Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – McKinleyville’s Bryce Sargent slides into home plate during a recent game.

By Ray Hamill — While three of the four baseball and softball H-DNL conference championships look set to go down to the final week of action, the McKinleyville boys could clinch the Big 5 baseball title this week.

In fact, they could claim at least a share of the crown as soon as Wednesday evening, if things go their way.

After completing a three-game series sweep of the Del Norte Warriors with a pair of wins on Saturday, the Panthers have moved four wins clear of the rest of the league with a record of 8-1.

The Eureka boys, however, have played three less games and remain well in contention for the title with a record of 4-2, although they’ll need help.

Both contenders will be in action this week, with 20 H-DNL games scheduled over the next four days.

McKinleyville plays a three-game series against neighbors and rivals Arcata (1-5 in the Big 5), while Eureka plays a three-game series against Del Norte (1-5).

The Fortuna boys (4-5) have a bye in conference this week.

A series sweep for the Panthers would guarantee them the conference championship outright, while two wins would give them at least a co-championship, no matter how the Loggers fare.

The action gets under way on Wednesday, when the Panthers welcome the Tigers to McKinleyville High.

And they could be celebrating at least a co-championship by Wednesday evening if they can beat their rivals and the Loggers fall at Del Norte.

Game time at both locations is set for 4 p.m.

Both series will close out on Saturday at Arcata and Eureka, with the weekend doubleheaders beginning at 11 a.m. at both locations.

Providing the weather cooperates.

The Del Norte Warriors will host Eureka on Wednesday afternoon.

The McKinleyville Panthers

The race for the Big 5 softball championship, meanwhile, is a close one with Fortuna (6-3) and Del Norte (4-2) currently tied atop the standings.

The Huskies have a bye in conference play this week, but the Warriors will be hoping to take over sole possession of the B5 lead when they play a three-games series against Eureka (1-5).

Game one is set for Wednesday at 4 p.m., with the two schools also playing a doubleheader at Eureka on Saturday.

Also in the Big 5 this week, Arcata (2-4) and McKinleyville (5-4) will face off, with game one set for McKinleyville on Wednesday and a doubleheader at Arcata on Saturday.

The Panthers also remain in the chase for a conference title, although they will need help.

The Little 4 teams are all scheduled to play on Friday, with St. Bernard’s and Ferndale hosting doubleheaders against Hoopa and South Fork, respectively.

The Ferndale and St. Bernard’s boys are 7-1 and tied for the league lead in baseball with four games each remaining.

If each school sweeps their doubleheaders on Friday, they will meet in a championship deciding doubleheader at Ferndale next week.

In softball, the Crusaders (7-1) hold a one-game lead over Hoopa (6-2) and can clinch a championship with a sweep in Friday’s pivotal doubleheader.

Al of Friday’s doubleheaders are scheduled for 2 p.m., although rain is forecast.

The Eureka Loggers are still in the hunt for a Big 5 championship, but they’ll need some help from Arcata this week.