Ferndale boys shut out Hoopa, say goodbye to two old friends

By barstoolfanatics on May 2, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

File photo – Parker Prior

The Ferndale Wildcats bid farewell to a couple of worthy adversaries on Thursday in a 10-0 win at Hoopa in Little 4 baseball.

The Wildcats broke the game open with six runs in the top of the second, as they improved to 7-3 in conference play and 13-3 on the season.

This was the fourth and final regular-season matchup between the two schools and the last time the Cats will face Hoopa seniors Lyle McKinnon and Brandon Romero, each of whom has played a big role for their program for the past few years.

“I want to pay tribute to Lyle and Brandon,” Ferndale head coach Justin Andersen said. “They both had four solid years. They’re both very good baseball players and they’ve been fierce competitors in our league for the past four years.”

The day, however, belonged to the Cats, who led 8-0 after two innings to quickly take control on the way to ending the game early.

Junior Parker Prior pitched a complete-game shutout, giving up just one walk and striking out eight.

He got plenty of offensive support and helped his own cause by going 3-for-3 with four RBIs and scoring three runs.

“We were pretty solid,” Andersen said. “I thought Parker controlled the tempo of the game, as he does, and he was very efficient.”

The junior pitched threw just 26 pitches through the opening three innings.

Ferndale’s Prescott Langer also had a good day and was 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs, while Jonah Anderson and Tanner Pidgeon each also had a hit.

Luke Dixon also had an RBI.

File photo – Lyle McKinnon

The Warriors dropped to 3-7 in the Little 4 and 12-9 on the season, but they remain well on course for the H-DNL postseason Charles Lakin tournament for the first time ever.

Romero had two hits in the loss, including a double, while McKinnon also had a double.