Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – CJ Van Meter is back with the Humboldt Eagles this summer.

By Ray Hamill — The Humboldt Eagles have been forced to put a planned weekend intra-squad game on ice for now after California Governor Gavin Newsom allowed for just a modified Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan on Tuesday.

The game, however, may not be pushed back too long, with the governor expected to further ease restrictions sometime early next week.

And that should allow for games to take place behind closed doors and without fans.

“We’ll just have to continue to practice in a small group setting for now,” Eagles 19U head coach Matt Tomlin said.

The Eagles began practice last week, while maintaining adequate social distancing and adhering to health and safety precautions.

This year’s 19U squad is a local all-star team loaded with talent everywhere on the field, and the coach says the players are starting to shake the rust.

Last summer the team made it to the final four of state play and many of the same players are back this summer.

Social distancing has been maintained at the Eagles;es practices.

Two future Division-I Pac-12 pitchers are expected to get the start on the mound for the intra-squad game, if and when it takes place.

Arcata senior Merek Sears is taking his talents to Washington State after graduation, while St. Bernard’s Nick Dugan, a sophomore at St. Bernard’s, has verbally committed to play at Stanford.

Cameron Saso, CJ Van Meter, Landon Gomes, Jaden Gorge and Caleb Ruiz, among others, also are all-star options on the mound for Tomlin and his staff.