This last week was the most grueling week of the summer for our Humboldt Crabs. With the exception of a travel day on Monday, the boys have played a game every single day since the Fourth of July, including two on Saturday. This Crabs team has impressed all year, but they took things to another level this week. They have dominated the “dog days” of summer, and though faced with attrition and adversity, have mounted a stand, winning nine of their last 10 games, moving within one game of first in the Pacific Empire league. They started their week in Medford, where they would take on the Rogues. Four hits and four RBIs from Adam Enyart, compounded by three hits and three RBIs from Tyler Howard, would lead the way for the Crabs. Spencer Jacobs threw three innings to pick up the win, and returner and local Cameron Saso added three innings of strong relief. Crabbies take game one 14-10.
In game two, the Crabs’ bats would stay hot. Keenan Morris got things going at the top of the lineup yet again, contributing three hits, an RBI and a run scored. Jacob Pappas added two hits, with three RBIs, including his first home run of the summer. Enyart continued his dominance of the Rogues with four more hits, two RBIs, and four runs scored. Brody Jacobs chipped in three scoreless innings of relief and the Crabs rolled, 15-5.
On getaway day with a long bus ride through the night looming, the Crabs took care of business. Myles Standish would labor through five solid innings to add to his quality outing streak and move to 5-0 on the summer. The lefty struck out six while walking none. Max Hippensteel would add three solid innings of relief, giving up one run and striking out five. Offensively, after having a quiet first two games of the series, summer sensation Cameron Sewell returned to his familiar form. Sewell contributed three hits and two RBI. Enyart, Pappas and Howard all continued their hot streaks with multi-hit games. Crabs drive off into the night, 14-8.
Around 2:15 a.m. Friday morning, our boys of summer would arrive at the friendly confines of Arcata Ballpark. “That’s when we pulled in, but by the time you unpack the bus and get everyone situated, it’s way later. I don’t think I got home until sometime after 3:30 [a.m.],” said coach Jeff Giacomini. First pitch would be at 7 p.m. that night, and the West Coast Kings would be there to greet them. Though it wasn’t visible when speaking and interacting with the guys pre-game, once the game started, you could sense some fatigue. The Kings would jump out to an early lead and the Crabs were never really able to get the bats going. A multi-hit game from Houston Hirschkorn would be the lone bright spot, and after what seemed like a never-ending day, the Crabs would drop game one to the Kings 6-2. The one blip on an otherwise dominant run from the good guys.
The Crabs wouldn’t have any time to dwell on the loss, or rest in general, as Saturday’s slate featured a double-header with the same Kings. Dog days of summer, indeed. In game one, Hirschkorn and Sewell would keep their momentum going, each contributing multi-hit games. Hirschkorn drove in two. Jonah Fragus put together a superb start, giving up one run over six innings to move to 3-0 for the season. The Kings would mount a rally late, but the Crabs prevailed in game one, 6-4.
Game two saw an absolute clutch outing from a familiar face. Now in his fourth summer with the Crabs, local kid and last year’s opening day starter Cameron Saso would get the ball in a big spot for his first start of the summer. Saso was nails. The sinker baller would give up a single run over five dominant innings while striking out five. Offensively, the Crabs were aided by three Kings’ errors. Pappas stayed hot with yet another multi-hit game, driving in one. Enyart and Elijah McNeal would also drive in runs for the home team. Brody Jacobs stacked his second solid outing of the week to pick up the save. Crabs win the day, 4-1.
On Sunday, in the finale, the Crabs would have to show the resilience that has become their calling card. The boys would fall behind in the top of the second inning after the Kings put up a four spot on the board. But in typical Crabs fashion, they’d respond. In the third, they’d start to chip away. Behind singles from Cayden Lee and Howard, the Crabs would answer with two runs of their own to cut the deficit in half. The Kings would add one in the fifth. However, our Crabs would answer and counter punch with a run in the fifth, two in the sixth, and more in the eighth, to put the Kings in their rearview and secure another series win. Keenan Morris led the way with three hits, two RBIs, and a run scored. The real story of this game, though, was Hippensteel. The University of California Davis product and last season’s NCJ Reliever of the Year has staked his claim for that title again this summer. At the end of their most grueling week, when the team needed it the most, Hippensteel came through with five innings of one-run relief, striking out seven in a big back-and-forth win for the home team. Overall, Hippensteel is now 2-0, with three saves and a 1.20 ERA. With his devastating change-up, he has struck out 29 batters in 22.1 innings. Crabs win, 7-5.
The boys are back in action for some non-conference play, hosting the Seals early this week before beginning what is absolutely the biggest series of the summer this weekend with the first-place Healdsburg Pack coming to town for the weekend. Overall, the Crabs have won every series in league play, with one exception: the Pack. They are one game back welcoming them to town. Let’s dance.
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 The Conductor.
