Photos by Phoebe Becker – Luke Genolio in action for the South Fork boys this week.

The South Fork Cubs kept their championship hopes alive with a much-needed doubleheader sweep at Hoopa in Little 4 baseball on Friday.

But they had to overcome another outstanding pitching performance by Hoopa junior Lyle McKinnon on the way to a 4-1 win in the opener, before comfortably taking game two 13-1 in five innings.

Game one was a pitchers’ duel between McKinnon and South Fork’s Justin Freitas with just four hits combined allowed.

Freitas threw six innings before reaching his pitch count limit after also pitching against Ferndale earlier in the week.

The Cubs senior allowed just one hit and four walks and struck out seven, while McKinnon allowed three hits and a pair of walks while striking out nine.

“Lyle pitched another amazing game,” Hoopa head coach Curtis Kane said of the junior ace, who also had the Warriors’ only base hit and drove in their only run.

Freitas was equally impressive.

“Justin has been pitching really well and I’m just really excited and stoked for him that he’s finding the zone and pounding the zone,” South Fork head coach Chris Contreras said. 

Chris Pedaris threw the final inning with just 11 pitches and struck out three.

Pedaris has been a huge bright spot for the Cubs this season after transferring to South Fork.

“He’s really been a big impact for our team, in the box hitting and also on defense,” Contreras said. “He’s one of those kids I can put anywhere on the field.”

Contreras also had words of praise for McKinnon.

“He’s one heck of a pitcher,” the South Fork coach said.

Senior Broc Contreras also had a big day for the Cubs as he continues his recent good form.

Broc finished 1-for-3 with two stolen bases in game one and then went 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and five more stolen bases.

Trevor Hunt also has been hitting the ball well lately and that continued in game one when he went 1-for-2 with an RBI, while teammate Travis “T-Bone” Way went 1-for-3 and scored a run.

File photo by Phoebe Becker – Broc Contreras had three hits in game two of Friday’s doubleheader.

“The kids really played hard in that first game,” Contreras said. “I was really pleased with how we played, and on defense we minimized the errors.”

Luke Genolio pitched all five innings in game two for the win, allowing just four hits and striking out three.

The Cubs quickly took control of the game, with the first four batters all getting base hits on the way to a seven-run first inning.

In addition to Broc Contreras’ three hits, Freitas finished 2-for-3 and had four stolen bases, while Genolio was 1-for-3 with a first-inning RBI double and Wesley Way was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.

“I’m glad that our bats are continuing to stay hot and I hope that can continue as we get to the second half of the Little 4 season,” the South Fork head coach added. 

Brandon Romero continued to impress for the Warriors and has been “our most consistent hitter so far,” according to Kane.

Romero had a base hit in both games, finishing 1-for-2 with a walk in game one and 1-for-2 with a double in game two.

He also drove in Hoopa’s run in the second game.

Miscues, however, continued to cost the Warriors.

“Our defense has to be just as locked in as (McKinnon),” Kane said of the opener. “Errors took a 1-1 game from us and we just couldn’t respond.”

The Warriors, however, will still have plenty to say about where this year’s Little 4 championship ends up and with McKinnon on the hill they’re capable of beating anyone on any day.

“My boys have to be focused and disciplined to be able to change the tides for the back half of the season,” Kane said. “Hopefully we can bounce back at Trinity on Tuesday and work hard leading into Ferndale (on April 19).”

Chris Contreras added that the Warriors are showing plenty of fight despite their 0-6 conference record.

“Hats off again to Hoopa,” he said. “Their kids are resilient and they’re fighting. I give credit to Curtis that he’s getting those kids and that team in the right direction.

The Cubs, who are 2-4 in the Little 4, are three games back of conference leaders Ferndale and St. Bernard’s (both 5-1) but still have an outside shot at claiming the title.

“We still have a fighting chance,” Chris Contreras said. “We have our destiny in our own hands, but we’ve got our work cut out for us trying to beat those two that are ahead of us.”