It was an amazing run to end the summer for the Crabs. The Crabs hosted game one of the Pacific Empire League Championship Series, and the crowd of 1,400 fans was electric. “In all my years here, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this park like that. It was amazing,” said Crabs coach and three-time MVP Jeff Giacomini. Behind that energy, the Crabs would show resilience and emerge victorious in game one, 10-8. They traveled to Healdsburg for games two and three the following night, where they would battle but fall behind early in both games. The Crabs were ultimately unable to recover, and the Healdsburg Prune Packers would go on to win their fifth straight championship.
But we aren’t here to dwell — we are here to celebrate the amazing summer that was. This being the North Coast Journal‘s Best of Humboldt issue, it only seems fitting to highlight the best Crabs and hand out our Player of the Year awards.
NCJ Defensive Player of the Year: Keenan Morris
Without a doubt, the best defensive play of the year was what has become known as “the catch” that Timmy Reed made in game two of the championship series. Running to almost the 400-foot sign in centerfield, Reed would press the “full send” and launch himself up and over the fence to rob the Packers of a home run and swing momentum briefly for the Crabs. “It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in person on a baseball field. I’m not even that athletic in my dreams,” said Crabs utility man Parker Rodgers.
Others shared similar sentiments, with standout reliver Brody Jacobs calling it “the best play I’ve ever seen.”
Even more amazing was the defensive and all-around play from “The Honey Badger” Keenan Morris. In 41 games, Morris hit .317 with 20 RBI. He was a mainstay in the leadoff spot for our Crabs. The sign of not just a good, but a great leadoff man is the ability to get on, get over and get in. Morris exemplified that all summer for the Crabs, with more walks that strikeouts — winning that battle 26-20. He also had more stolen bases than strikeouts, with 27 bags. But his most impressive stat of all is that in 41 games played, with most of his starts coming at the “hot corner” third base, Morris had only two errors. “He’s my favorite player — he gobbles up everything, he is a complete vibe out there,” said local DJ Toby Tullis.
NCJ Reliever of the Year: Max Hippensteel
This was the hardest call because of how strong Brody Jacobs came on down the stretch. Jacobs finished the summer with a 3.20 ERA. He was 3-0 with three saves and 37 strikeouts.
However, the guy who got the call in during the most high-leverage situations all summer, and defending his crown, was two-time winner Max Hippensteel. Hippensteel had three wins and three saves. With his devastating Vulcan Change, the University of California at Davis product had an ERA of 2.97 with 47 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched.
NCJ Starting Pitcher of the Year: Myles Standish
The local southpaw got the start on opening night and never looked back. He solidified himself as the staff’s Friday night ace with nine of 10 quality starts, going 6-1. He gave up two or fewer runs in seven of those starts, while striking out 59 batters in 56 innings pitched.
NCJ Offensive Player of the Year: Cameron Sewell
Sewell could easily have been the MVP. The Sacramento State University product was the best offensive player for the Crabs from wire to wire. He led the team in batting average, hitting .372. His nine homeruns topped the team, and his 47 RBI ranked him second on the team. Sewell also added 24 stolen bases, behind “The Honey Badger” Morris. It wasn’t just the stats but the moments: game-tying home runs, go-ahead singles and walk-off hits.
NCJ MVP: Adam Enyart
This award could have gone either way, as Sewell and Enyart are both deserving, but here’s my case. Enyart was brought in predominately as a pitcher. The plan was for him to get at-bats and fill in early while other teammates trickled in from their college playoffs in the beginning of the summer. Enyart got off to a scorching hot start hitting four home runs and driving in seven in the Crabs’ first six games. “We are going to keep him in the lineup. I don’t know if that was our original plan, but the kid is kind of forcing our hand right now,” said head coach Robin Guiver. Enyart would go on to be a mainstay in the middle of the lineup all season. His .363 batting average and seven home runs both ranked him second on the team, while his 57 RBI put him far ahead. Oh, and remember, he’s a pitcher. His four wins were good enough to rank him second on the team. His three saves tied him for No. 1 on the team, one of them in game one of the championship series. The standout struck out 32 batters in 24 innings, and that two-way dominance is why he is the MVP of this summer. He will continue his journey and join teammate Cameron Sewell at Sacramento State University this season.
So that is a wrap for this summer. The amazing tradition of local guys contributing to the Crabs continues to be a driving force. Coach Jeff Giacomini was a three-time MVP. Two of our awards go to players who grew up being bat boys for the Crabs. Kids that attended Crabs’ summer camps now coach at the same camp. “Parker was my catcher, and Keenan was my shortstop growing up,” said Standish.
“It’s meant the world to me, and it’s been a dream come true to play out here,” added Rodgers.
Personally, I want to thank the Crabs and the community for another incredible summer. Getting to throw out the first pitch of the championship series and feel the electricity in the ballpark that night was truly special. Until next summer: Go, Crabs, go!
Brandon Dixon (he/him) is a former All American who played college baseball for Orange Coast College, Point Loma Nazarene and the Peninsula Oilers. Father to two little girls, he’s also the host of The Brando Show podcast.
This article appears in Best of Show 2025.
