Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Ethan Fischel hits a double for the B52s during Wednesday night’s game.

By Ray Hamill — The B52s are coming together slowly but surely, particularly on the mound.

On Wednesday night, three of their pitchers combined for a two-hitter as the Eureka club got the better of the Eagles 19U by a score of 4-1 in an all-Humboldt County showdown at Bomber Field.

The B52s scored all four of their runs in the opening three innings to take control, and that proved to be the difference in the game despite being shut down the remainder of the way.

“I thought all three of our guys pounded the strike zone tonight,” B52s manager Scott St. John said. 

Cade Sheets got the win, holding the Eagles bats hitless for the opening three innings, before Jordan Forrester and Ryan Rivera each threw three strong innings in relief.

Kalebh Hill was very impressive in relief for the Eagles.

Braeden Holliday provided the offensive highlights of the day with a pair of big hits for the B52s, including a second-inning solo home run over the left field fence to give his team a 2-0 lead.

Brian Orr, who is off to an impressive start with the team, added a pair of early RBIs, including one on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Spencer Duggan for the go-ahead run.

Duggan, a team veteran, also had a big day at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with base hits on his first two-at-bats.

The third baseman scored his team’s third run in the bottom of the third inning on an Orr groundout.

Braeden Holliday rounds the bases after hitting a home run.

Teammate Tommy Gale made it 4-0 moments later on an RBI double.

After that, there was no way back for the younger Eagles despite some solid pitching themselves, most notably from Eureka senior Kalebh Hill, who threw 3.1 scoreless innings in relief.

Afterwards, St. John paid tribute to the Eagles.

“That’s the cream of the crop of our youth,” he said. “Hat’s off to them. They’re going to have a great summer.”

Garrison Finck

In addition to Hill, starter Garrison Finck looked solid going against the more experienced bats despite red-shirting in college this spring.

Another college freshman, Cody Emmons, caused problems for the B52s both times he reached base, while Brady Munson and Scott Coffelt each finished with a base hit.

The Eagles got on the board in the top of the sixth inning, when Emmons scored on a Cameron Saso sac fly after reaching base on a fielder’s choice.

Rivera, however, shut down the visitors after that, coming in an inning later and retiring nine of the next 10 batters, allowing just one walk.

Scott Coffelt gets the Eagles first base hit of the game.

Defensively, the Eagles turned an impressive 5-4-3 double play to end the eighth.

Hill gave up one hit and two walks, while striking out four.

Finck allowed three earned runs on six hits in his 4.2 innings.

At the plate, Ethan Fischel finished 1-for-4 with a double to round out a seven-hit day for the B52s, who improved to 3-1.

Cade Sheets

“Like I told the guys, we’ve got to keep the intensity at the plate, we’ve got to keep throwing runs across,” St. John said. “But it’s still early and as coaches we’re liking what we’re seeing.”

The two teams will continue a three-game series at Bomber Field on Thursday night, with veteran pitcher Ruben Rios getting the start for the B52s.

For the Eagles (4-1), McKinleyville junior Cameron Saso will start on the mound, playing against St. John, his high school head coach.

Thursday’s game is set for 7:05 p.m.