Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Eureka’s Rogan Bode had reason to smile on Saturday as his team cruised to a couple of big wins at Mack High.

A challenging start to the season appears to be paying off for the Eureka Loggers.

After dropping five of their opening six games, all on the road against some quality teams, the Loggers have now won six of their last seven and they capped a three-game series sweep of the McKinleyville Panthers with a pair of shutout victories on Saturday.

Playing at Mack High, the Loggers won 8-0 and 13-0 in five innings, with sophomore Cooper Ohlsen and junior Myles Standish both pitching shutouts.

In three games this week, the Eureka boys outscored McKinleyville 32-1 and with the sweep they improved to 3-0 in the Big 5 and 7-6 overall, moving above .500 for the first time this season.

Standish clearly enjoys playing the Panthers, a team he has dominated the past two years, and he was in command once again on Saturday, pitching a complete-game two-hitter.

The junior ace struck out 13 of the 17 batters he faced and allowed just two hits and no walks.

He also got the win in the series opener on Wednesday, and in nine scoreless innings this week he struck out 21 of the 31 batters he faced, while allowing just two hits and two walks.

He got plenty of offensive help from a young Eureka lineup that is quickly establishing itself and one that scored 20 runs on 19 hits over the two games on Saturday.

Ohlsen also had a big performance on the mound, allowing just four hits in seven scoreless innings in game one, while striking out six and walking no one.

The two Eureka pitchers did not give up a walk all day, a stat that must have pleased head coach Jeff Giacomini.

Rogan Bode continued to impress at the plate and finished with three hits over the two games, including a home run in the opener, as well as scoring five runs and driving in five more.

Myles Standish dominated on the mound in game two on Saturday.

McKinleyville’s Branson Dobrec delivers a pitch on Saturday.

Caden Vance also had a big day at the plate and was 5-for-8 with a double and five RBIs, while Jackson Giacone was 2-for-2 in game two with a three-run home run, a double and four RBIs.

Giacone was also walked three times in the opener.

Cole Zeller added three hits and three runs over the two games, while Mateo Guitierrez and Robert Williams each was 2-for-2 in the nightcap and Ohlsen was 1-for-1.

Tyson Bragg had a base hit in each game for the Panthers, who dropped to 0-3 in the Big 5 and 6-6 overall, while teammate Jack Saso had a triple in game two, the first hit Standish has ever given up against Mack.

McKinleyville head coach Scott St. John congratulates Jack Saso after his triple on Saturday.

Eureka’s Michael Jewell

Kolbey Stolpe, Tenoch Tapia and Cody Lackey each also had a hit for Mack in game one.

Riley Bates and Branson Dobrec took the losses on the mound.

Eureka has a bye in league play next week, while McKinleyville will play a three-game series against Del Norte.