Daniels gets plenty of run support as Big 5 leaders continue to roll

By barstoolfanatics on April 23, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

File photo – Preston Daniels

The Del Norte boys moved two wins clear of the chasing pack in Big 5 baseball on Wednesday after sweeping the conference series against the Arcata Tigers.

Two and a half weeks after winning a pair of conference games at Arcata High, the Warriors welcomed the Tigers to Crescent City and prevailed 14-0 in five innings.

The win lifts the Del Norte boys to 7-1 in the Big 5 with four games remaining, including a massive doubleheader against McKinleyville at Del Norte High in 10 days.

The Panthers, who had a midweek bye in conference play, are 5-1 in the Big 5 with two games in hand.

They could pull level with the Warrior heading into next week if they can sweep a home doubleheader against Fortuna on Saturday, as Del Norte has a bye this weekend.

Senior pitcher Preston Daniels had another big performance in Wednesday’s win as he continues to dominate the Big 5 bats this spring.

The win was his fourth in four conference starts — all complete games — and he has given up just six hits total in those games, including a one-hitter on Wednesday.

The team ace also threw a no-hitter at Arcata earlier in the month and a one-hitter at Fortuna a week later.

“He started off and he walked the first batter,” Cook said. “And after that he got into a little groove, and it really helps when you score some runs.”

Daniels got plenty of offensive support, with eight different Warriors hitting successfully in the win.

Senior Willie Nelson got his first conference start of the campaign and had an immediate impact, finishing 2-for-2 with four RBIs.

Taylor Saxon and Landon Williams also impressed at the plate and each was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, while influential senior Aidan Rice also was 2-for-3.

“Talk about a team win. That was a team win,” Del Norte head coach Jeff Cook said. “I was happy with the team effort. We’re trying to be more positive out there and rooting for each other, and we did that.”

Check out some video highlights of Preston Daniels in action on Wednesday …

File photo

The Warriors broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the second inning and never looked back.

Daniels, Kanyon Starkey, Greyson Franklin and Ben Shrewsberry each also had a base hit in the win, with the latter two also driving in a run each.

Liam Gorona had the only hit of the game for the Tigers, who dropped to 2-5 in the Big 5 and 10-8 overall.

The Warriors, who have lost just once in their last 14 games are now 13-5-1 on the season.

Next up, the Tigers will try to bounce back when they play a doubleheader against Eureka on Saturday with big Charles Lakin tournament implications on the line.

The Warriors’ remaining conference games include a home showdown against Fortuna next Wednesday, before the big weekend doubleheader against McKinleyville three days later and a final game at Eureka on May 7.

The Panthers’ remaining games include the twin bill at home against Fortuna this weekend, followed by a midweek matchup at home against Eureka, the big doubleheader at Del Norte and a trip to Arcata on May 7.