Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Humboldt Eagles opened their season against the Humboldt Crabs at the Arcata Bal Park on Wednesday night.

By Ray Hamill — The Humboldt Eagles have put together a roster of local all-stars as they get set for the summer American Legion baseball season.

The Eagles opened their campaign with an impressive showing against the Humboldt Crabs on Wednesday night.

They ultimately fell 9-0, but the game was a lot closer than the final score would suggest, with the more experienced Crabs pulling away late.

Regardless of the final score, the Eagles look like they should have a competitive, albeit small, 19U roster this summer.

Right now, head coach Tommy Gale has 12 players on the 19U squad and the local summer club will also field a 17U team.

The 19U roster includes some of the top players from this year’s H-DNL, with six of the nine league schools represented.

The roster also includes Butte College’s Cooper Ohlsen, who red-shirted with the Roadrunners this year after graduating from Eureka High last summer.

Ohlsen, who got the start on the mound for Wednesday’s game at the Arcata Ball Park, looked impressive in his season debut and kept the collegiate Crabs bats in check for much of the night.

He is joined on the team by some of his former Eureka teammates, a group that includes Alex Jimenez, Cole Zeller and Garrett Levitt.

Three players from the Big 5 champion Del Norte team also are playing for the Eagles this summer.

Cooper Ohlsen in action for the Humboldt Eagles at the Arcata Ball Park on Wednesday night.

All-league selections Aidan Rice and Saxon Taylor have both signed up, along with Del Norte teammate Willie Nelson.

Two McKinleyville Panthers will also play for the Eagles this summer — Kolbey Stolpe and Joseph Forbes-Cappiello — along with Arcata High’s Finn Warner, who recently played a key role in leading the Tigers to a North Coast Section championship.

Hoopa’s Lyle McKinnon and St. Bernard’s Michael Manzi round out the 2025 roster after outstanding seasons for both Little 4 stars this spring.

The Eagles’ schedule is still being finalized.

Michael Manzi