Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Southern Humboldt’s Tanner Curran makes a sliding catch for the final out of Wednesday’s game.

The Southern Humboldt Patriots held off a late challenge by the Humboldt Eagles on the way to a 3-2 win on the opening day of action at the American Legion baseball area tournament in Arcata on Wednesday.

Drew Franklin pitched six strong innings for the win, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out six.

Franklin has been the team’s most consistent pitcher all summer.

“Offensively we weren’t very good today,” Patriots head coach Justin Andersen said. “Drew was Drew. He’s been our guy all summer. he has more wins than anyone on the mound. He has more saves than anyone on the mound. He did what he does. He was consistent.”

John Harding had two hits in the win and drove in one of the Patriots’ runs, all of which were scored with two outs in the second inning.

Franklin added a hit, an RBI and a run, while Cole Victorine had a hit and a run.

Trailing by three, the Eagles scored twice in the fifth to make for an exciting finish and had two runners on base in the seventh before Patriots shortstop Tanner Curran made a great catch for the final out of the game.

The Humboldt Eagles

The Southern Humboldt Patriots

Rogan Gans, who has “been coming on as a pitcher,” according to his coach, pitched the final inning for the save.

The Patriots’ outfield — Victorine, Cayden Dambrauskas and Trent Titus — also had a good game.

Sebastian Standish took the loss for the Eagles despite a solid performance, and did not give up any earned runs in four innings work.

Alex Jimenez threw two scoreless innings in relief, while Seth Grammer finished with a double and two RBIs.

Southern Humboldt pitcher Rogan Gans in action on Wednesday.

Matt Letter also had a double for the Eagles, who are now 7-24.

The Eagles play again at 2 p.m. on Thursday, while the Patriots, who improved to 14-7, will continue tourney play at 5:30 p.m.