Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Cedar Cline reacts during a game this past spring.

By Ray Hamill — After leading their team to a memorable North Coast Section championship, Arcata MVP Cedar Cline and two of his teammates are taking their talents to the collegiate baseball fields.

Cline, who was instrumental in the Tigers’ thrilling come-from-behind win against Justin-Siena in the section decider, recently announced he will play at Santa Barbara City College.

Fellow outgoing seniors Will Mager and Chase Coleman also will continue their careers at the next level.

Mager will play at Shasta College and Coleman will play for Mission College in Santa Clara.

And Arcata head coach Troy Ghisetti expects all three players to make some noise on the JC fields.

“Those three kids really stepped up for us,” Ghisetti said. “That took us to the next level.”

Cline was the Tigers’ inspirational leader and was voted team MVP.

“That kid is a true competitor,” the coach said. “He never backs down from anything and he stepped up big time. He did a phenomenal job for us.”

Cline finished his senior season 6-1 on the mound and also provided a reliable glove at first base.

He joins a Santa Barbara team that 29-16 in 2023 and tied for the Western State-North Conference championship.

Mager and Coleman, meanwhile, are both enjoying big summers with the Humboldt Eagles 19Us, who are currently on an 11-day, 12-game road trip in Oregon.

Mager had to battle injuries this spring and was limited on the mound, but he still managed to play a pivotal role on the way to the program’s third section championship in six postseasons.

Particularly late in the season.

Will Mager

“Will got his arm back and he pitched late for us,” Ghisetti said. “His strikeout to base-on-balls ratio was through the roof.

“He has a very good fast ball and a good changeup and he was quite a leader for us.”

The outgoing middle infielder/pitcher joins a Shasta team that was 21-19 in 2023 and finished fourth in the Golden Valley Conference.

Coleman has been singled out this summer for his contribution to the Humboldt Eagles 19Us.

“I also want to praise Chase Coleman for his leadership role he has taken on with this team,” Eagles head coach Matt Tomlin said earlier this week. “He is a great addition to our program.”

The senior catcher also played a pivotal role on the 2023 Tigers’ championship team, both behind the plate and with his bat.

Chase Coleman talks to Cedar Cline during a game.

Submitted photo. Chase Coleman, right, at his letter signing ceremony earlier this year, alongside close friend Justin Wallace, who will play football at Butte College in the fall.

“He goes back there and does the job behind the plate,” Ghisetti said. “He controls the tempo of the game and he’s a great leader. He’s everything you want from a catcher.”

Coleman, who played for Arcata as a freshman, moved out of the area for his sophomore and junior years before returning and having a big impact for the Tigers in both football and baseball this year.

He joins a Mission team that was 29-14-1 in 2023 and tied Ohlone for the Coast-South Conference championship.