By Ray Hamill — The Eureka Loggers will carry some momentum into the North Coast Section playoffs after their big win in the championship game of the Charlie Lakin Tournament on Friday night.

The Loggers quickly put the disappointment of being beaten to the Big 5 pennant behind them with a comfortable 5-0 win over league champion Del Norte at the Arcata Sports Complex.

Check out some of our late-game and post-game video highlights above, including a big two-RBI base hit by standout sophomore shortstop Mallorie Beauchamp, which gave her team some insurance runs in the top of the seventh.

After a good freshman season in the outfield in 2022, Beauchamp has seen her influence on the team grow this spring after switching to shortstop and looks set to play a key leadership role in the coming years as the Eureka girls look to build on their recent success.

Friday’s championship was the second straight in the tournament for the program, which has now played in four straight finals, winning three of them.

After Fortuna’s dominance in the early years of the Lakin tournament, which included trophies in 2015, 2016 and 2017, the Loggers have begun to exert their dominance in the annual event in recent years.

The Loggers will now turn their attention towards the North Coast Section playoffs, which get under way on Tuesday night.

The Eureka girls are seeded No. 6 in Division 3 and will open at home to No. 11 De Anza at Washington Elementary School on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

St. Bernard’s, Del Norte, McKinleyville, Hoopa and Fortuna also qualified for the NCS playoffs.

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com