A sign of a good baseball team is the ability to win in a bunch of different ways, a quality the Humboldt Crabs have shown this summer. They’ve had two walk-off wins, one in extra innings. They’ve had two wins by at least 14 runs. They have been down 5-0 before even coming to the plate offensively, but they just keep finding a way, and are still undefeated at 12-0 heading into their first road trip and a tough conference schedule starting this week.
The Crabs kicked off big week Tuesday night as they hosted the Stockton Pearls for a midweek two-game set. Lefty Miles Oliver would get himself in and out of jams all night. He’d leave the bases loaded in the first and settle in, throwing five scoreless innings. Overall, he only gave up two hits but walked five, while striking out seven. They were scoreless innings and the embodiment of the Crabs finding a way to win.
“We really need to work on our walks; our pitchers are walking too many guys. It’s been a problem but it’s early, and I’m sure we will get that cleaned up. It has been frustrating though,” said head coach Robin Guiver. A multi-hit game from Jacob Pappas would pace the Crabs offensively. Pappas would drive in one, while Kawana Soares, Cameron Sewell, Timmy Reed (“Timmmmmaaaay” in the stands) and Nico Lombardi all drove in runs as well for the good guys. Early season standout Adam Enyart would add three RBIs of his own. Seven walks from the Pearls’ pitchers along with four errors would help fill in the gaps for the Crabs.
Spencer Jacobs added four innings of scoreless relief on the mound, giving up two hits with no walks, while striking out six. “I’m not used to going four innings like that, but I was throwing my fastball and splitter for strikes, so I was able to extend my outing. I felt good out there, just focusing on throwing strikes,” said Jacobs. Crabs rolled 8-0, their third shutout of the early season.
Wednesday night would be a back-and-forth contest that would see the Crabbies jump out in front early when Timmy Reed drove in Liam Forsyth in the second. The Pearls answered with a run of their own to tie the game in the fourth inning, before the Crabs snatched the lead back. High school senior and University of California Davis commit Elijah McNeal would drive in Reed to put the Crabs back on top. The Pearls showed resilience and, with a blown save by the Crabs, would tie the game at 5-5 in the top of the ninth. Usual lead-off man Keenan Morris would pinch hit with one out in the bottom of the ninth. A single from Morris, followed by a single from Kawana Soares would put things in action for the Crabbies. A ball would put the winning run on second. Cameron Sewell would follow with a hit to fill the bases with crustaceans and bring Sutter Moss to the plate. With two strikes, Moss laced a double, Morris and Soares scored and the good guys walked off victorious again. Adam Enyart, who came in for relief in the ninth picked up his third win of the summer on the mound.
Friday night, the Crabs welcomed the Athletic Edge Express to the ballpark for a three-game weekend series. A two-run homerun in the first inning put the Express up early, but that would prove to be the only blip on their radar offensively. Making his third start of the year, lefty Myles Standish was outstanding again. He allowed only three hits over six frames, walking only one and striking out nine. Adam Enyart had two hits and two RBIs to lead the offensive attack for the Crabs. Tate Medicoff and Keenan Morris each chipped in RBIs, and Peter Caldera threw three scoreless innings of relief to earn the save. Crabs win, 5-2.
Saturday’s contest was a sloppy one for the Crabs. On the mound and in the field, eight walks and four errors would keep the Express in business and in the game. The bats would stay hot, though. Cameron Sewell stood out with his first homerun of the summer. He added another hit and an RBI to pace the Crabs offensive attack. Enyart had yet another productive game at the plate, hitting a three-run homer, his fifth of the season, and driving in a fourth run on a fielder’s choice. He’d produced another run on an error in another at bat, responsible for five Crabs runs in all. Tate Medicoff also drove in a run while supplying three hits of his own. Jonah Fragis picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief. Last summer’s NCJ Reliever of the Year Max Hippensteel returned to the team, making his first appearance of the summer to pick up the save. Crabs win again, 11-9.
As sloppy as the Crabs might have been on Saturday, the Express would one-up them on Sunday afternoon. Three errors and nine walks would make way for an offensive explosion and 20 runs for the Crabbies. Jacob Pappas would contribute five hits, driving in two and scoring three times. Kawana Soares also had five hits and 5 RBI. Cameron Sewell continues his hot streak, picking up two more hits while driving in three and scoring three times. Elijah McNeil, Keenan Morris, Parker Rogers and Cayden Lee all had multi-hit games, and the rout was on. Crabs strutted their way to a 20-5 win.
The boys of summer will hit the road this week to begin conference play before returning to host the Chico Wolves on June 24.
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 Restaurant Week 2025.