Submitted photos – The Northern Humboldt Giants in Chico over the weekend.

The Northern Humboldt Giants will carry some momentum into this week’s Humboldt Eagles tournament after a successful road trip east over the weekend.

Despite the hot conditions in the Chico area, the Giants continued to impress and went 2-1 in three games, including victories over Paradise and Chico.

The local American Legion got the weekend started with a 14-7 win over Paradise and followed that with a doubleheader split against Chico the following day, losing game one 8-5 and taking game two 6-3.

And once again several player impressed for the Giants, including eighth-grader Rylan Kees and high school standouts Ben Lukens of Arcata and Lyle McKinnon of Hoopa.

The young Kees pitched three innings against Paradise and impressed head coach Eric Agliolo despite having to play against high school players.

“He’s an up-and-coming player for sure,” Agliolo said. 

For good measure, Kees also had a double in the win.

McKinnon, meanwhile, got the weekend off to an impressive start at the plate and was 4-for-4 with a double, while both Lukens and Del Norte’s Aidan Rice each was 2-for-2 with a double.

Rhythm Green also had two hits in the win, while Cole Zeller added a double and Anthony Cardenas and Joe Capp both singled.

Lukens got the start on the mound in the opening game against Chico, and as has been the story for much of the year with the Tigers and Giants he pitched well enough to win but did not get enough offensive support.

The soon-to-be Arcata senior threw 6.2 innings and gave up five hits while striking out seven.

Lukens, who was last week’s Humboldt Sports Athlete of the Week, also impressed at the plate and was 3-for-4 with a home run and a double.

Former Del Norte head coach Brandon Paradise American Legion team, along with Del Norte players Aidan Rice and Anthony Cardenas.

“Lukens continues to do his thing,” Agliolo said. “We can’t seem to give him enough hits to get him the win, but his bat has some alive this summer.”

Capp was 2-for-2 in the loss, while McKinnon, Tanner Kees, Aidan Rice and Mateo Reiman each also had a hit.

McKinnon got the win on the hill later in the day.

The Hoopa standout threw 5.2 innings and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out eight, before Green came in to close out the game and get the save.

Zeller led the way at the plate in that win and led a five-hit team performance by going 2-for-2 with a double, while Capp, Tanner Kees and Blake Santos each also had a hit.

The Giants will now turn their attention towards this week’s Eagles tournament, which gets under way on Thursday.