Photos by Ray Hamill/Humboldtsports.com – Action from Saturday’s doubleheader at Belotti Field in Eureka.

By Ray Hamill — The defending Big 5 champs look like they’re going to be tough to stop again this year.

On Saturday, the McKinleyville Panthers won a pair of games with a statement performance against one of their main challengers for this year’s title, as they continue to set the standard in the H-DNL.

The Panthers traveled to Eureka and dominated the team that pushed them all the way in the race for last year’s title, winning game one 10-0 in six innings and taking game two 15-1 in five innings.

“It was two big team wins for us,” McKinleyville head coach Mike Dobrec said.

With the sweep, the Panthers improved to 3-0 in the Big 5 and 12-2 overall, while the Loggers, who have now dropped three straight games, are 2-3 and 4-8.

Joe Tanno got the win on the mound in game one and helped set the tone on offense, driving in a pair of runs in the top of the second to get the party started.

The Panthers would add two more runs an inning later and four more in the top of the fourth to put the game out of reach for their hosts.

And they did it with a strong performance in all aspects of the game.

“We came out and I thought our defense played good and we just hit the ball well today,” said Dobrec, who added “And our pitching was good.”

Tanno, one of several young players on a roster that could be one of the best in the Big 5 for a few years to come, pitched all six innings of the opener and allowed just four hits while striking out eight.

He helped his own cause by going 2-for-3 at the plate and was one of four McKinleyvile players to finish with multiple hits.

Pat Wilson had a big day and finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs in the opener, while Hunter Carper continues to be one of the most dangerous bats on the North Coast and was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Jackson Kelly also was 2-for-3 and drove in a run, while Jake Brunner and Joe Forbes each also had a base hit for the visitors.

Royce Olson led the Loggers at the plate and was 1-for-2 with a double, while teammates Jesse Vasquez, Ty Crawford and Matt Pleasant each also had a base hit.

Freshman Brayden Bermers, who has shown a lot of promise early in his high school career, got the start on the mound for Eureka and threw three innings, with Alex Jimenez and Michael Jewell each also seeing time on the hill in relief.

Game two was more of the same as the visitors got even stronger, scoring five runs in each of the first and second innings to open up an early 10-0 lead.

Senior Riles Egbert made a welcome return to the lineup for the Panthers after missing several weeks through injury and he had an immediate impact.

The team leader and influential catcher finished 3-for-3 and drove in three runs.

“It was great to see Riles back,” Dobrec said. “Having him miss what he missed, it’s huge to have him back.”

Wilson, who was “on fire today,” according to the coach, hit a two-run home run to cap a four-hit, six-RBI day.

Tate Saso also had a base hit and drove in two runs, while Bryce Sargent was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Carper was 1-for-3.

Rhythm Green and Bode Reininger each also drove in a run in the win.

Kelly got the win on the mound, throwing four strong innings and giving up just three hits and striking out seven.

Carper threw the final inning to seal the win.

Vasquez, Jimenez, Bermers, Olson and Garrett Levitt each had a base hit for the Loggers.

Next up, the Panthers will host conference leaders Del Norte (4-0 in the Big 5) on Wednesday afternoon in what will be their home opener after playing their first 14 games of the season on the road.

They are scheduled to play their next six games at McKinleyville High.

Eureka will try to bounce back with a doubleheader at Del Norte next Saturday.