The Humboldt Crabs hit the road this week for a road Pacific Empire League series against the Medford Rogues and the Crabs’ offense showed up big time, scoring 43 runs over the three-game set to secure the sweep.
Offense was plentiful in Medford, with the two teams combining to average 22 runs per game as both teams had the bats going but it was Humboldt who climbed up the PEL standings, moving into second place behind the Healdsburg Prune Packers. The Prune Packers are two games up on the Crabs with a record of 13-2 but the Crabs sit firmly in second place at 11-4. Every other team in the PEL is below .500, giving Humboldt an opportunity to make a PEL Championship Series appearance at the end of this month.
The series against the Rogues began on Tuesday and Humboldt quickly saw themselves trailing 4-1 in the first inning before the Crabs’ offense scored seven runs over two innings to take an 8-4 lead. Medford had another response, evening the game at 8-8 in the fifth inning. The two teams continued to exchange blows, but the Crabs had the last laugh, holding on for a 14-10 win.
Crabs’ pitchers Miles Oliver, Spencer Jacobs and Cameron Saso each worked three innings in the win, with Saso having the most success, allowing just one unearned run over the final three innings for Humboldt. The Humboldt offense combined for 14 hits and made use of five Medford errors. Both right fielder Adam Enyart and center fielder Tyler Howard homered for the Crabs with the two players combining to go 7-10 in the game with seven runs batted in.
Game two of the series began with each team plating two runs in the first inning, but then Humboldt scored nine unanswered runs through the eighth inning. Once the Rogues got back on the scoreboard, they were already facing a large deficit and weren’t able to climb themselves out of it despite scoring three runs in the game’s final two innings. Humboldt grabbed the 15-5 win.
Crabs’ starter Sean Carey shook off a shaky first inning and finished his outing after four innings, allowing just the two runs and picked up the win on Wednesday. Brody Jacobs worked three shutout innings out of the bullpen before Kayden Kohlberg secured the final six outs of the game for Humboldt, striking out four and allowing three runs.
Enyart had another big day at the plate, collecting four hits and scoring four runs. Third baseman Keenan Morris went 3-4 with a walk out of the leadoff spot and left fielder Jacob Pappas homered to highlight his 2-5 day.
The Crabs capped off the sweep Thursday with a 14-8 win. Humboldt led just 5-4 after the fifth inning, but the Crabs’ offense scored six runs in the sixth inning to give their pitching staff enough breathing room to finish off the win. College of the Redwoods’ pitcher Myles Standish went five innings, allowing four runs while picking up the win on the mound. Max Hippensteel struck out five over three innings out of the bullpen before Enyart worked the ninth inning.
Enyart allowed three runs in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as the Crabs got to leave town with three wins. It was another big day for the Humboldt offense, with Howard and second baseman Cameron Sewell each getting three hits, with Howard and Enyart each tripling in the game.
Following the sweep, Humboldt’s record for the summer sits at 27-4, with the Crabs having won eight games in a row.
The team will face another PEL challenge this weekend, with the West Coast Kings visiting for a four-game series that begins on Friday night. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday before the series concludes at Arcata Ball Park on Sunday.
