St. Bernard’s junior Michael Manzi showed why he should be one of the most feared players in the H-DNL this spring with a huge performance at Fortuna on Tuesday.

Just a few days after dropping back-to-back games at the Yreka tournament, the Crusaders responded with a shutout victory over the Huskies.

St. Bernard’s won 6-0 and improved to 3-3 on the season.

And Manzi played a big role in the win, both on the mound and at the plate.

“Michael Manzi had amazing strikeout stuff on the mound and delivered the big hits at the plate to lead us to victory,” St. Bernard’s head coach Matt Tomlin said. “Manzi is one of the top players in the H-DNL and he showed it tonight.”

The visitors scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning and led throughout, adding insurance runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to pull away.

Manzi pitched five innings for the win, allowing just two hits and two walks and striking out 12.

The junior standout also was 3-for-3 on offense with a double and two RBIs and scored one of his team’s runs.

Sophomore teammate Garrett Shanahan, who has also impressed early in the season, pitched the final two innings to preserve the shutout.

Shanahan did not walk anyone and struck out three.

Senior Chandler Crenshaw, who has been a team leader for the Huskies this spring, had both of his team’s hits.

Crenshaw finished 2-for-3, as the Huskies dropped to 3-5.

Over the weekend, the Huskies swept a doubleheader against Point Arena, winning 8-1 and 12-2.

Luke Brunton also impressed at the plate for St. Bernard’s on Tuesday and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

Senior Conner McClendon took the loss on the hill.

McClendon pitched six innings, giving up four earned runs and striking out four.

The Huskies did not help his cause with four errors on the day.

Next up, the Crusaders will play a doubleheader at Point Arena on Saturday, while the Huskies will have a 11-day break in action before opening the Big 5 at home against Eureka on April 5.