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AMERICAN LEGION Mustangs suffer first loss at state Medford still plays for second straight title today Comment By Matt Monaghan for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Matt Monaghan for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 1, 2015 at 8:09 PM By Matt Monaghan for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 1, 2015 at 8:09 PM --> EUGENE 12, MEDFORD 2 RECAP: Medford's Austin Zavala doubles twice and Jared Evans and Bryce Rogan each single and score but Eugene counters with 17 hits to remain alive in the s... » Read more X EUGENE 12, MEDFORD 2 RECAP: Medford's Austin Zavala doubles twice and Jared Evans and Bryce Rogan each single and score but Eugene counters with 17 hits to remain alive in the state tournament. UP NEXT: Today, 3 p.m., Medford Mustangs vs. Eugene-Dallas winner, Willamette University in Salem. » Social News SALEM — No loss ever feels good, but for the Medford Mustangs Saturday's 12-2 defeat in seven innings to the Eugene Challengers was more of an annoyance than a discouraging defeat. By virtue of being the last undefeated team in the American Legion AAA baseball state tournament entering weekend play, the Mustangs (37-12) were already guaranteed a spot in Sunday's championship game regardless of Saturday's outcome. In Saturday's contest, the Area IV runner-up Challengers clubbed 17 hits off Mustangs pitching to send the defending state champions to their most lopsided defeat of the season and set up a tournament rematch with either Eugene or the DeMarini Post 20 Dirtbags of Dallas in Sunday's title game at 3 p.m. at Willamette University. The Challengers and Dirtbags will play at noon with the winner advancing to play the Mustangs in the final. Medford downed the Dirtbags 14-5 in the second round on Thursday. With nothing to lose in Saturday's contest and wanting to keep his top pitchers fresh for Sunday, Mustangs head coach Nate Mayben gave the starting nod to Steen Fredrickson, who earned the victory on Friday's game with 2⅔ solid innings of relief. The Challengers quickly jumped on Fredrickson for two runs on three hits in the first inning and added another pair in the third helped by two Mustangs defensive miscues. "We were just trying to keep a fresh arm for tomorrow and (Fredrickson) did a great job, but we just didn't give him the help defensively," said Mayben. "That really hurt us." Fredrickson ended up going five innings and allowing six runs, giving way to Will Weaver in the sixth. Both Mustangs runs came in the top of the sixth inning with Jared Evans and Bryce Rogan each singling and scoring. Evans came home on a single to center field by Eric Carlson and Rogan tallied the second run when Greyson Wolff's groundball to first was misplayed. Designated hitter Austin Zavala, the only Mustangs player to get more than one hit, twice laced doubles down the left field line for Medford (in the second and fourth innings) but was stranded at third base each time. Eugene pitcher Drew Smernes went the distance, striking out three, walking one and hitting a batter. Mayben credited Smernes’ effort but said his team's at-bats were lacking in focus throughout the game. "Obviously (Smernes) did a good job, but he left some balls up — a lot actually — that we didn't take advantage of, and we swung at some balls in the dirt that we normally don't swing at," Mayben said. "The focus just wasn't there in the game all the time." Eugene turned the game into a rout starting in the sixth inning when Weaver came in to relieve Fredrickson, who opened up the frame by allowing a leadoff double. The Challengers greeted the new pitcher with three consecutive singles and eventually scored four runs in the inning to go ahead 9-2. Then in the seventh, the first three Eugene hitters hit safely to start a three-run rally. Challengers designated hitter Drew Stapley ended the game with a walk-off single to score Tanner Zenke. "All we can do with today's game is flush it down the toilet, wake up tomorrow and go and get the job done," said Mayben. "Ultimately, we're where we need to be and that's playing for a state championship." Medford;000;002;0;—;2;7;2 Eugene;202;014;3;—;12;17;2 Fredrickson, Weaver (6) and Wolff, Hamik (7); Smernes and Strickland. W — Smernes; L — Fredrickson (5-4). 2B — M: Zavala 2; E: Forrest 2. By Matt Monaghan for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Matt Monaghan for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 1, 2015 at 8:09 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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