MEDFORD – Brock Johnson has swung a hot bat while Braden Corgain and Kyle Miller had stellar starts on the mound as the three Thurston graduates have led the Eugene Challengers into the semifinals of the American Legion AAA state baseball tournament at Harry and David Field in Medford.
The Challengers lost their first game, but bounced back to win two straight in the double-elimination event to face the Tigard Barbers Tuesday night, after The Chronicle’s press deadline. The champion will be crowned on Wednesday with the Medford Mustangs and Hillsdale Merchants in the other semifinal.
Johnson, a shortstop who graduated from Thurston last month, is 4-for-8 with four runs scored, three RBI, two stolen bases, and three walks in three games.
Johnson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two steals in Eugene’s 3-2 loss to Hillsdale in the opener on Saturday.
The Challengers bounced back with a 14-0 victory over the Salem Dodgers on Sunday when Johnson was 1-for-2 with two RBI, a walk, and a run. Corgain, who is entering his second season at Lewis & Clark State, pitched four scoreless innings while allowing one hit with four strikeouts to earn the victory.
Miller, who is entering his sophomore season at Linn-Benton Community College, allowed one earned run in 6 2/3 innings to earn the victory in a 9-1 win over the Corvallis Marketmen on Monday. He struck out eight while allowing five hits.
Johnson was 1-for-2 with three runs scored and two walks against Corvallis. Cobain went 1-for-4 with an RBI while playing catcher.
