Submitted photo – Fomer Humboldt Crabs player James Outman talks to the Giants players in Reno over the weekend.

The Northern Humboldt Giants enjoyed another big weekend at the Reno wood bat tournament and ran into a familiar face along the way.

The Giants won their first five games in tournament play to advance to the championship game, where they fell 7-5 to the BPA Black team.

On Saturday, during a break from tournament play, the players watched the Triple-A Oklahoma Dodgers and Reno Aces game and met former Humboldt Crabs player James Outman, who is playing with the Dodgers’ farm team.

“They definitely enjoyed that,” Giants head coach Eric Agliolo said. 

Outman, who played at the Arcata Ball Park in the summer of 2016, was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ opening day roster this season for the second straight year.

In 2023 he played in 151 games in the Majors, batting .248 with 23 home runs and 70 RBIs.

This year, however, he struggled at the plate and batted just .147 during the early part of the season before being optioned back to the minors in May as he tries to rediscover his form.

In addition to meeting Outman, it was a successful trip to Reno for the Giants, who won all four of their tournament pool games, before edging the Muck Dogs 4-3 with a walk-off win in extra innings.

Several players stepped up for the Giants over the weekend, none more so than Ben Lukens and Hunter Carper.

“They were on fire,” Agliolo said of the dynamic duo.

Lukens, an Arcata High standout who is enjoying an outstanding summer playing with the team, hit two home runs, including a grand slam.

The soon-to-be high school senior also had a big performance on the mound in the semi final victory, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing jut one run while striking out six.

Rhythm Green got the win in relief.

Brandon Romero had the hot bat in that win and finished 2-for-3 with a double, with Tate Saso, Joe Tanno and Tanner Kees each also getting a hit.

Romero and Saso each had a key hit to help seal the win in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Giants rallied from a one-run deficit in the extra inning.

The team’s good run finally ended in the championship game against a quality BPA Black team.

“They were a solid varsity baseball team,” Agliolo said. “We had opportunities, we just didn’t have the hitting we had the rest of the tournament.”

Cole Zeller continued to roll at the plate in the loss and was 2-for-3, while Anthony Cardenas finished 1-for-2 with a double.

Kees, Green and Saso each also had a hit.

Tanno enjoyed a productive weekend at the plate and had some key hits, as did Saso, as several of the team’s younger players continue to shine.

“Tate Saso was real impressive,” Agliolo said. “It’s pretty exciting to see him step up.”

Hoopa pitcher Lyle McKinnon also continued to impress with a big outing in one of the pool games, which the Giants won 12-2, while Lukens and Green each also pitched well, according to their coach.

Another young player, Bode Reininger of McKinleyville, also impressed on the hill as he continues to grow in stature, and he threw a complete game in pool play, allowing just four runs on seven hits and striking out six.

With the impressive weekend performance, the Giants improved to 15-4 on the summer.

“I’ve seen a lot of improvement (this summer),” Agliolo said. “They’re progressing and getting better, and they’re understanding the game better. It was a good weekend.”