive batters with one out and runners on second and third base in the first inning.
Counts, who cooled off by going 1-for-3 in the nightcap, gave most of the credit to his teammates for his big day.
“My swing is off and I’m a little rusty, but just coming in here and seeing my guys hit, and they’ve been doing a good job, I think I’ve kind of followed them and was feeding off them,” Counts said. “It’s contagious.”
CLASS AA
Sheldon 11-3
Horizon 0-1
EUGENE — Errors proved costly for Horizon in its division-opening twin bill against Sheldon on Monday.
The squad committed seven errors in an 11-0 loss.
“We shot ourselves in the foot,” Horizon coach Ryan Hunter said.
Ryan Graf gave up seven hits and one walk and struck out four in the opener. Mark Fauria slammed the door on Horizon by belting a grand slam in the fourth inning.
Kyle Perry scattered four hits, walked two and allowed all three of Sheldon’s runs in the nightcap.
Austin Stone went 2-for-3 with a double in Game 2.
Horizon (1-3, 0-2 Area IV Northern Division) travels to play Grants Pass at 6 p.m. in a nine-inning game.
