KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Tyler Harper went 4-for-8 with three RBI, helping the Klamath Falls Falcons split the 2023 American Legion season opening doubleheader with the Roseburg Doc Stewarts at Kiger Stadium.
The Falcons (1-1, 1-1 Area 4) forced extra innings in the opener with a 3-run seventh, winning the game in walk-off fashion, 8-7, while the Docs scored a pair of seventh inning runs to secure a 7-6 victory in Game 2.
Klamath built a 4-1 lead in the opener – keyed by a second inning RBI triple from Aiden Hayes and four strong innings from Mark Carpenter. The Docs (3-3, 1-1) answered – tying the game in the fifth on a Knox Hubbard 2-run single, extending the lead to 6-4 in the sixth on a Brooks Avery 2-run single, with Carson Dunn clubbing a solo homer in the seventh.
The Falcons battled back in their seventh, as Marcos Ulloa-Ford singled home a run, Harper doubled off the left field wall and Carpenter tied the game with an opposite-field single.
Roseburg nearly took the lead in the eighth, but a great relay throw from Payton Price-to-Hayes-to-Harper cut down the go-ahead run at the plate. In the bottom of the frame, Ryan Glidden singled and Hayes walked – with Glidden scoring the winning run on a wild pitch with two outs.
Collin Tacchini earned the win in relief, tossing an inning and a third of shutout relief, with Glidden going 2-for-2 with a double and Harper going 2-for-4 for the Falcons.
In an eventful nightcap, the Falcons erased a 5-2 deficit with a 4-run fifth inning – but could not hold the lead.
Harper delivered RBI singles in the first and third innings to square the game at 2-2, but Cade Johnson gave the visitors a 4-2 lead in the fourth on a 2-out, 2-run single.
The Falcons chased Docs starter Colton Siewell in the fifth – as Hayes and Brody Hubble singled, with Hayes intentionally walked to load the bases. Carpenter delivered a run with a fielders’ choice, Price cut the margin to 5-4 with an RBI single and Beau Pyle doubled to right, giving the hosts the lead.
Roseburg proved too much, as Evan Corbin lined a game-tying RBI single in the seventh and Johnson drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly.
Harper, Hayes, Price and Pyle each had two hits in the loss for Klamath, with Siewell striking out 10 batters in a no-decision for the Docs.
The Falcons return to the diamond on Thursday, opening the Clint Newell Father’s Day Classic in Roseburg at 8:15 p.m. against Salem.
Story by Mike Safford
