Submitted photos – Arcata’s Nick Parker in action at Del Norte on Tuesday.
The Arcata Tigers are co-champs of the Big 5 after sweeping a league-finale doubleheader at Del Norte on Tuesday.
The Tigers, who won 5-2 and 8-5, improved to 10-2 in the Big 5 with the two victories and they close out with the same record as the Eureka Loggers, with whom they share the title.
“I thought it was a great team effort,” Arcata head coach Troy Ghisetti said of Tuesday’s sweep. “From one through nine, they came through. Everybody, either laying down bunts or getting big-time hits.”
Pitchers Nick Parker and Alex Gorge also played a big role in the wins.
Parker threw 5.1 innings for the victory in game one, giving up just two hits and striking out 10, while Gorge stepped up in game two, scattering nine hits in a complete-game seven innings and striking out three.
Gorge also had a big day at the plate and finished 3-for-4 in game two, while Isaiah Levy had a pair of hits in each game.
Impressive freshman Wilson Medina also continued to shine and finished with three hits over the two games, including going 2-for-2 in the nightcap.
Parker, Vincent Agliolo and Finn McRae each also had a hit in the opener, while Miles Oliver was 2-for-4 in game two and Parker capped a big all-around day with another hit.
The league title seemed unlikely as recently as a week ago when the Tigers fell 4-1 at Eureka, giving the Loggers at least a share of the championship.
But a senior-heavy and experienced Arcata team never gave up and won two must-win games against the Loggers on Saturday to give themselves a shot at sharing the title.
The Tigers will now turn their attention to the Charlie Lakin Tournament, which returns to the North Coast this week for the first time in three years.
Submitted photo – Alex Gorge pitched a complete game for the win in game two on Tuesday.
Arcata, which has the No. 1 seed for the Big 5, has an opening-round bye and will play on Thursday against either Ferndale or Fortuna.
As co-champs, the Tigers and Loggers are scheduled to play a playoff game on Friday to determine the automatic qualifier for the North Coast Section playoffs.
Eureka receives a No. 2 seed for the Lakin tourney courtesy of their head-to-head record against the Tigers and will play South Fork at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Arcata Ball Park.
