Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

There will be repeat of last year’s final in the Charles Lakin baseball tournament after both Eureka and McKinleyville won their semifinals at Bellotti Field on Thursday.

The Loggers got the day started with an 8-1 win over Del Norte, and later in the evening McKinleyville defeated Little 4 champion St. Bernard’s 3-0.

With four Lakin tournament championships to their credit, the Loggers are the most successful program in the tournament’s 10-year history, but it was the Panthers who prevailed a year ago, winning 4-2.

This year’s tournament championship game is set for Friday night at 7 p.m. at Belotti Field.

Senior Jackson Kelly led the way for the Panthers in the night game on Thursday, pitching a complete-game no-hitter for the win on the mound.

“Every time he takes the mound he gives our team a chance to win,” McKinleyville head coach Mike Dobrec said. “He had control of his stuff. He had all three of his pitches working. He went out there and pitched well.”

Kelly did allow three walks and two hit-by-pitches, but he also struck out 15 as he looks to be hitting peak form heading into the business end of the season.

“McKinleyville pitcher Jackson Kelly was absolutely brilliant as he no-hit our Crusaders,” St. Bernard’s head coach Matt Tomlin said. “I want to congratulate Kelly on a masterful performance. He was very good tonight.”

So too was SB pitcher Luke Brunton, who pitched six strong innings and gave up just one earned run while walking three and striking out five.”

“Our pitcher Luke Brunton was also outstanding tonight as he threw six amazing innings,” Tomlin said. “Brunton was very good, as he has been all season for our team.”

Riles Egbert and Joe Forbes each finished 1-for-3 with an RBI for the Panthers.

Egbert’s run-scoring hit came in the fifth and stretched the advantage to three.

“He was behind in the count and battled,” Dobrec said of the senior catcher. “I think that third run was huge for us.”

Bryce Sargent, Kolbe Stolpe and Tate Saso each also had a base hit for the Panthers.

“It was a good team win. St. Bernard’s is a well-coached team,” Dobrec said. “The game was played in front of a playoff atmosphere and that will prepare us for the playoffs. 

“Jackson having that sort of game going into the sections next week is only going to help.”

Garrett Shanahan also pitched a hitless sinning in relief for the Crusaders, while the always dangerous Tyler Hinrichs still found a way to cause problems despite his team being no-hit.

The St. Bernard’s junior walked twice and had a stolen base.

“I want to congratulate McKinleyville on the win and wish them the best of luck the rest of the season,” Tomlin added. “They have great coaches, great players and a solid ball club.”

The Crusaders will now turn their attention to the upcoming NCS postseason, with the brackets and seedings set to be announced on Sunday.

“For our Crusaders, we are looking forward to the start of the NCS playoffs next week,” Tomlin said. “We will give it our best effort and try to compete for a section title.”

Earlier in the day, the Loggers comfortably took care of business against the Big 5 champs.

“It was one of those games where they hit the ball well and we had a couple of errors,” Del Norte head coach Jeff Cook said. “That’s baseball.”

The Loggers scored runs in each of the first four innings to open up a 5-1 lead and they never allowed the Warriors back into the game.

Senior Aidan Rice scored the Warriors’ only run of the night on a Dominic Miller sac fly in the first inning.

Preston Daniels got the start on the mound but was pulled after 30 pitches, with Ben Shrewsberry and Rice throwing in relief.

The Warriors also were missing their leading hitter Saxon Taylor, who did not travel because of sickness.

Anthony Cardenas had a big double in the opening inning to help set up Del Norte’s run, while Daniels added two hits and Greyson Franklin had one.

The timely hits, however, never came and the Warriors stranded 12 runners on base.

“No excuses, but we mixed it up a little bit and tried different things and it didn’t work out,” Cook said. “We wanted to get some guys in today to get ready for next week.”

Sophomore Landon Williams was a bright spot for the Warriors as he continues to play well at shortstop. 

The loss might not be the worst thing in regard to seeding for next week’s North Coast Section playoffs.

“We’ll be back at it tomorrow to get ready for next week,” Cook said.

No stats were immediately available for the Loggers.

Coaches are encouraged to forward details to Humboldt Sports if they would like their players included in the roundups.