Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Fortuna’s Cody Collins in action during Saturday’s doubleheader.
Halfway through their league schedule, the Fortuna Huskies are the team to beat in the Big 5.
The red-hot Huskies stretched their winning streak to five straight as they won both games of a doubleheader against Del Norte to complete the three-game series sweep.
With the games moved from Fortuna to Crusader Field in Eureka because of field conditions, the Fortuna boys won the opener 6-4 and took game two by a score of 3-2.
And they did it in dramatic fashion, with senior Matt Letter hitting a line drive down the left field line in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Cole Victorine from second for the walk-off victory.
With the win, the Huskies improved to 5-1 in the Big 5 and remain three wins clear of Arcata at the top of standings, with the 2-1 Tigers enjoying a bye in league play this week.
Jake Houseworth and Cole Ayala each led the way at the plate in game one, finishing with two hits apiece.
Houseworth was 2-for-2 with a walk, while the hard-hitting Ayala finished 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.
Letter, who had a big all-around day, also had a hit and an RBI in game one, while Drew Franklin and Tyler Schlesiger each was 1-for-3, with the latter also driving in a run.
Cody Collins pitched 5.1 hitless innings for the win on the mound, while striking out five, with Letter then striking out two Del Norte batters in one inning for the save.
Six different Fortuna players each had one hit in game two.
In addition to Letter’s clutch late hit, Collins was 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a walk, and Ayala was 1-for-2 with a walk.
Rogan Gans, Colt Chamberlain and Victorine each also had a hit.
Ayala pitched six strong innings for a no-decision, while allowing just three hits and pair of walks, with Letter then throwing one inning in relief to set up the big finish.
Letter struck out three batters and allowed just one hit.
With the win, the in-form Huskies improved to 6-4-1 overall, while Del Norte is now 0-3 in the Big 5 and 6-5 overall.
We’ll have more on the Warriors on Monday.
