After a tough loss to end last week, our resilient Crabs entered this week mathematically still in contention to make the Pacific Empire Conference’s Championship series. They needed some help as they welcomed the Medford Rogues to town for a pivotal weekend series.
First, on Tuesday night, the Crabs got a much-needed reprieve from the league gauntlet when the Berkovich Honors club came to town. Nathan Bunyard started game one for the Crabs and didn’t disappoint. Matching the Honors’ starter Cruz Van Slyke frame for frame, both starters threw six scoreless innings, establishing their breaking balls as their primary pitches in the duel. Like cheating off each other on a test, each pitcher would use the same approach to throw up almost identical stat lines. The game remained scoreless until the eighth inning, when the Stanford University-bound summer standout Alex Harrington came to the plate. Harrington lined a double to right field to drive in Daniel Osbourne and Joe Fagan, and the good guys walked away victorious, 2-0.
In game two, holding on to hope with the Rogues headed to town, the Crabs tried to preserve their pitching staff by turning to McKinleyville High School junior Joe Tanno in a surprise spot start. The kid delivered, throwing a solid three innings to give the Crabs a lift in a game that ended up being pitched by committee. Offensively, the Crabs were led by Jaden Shabry, who contributed two hits and three RBIs. Jamie Mullin added a triple and two RBIs, and Jason Arriola connected for his first home run of the season. Crabs roll 13-3.
On Friday night, in a pivotal game one of the series with the Medford Rogues, the Crabs realized they were eliminated from playoff contention due to a Lincoln Potters win the night before. Still, the Crabs could play spoiler against Medford, who were still in contention. The Crabs’ bats came alive early with five runs in the first two frames, led by RBIs from Kawana Soares, Adam Enyart and Harrington. Soares went 4-4 with 2 RBIs, and Enyart went 2-5 with two RBIs, including a triple. Osbourne also contributed two runs driven in, and the Crabs took game one 12-5.
Saturday’s contest was back and forth until the end. The Rogues scored four runs in the first inning. Mullins’ team-leading seventh home run of the summer answered with three for the Crabs in Humboldt’s half of the frame. The Rogues added one run in the second inning, and the Crabs answered with one run in the third. Each team scored once in the sixth inning, but three Rogues runs in the seventh and another run in the final inning put the nail in the home team’s coffin. Four errors and eight walks proved to be the Crabs’ Achilles’ heel, and they lost the night 10-5.
Saturday was a day full of activities with Alumni Day at Arcata Ball Park. There was the annual Crabs golf tournament, batting practice and a dinner for nearly 30 former players, a four-hour game and fireworks to end the night.
No one knew what to expect Sunday on get away day. Enyart not only started on the mound but batted fourth for the Crabs. Last year’s NCJ MVP threw five-plus innings to earn the win while also going 3-3 at the plate and driving in a run. Colton Boardman added two hits and three RBIs, and the Crabs successfully spoiled Medford’s season, winning 6-4. The Lincoln Potters and Healdsburg Prune Packers will compete for this summer’s championship.
As for our Crabs, they will return to the yard for their final week of the summer starting with two games against the Chico Lone Wolves on Tuesday. Humboldt will wrap up another amazing summer with a three-game set against the Placer County Peloteros starting Friday night. 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 Folk in the Fresh Air.
