Submitted photo – The Arcata seniors were honored before Friday’s game against St. Bernard’s.

The Arcata Tigers celebrated their seniors with an exciting extra-innings win over Little 4 champion St. Bernard’s in non-conference baseball on Friday afternoon.

Four of the six seniors all played a big role on the way to the win, as the hosts rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to force the extra innings.

They would eventually prevail 7-6 in 10 innings.

“I thought both teams played pretty well,” Arcata head coach Troy Ghisetti said. “There were a lot of calls that went against each team, and everybody held their composure. Our kids stayed in the ball game and I’m proud of them.”

The Crusaders started the extra innings well and put up four runs in the top of the eighth to lead 6-2.

But the home team would rally again, scoring twice to pull within two before what appeared to be the third out of the inning to end the game.

However, the umpires got together and reversed the call, saying that the ball had been fouled off the batter’s foot.

The Tigers took full advantage and scored two more runs to pull even, before eventually securing the victory in dramatic fashion two innings later.

St. Bernard’s head coach Matt Tomlin described as a “bizarre game,” and his players were already lined up at home plate ready to shake hands before the call reversal in the eighth.

Four of the Arcata seniors hit successfully in the win.

Eli Joachim led the way and finished 3-for-3, while fellow senior Ben Lukens was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.

Finn Warner also had two hits in his final regular-season home game, while AJ Greenway added a hit.

Charlie Mager and Tanner Kees added two hits apiece in the victory, as the Tigers improved to 13-11.

Kees pitched 6.2 innings for a no-decision, giving up four walks and one earned run while striking out six.

Warner got the win in relief.

The senior threw 3.1 innings and gave up three eared runs.

Tyler Hinrichs led the Crusaders at the plate and was 2-for-3 with a double and two walks and also scored a run.

Luke Brunton, Tyler Maples, Mateo Reiman and TC Rinker each also had a hit for the visitors, with Reiman and Rinker each also driving in a run.

Maples also scored twice and Brunton one.

Hinrichs took the loss on the mound in relief, pitching the final inning.

Brunton and Garret Shanahan each threw four innings for SB.

Liam Garona and the injured Anthony Ebert round out the talented Arata senior class.

“The last two years they’ve built up the freshmen and made them better,” Ghisetti said of the class. “Hats off to those guys for putting in the work.”

Lukes, Warner and Ebert are all four-year varsity players.

Next up, the Crusaders will play in next week’s Charles Lakin tournament, while the Tigers will have a week off before finding out their North Coast Section playoff fate next weekend.

As Little 4 champions, the SB boys have a top seed and a first-round bye for the H-DNL postseason tournament and will open on Thursday night against either McKinleyville or Hoopa.

The Lakin tournament will be played at Belotti Field across from the Redwood Acres.