Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Michael Manzi in action for the Crusaders earlier this season.

By Ray Hamill — A pair of sophomores took center stage this week with dominating performances for their respective teams in a pair of different sports.

Del Norte’s Deken Hanks set a pair of school records on his way to victory in both the 100 and 200 meters at the third H-DNL meet of the spring in Crescent City on Wednesday.

Remarkably, he followed that by breaking both records once again at a non-league meet in Medford on Saturday.

The Warriors speedster, who is the defending league champion in both races, won the 100m on Saturday in a time of 10.76 seconds, and he followed that with a victory in the 200m in a time of 21.96 seconds.

His time in the 100m also set a new H-DNL record.

St. Bernard’s sophomore Michael Manzi also had a big week playing baseball for the Crusaders.

Manzi led his team to a doubleheader sweep at South Fork on Friday, which kept the Crusaders in a tie for the conference lead with the Ferndale Wildcats.

Manzi, who is playing at an MVP level this spring, finished the day 5-for-9 with a home run and also played some outstanding defense at catcher in game one, before taking the mound for game two and getting the victory.

Manzi threw all seven innings and gave up just five hits and one walk, while striking out 10.

Rounding out our weekly awards, our team of the week goes to the Eureka boys golf team.

The Loggers have won all four rounds of league play so far and have gradually gotten better and better as they appear to be on course for the league championship.

With two rounds of league play remaining, the Eureka boys hold a 31-stroke lead over the Arcata Tigers.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Deken Hanks

Del Norte Track, Sophomore

Hanks has been unstoppable in the sprints in the H-DNL this spring, winning both the 100 and 200m in all three league meets so far.

And the defending league champion in both races is only going to get better, as he looks to solidify his place in the H-DNL record books.

After setting new Del Norte records with times of 11 and 22.47 seconds on Wednesday, he knocked almost a quarter of s second off his time in the 100m on Saturday and more than half a second off his record in the 200m.

Fo more on his big week, see H-DNL sophomore sets two new school records at league meet …

Michael Manzi

St. Bernard’s Baseball, Sophomore

Manzi enjoyed an impressive freshman season with St. Bernard’s a year ago and has taken his game to a new level this spring.

“Manzi had a monster day at catcher and hitting in game one before coming back with a brilliant performance to win a pitchers’ duel in game two,” St. Bernard’s head coach Matt Tomlin said of the standout sophomore after Friday’s big performances.

More importantly, he helped keep his team in contention for a sixth consecutive conference championship.

For more on his big week, see Manzi shines again as St. Bernard’s boys top the Cubs …

Submitted photo

TEAM OF THE WEEK 

Eureka Boys Golf

The Loggers are well on course to win this year’s league title in boys golf.

And that’s not all.

Under the guidance of head coach Jimmy Rodgers, the Eureka boys currently hold three of the seven all-league spots in the H-DNL standings, including senior Talon Vigil, who is tied with St. Bernard’s Jack Kramer for the league lead with two rounds to go.

Teammates Julia Goodman and Andrew Stewart are sixth and seventh in the league standings, while Jerome Lyons and Wyatt Zerlang each also have played a big role for the team and give the Loggers five golfers in the top 14.

The Eureka boys will be back in action at Baywood Golf and Country Club in Arcata on Monday.