By Ray Hamill — Fresh off a big spring for the Fortuna Huskies, Matt Letter got the American Legion season off to a good start with the Humboldt Eagles 19Us.

The Eagles played a doubleheader against the NorCal nationals in Redding on Sunday, tying game one 2-2 in nine innings and taking game two 16-5 in five innings.

Letter was the “star of the game” in the opener, according to head coach Matt Tomlin, after he came out of the bullpen to get the Eagles out of a no-out bases-loaded jam in the sixth and keep them in the game.

Letter gave up two hits and one run in 3.2 innings and struck out four for a no-decision.

He also finished 2-for-3 at the plate.

Eureka High junior Cooper Ohlsen got the start on the hill in the opener and threw 5.1 solid innings, allowing one run on six hits and striking out six.

Caden Vance also had a good game and was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

In game two, the Eagles rallied from an early two-run deficit and exploded for 16 quick runs to end the game early.

And they got contributions from several players.

Eureka’s Rogan Bode was 2-for-5 with two doubles and five RBIs, while Del Norte’s Ethan Thomas finished 2-for-2 with a double four RBIs.

Cody Collins was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs, and Cayden Lee was 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Cole Ayala got the win on the mound in relief, allowing one run in 1.2 innings and striking out three.

Vance got the start, with Brody Tomlin and Collins each also appearing out of the bullpen.

The Eagles (1-0-1) will be back in action on Thursday night in a showdown against their 17Us team at Belotti Field across from the Redwood Acres at 6 p.m.