After handily sweeping through week 1, the Humboldt Crabs opened the second week of the season Wednesday night, challenged and pushed to the brink by a somewhat unlikely opponent.
The Humboldt Eagles, a team made up of local high school and junior college players showed up to Arcata ballpark, and they meant business. The Eagles jumped ahead early scoring a run in the first and tacking on another in the second. The Crabbies would respond in the second. With the help of a walk and an error, they would push across their first run. Then a Colton Boardman sacrifice fly would bring in Kawana Soares to even things up. Things would stay that way until the fourth inning, when Daniel Osbourne’s sacrifice fly brought home Damien Casas and the good guys were back on top 3-2. But the feisty Eagles would counter in the fifth inning, scoring two more runs to regain the lead, and the game began to feel more like a boxing match than a baseball game. The Crabs entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 5-4 before a Jaden Shabry sacrifice fly tied things up. Casas came up with the bases full of Crabs and singled in the winning run. The Crabs squeaked away in a walk off, 6-5.
The boys welcomed the South Bay Storm to the yard Friday night for a three-game weekend set, and I guess you could say the Eagles game was a wake-up call because the Crabs came out swinging. After scoring 1 in the first and tacking on another in the second, the Crabs exploded for seven runs in the third, and the rout was on. Every Crabs player would record a hit, 20 in all. Highlighted by a four-hit effort from Boardman, a three-hit night from both Chyran Humphries and Jason Arriola, and a three-hit night from Casas that included a home run. The real story, however, was Adam Enyart, who had three hits, including a two-run home run, a grand slam and six RBIs. Aiden Dorsch threw six scoreless innings to pick up his second win in as many chances. Crabs roll 21-2.
In game 2, the Crabs jumped on the board early putting up three runs behind an Arriola single that would plate two. Things stayed that way until a Mikey Pickett home run extended things. In the seventh inning, the Crabs kicked the door in. A Shadry RBI single and a three-run home run from Enyart would be the knock-out blow. Daniel Osbourne finished the night with four hits and three RBIs. Enyart wound up the night with three hits and four RBIs. After not hitting for a year when asked about his early season success Enyart said with a smirk, “It’s just like riding a bike.” Asked if the ball was looking like a beach ball, he answered with a chuckle, “Ya, it kinda does right now. … I’m just grateful for Coach Giacomini and Coach Bryant who work with me in the cages every day, and I just love to compete.” Lots of cowbells, Crabs win 15-3.
On getaway day, the Crabs fell behind early when the Storm took their first lead of the series with a run in the second inning. However, the Crabs evened things up in the third inning. In the fourth inning, the Crabs exploded for six-run headlined by a grand slam from Casas. On the day, Casas finished with three hits and four RBIs. On the week, he had the walk of hit Wednesday and two home runs. Nikko Taylor also drove in four, and the Crabs swept the week 12-3.
The Crabs are back in action Tuesday night, June 9, with a two-game set against the Fresno A’s. They’ll then host a weekend series against the Rocklin Stonecutters.
Heckle of the Week:
After a Storm player took a called third strike, a Crabs fan yelled, “Can I help you?”
Which was followed up by fellow heckler responding, “Nope, just looking.”
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 Duane Flatmo Wants to Wow.
