Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Cameron Saso in action for the Humboldt Crabs over the weekend.

By Ray Hamill — Former Eureka Logger Myles Standish is the latest local player to join the Humboldt Crabs for the 2024 season after making his summer debut with the team over the weekend.

Standish, a 2023 Eureka graduate, plays collegiately at the University of Hawaii and is the seventh local player on this year’s roster.

And the local contingent is having a big impact with the Crabs, who are in contention for a Pacific Empire League championship as the season begins to heat up.

In addition to Standish, this year’s Crabs roster also features fellow Eureka graduates Hayden Bode, Keenan Morris and Parker Rodgers, along with former St. Bernard’s Crusaders Caleb Ruiz, McKinleyville’s Cameron Saso and College of the Redwoods’ Blake Browning.

And most of the local players are enjoying big summers, most notably on the mound.

Saso has arguably been the most effective of the local group and has become one of the Crabs’ most consistent starters.

The Colorado State Pueblo player is 2-1 in seven starts on the summer with an ERA of 3.52.

The 2020 Mack graduate, who has thrown a team-high 38.1 innings with a team second-best 34 strikeouts, hasn’t always got the offensive support this summer and has four no decisions despite some outstanding outings, including a couple of impressive performances against the Lincoln Potters.

Bode also has impressed out of the bullpen.

The 2021 Eureka graduate, who plays collegiately at Minot State University in North Dakota, has appeared in eight games and has an ERA of 7.57.

However, he has struck out 22 batters in 19 innings, and, according to Crabs manager Robin Guiver, his contributions go well beyond the stats.

“Hayden’s been throwing the ball really well,” Guiver said of Bode, who also was with the team two summers ago. “His numbers are not indicative of how he’s done this year. He’s a different pitcher than what he was two years ago. He’s a more confident pitcher. We’ve got a lot of confidence in Hayden.”

Keenan Morris

Ruiz, meanwhile, is a rare four-year player with the team and once again has been impressing.

The Cumberland University player has made four starts in eight appearances with the Crabs this summer and is second only to Nolan Long (5-1) with a record of 4-2, as well as recording a save.

The 2019 St. Bernard’s graduate, who also played a season with College of the Redwoods, has 31 strikeouts in 25.1 innings and an ERA of 2.48.

The Crabs have won six of the last seven games Ruiz has appeared in.

“He’s throws strikes. He’s good,” Guiver said. “He’s been with us for a bunch of years and it’s nice to have a veteran like that.”

Standish, who will give the Crabs a much-needed left-handed option down the stretch of the season as they battles for the inaugural PEL championship, made his 2024 debut with the team against the West Coast Kings over the weekend.

The former Loggers standout, who is in his second summer with the Crabs, threw two hitless and scoreless innings on Sunday.

“We’re happy to have him,” said Guiver, whose team has suffered more injuries than usual this summer. “He’s going to help us out.”

Morris and Rodgers, meanwhile, have had to battle injuries this summer, but both are expected to have an impact down the stretch.

Morris, who returned to the lineup last week after missing a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, is batting .228 and also gives the team a very reliable glove in the infield, mostly at third base.

The 2021 Eureka graduate, who played at Santa Rosa JC this past spring, has been particularly effective in PEL games, where he is batting .294, which is fourth best on the team.

“He’s going to be a big part of the team going forward,” Guiver said.

Rodgers, who is coming off two good seasons at CR, unfortunately suffered a broken hand on the first weekend of the summer season, but he is well on the road to recovery and is expected to be back with the team soon.

The 2021 Eureka graduate recently had his cast removed and has just been cleared to start swinging the bat again.

Rodgers will join Bode at Minot State next year.

Browning, meanwhile, is in his first summer with the team after setting a new CR record for most home runs in a single season with eight this past spring.

The Palm Desert native has appeared in 17 games with the team and is batting .118.