Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The McKinleyville Junior League All-Stars in action at Newberg Park last week.

Here we go again.

For the fifth straight year, a group of young McKinleyville baseball players have advanced to the state playoffs.

On Friday night, McKinleyville won a fifth straight game to secure the District 26 Junior League All-Star championship at Newburg Park in Fortuna.

And they had to do it the hard way.

After dropping their tournament opener to Eel River, the McKinleyville players battle back through the loser’s bracket to win five straight elimination games.

But anyone who has followed these young players in recent years won’t be surprised by the fight they showed all week.

“That first loss was on the coaches,” McKinleyvile manager Jaime Arredondo said. “I can’t blame the kids. They played well. We experimented and it backfired.”

The players would answer the call with victories over Klamath Trinity (19-0), Arcata (16-2) and Redwood Empire (15-5) to earn a rematch with Eel River in the championship round.

On Thursday night, they rallied from an early deficit to beat Eel River 8-5 to set up a true championship showdown on Friday.

And with momentum on their side, they cruised to a comfortable 16-0 win to secure the championship.

“They came to play,” Arredondo said of his players. “I think (the opening loss) was a good wake-up call. I think we’re firing on all cylinders right now.”

The championship was particularly gratifying for one player.

After suffering a long-term injury early in the postseason last year, Breyden Brock, one of the best young pitchers in the county, returned to action and pitched his first complete game in a year in Friday night’s championship showdown.

Submitted photo – The McKinleyville players and coaches celebrate their championship win on Friday night.

And Brock gave up just one hit on his way to the win.

“He pitched a gem,” Arredondo said. “I was really happy for him.”

The back-to-back losses were obviously disappointing for the young Eel River players, but they enjoyed a good postseason run, including a memorable win over McKinleyville in their opener, which was this group of players’ first over their rivals.

“McKinleyville played great and momentum is a big factor,” Eel River manager Fred Robinson said. “But these players had never beaten McKinleyville in an All-Star game, so that first game was a huge highlight for us.”

Several players stepped up for Eel River on a roster that included AJ Campbell, Bryce Neuman, Brodie Crosswhite, Cameron Hilldebrandt, Carson “Chowder” McGinnis, Jarren Biondini, Jayce Robinson, Mason Long, Miles Sirrine, Scott Oldham, Tegan Dalton, Teyler Bailey and Bryson Maniaci.

“I really enjoyed how much our kids enjoyed the tournament and had fun,” Fred Robinson added. “Even (on Friday night) when we were getting our butts kicked, they were still having fun.

“They love being around each other and they want to play the right way, and they had great sportsmanship.”

Trevor Maniaci and Justin Biondini were assistant coaches with the team.

The week, however, belonged to the McKinleyville All-Stars, who once again prevailed, outscoring their opponents 79-27 in their six games.

This is a team that has many stars and few weaknesses, with some of the best young pitchers in the district, a dynamic middle infield of Carson Hicks and Teoh Arredondo and a center fielder (Tyson Marshall) that Jaime Arredondo believes could be the best for his age group in all of Northern California.

Hudson Kapko continued to impress and had a big night on the mound in Thursday’s win, while Ty Wade led the way on the hill in Wednesday’s win over Redwood Empire.

Other players also impressed on the way to the championship, including first baseman Blake Carper and catcher Cabella Carper.

Blake led the way at the plate all week, along with Hicks.

“He’s on fire right now,” Jaime Arredondo said of Blake. “He’s big, he’s super strong, he might be our hottest hitter right now.”

Hicks also was on fire at the plate during tournament play and hit “I don’t know how many triples,” according to his manager.

“Those two absolutely have been hitting the ball well,” Jaime Arredondo said. 

Everett Gruetzmacher, Brylon Smith, Hunter Meister and Jared Brunner each also impressed on the way to the championship on a loaded team that can cause problems for opposing pitches anywhere in the lineup.

Meister is a first-time All-Star and he took full advantage of the opportunity, coming up with a pivotal catch in right field in the seventh inning of Thursday’s game, at a time when the outcome was still in the balance.

“I would say that was the play of the tournament,” Jaime Arredondo said. “If it had dropped it would have tied the game. It was a huge play.”

Hicks at shortstop and second baseman Teoh Arredondo both also made several plays in the middle infield, while Marshall rarely disappoints in center field.

“Tyson Marshall might be the best center fielder in the northern half of the state,” his manager said. “He’s fast, he tracks the ball and he has a lot of energy.”

Brunner also impressed on the mound earlier in the week, showcasing the team’s pitching depth, as the Mack All-Stars had to navigate six games in seven days.

Overall, it was another successful district tournament.

“The tournament went great. The crowds were there all week and it was a great competitive atmosphere,” Fred Robinson said. “I tip my cap to McKinleyville. They made the adjustments after we beat them. They’re a very good program and they knew how to beat us with small ball.”

The McKinleyville All-Stars will now turn their attention to the upcoming Area tournaments which kicks off in Yuba City on July 3.

“They’re excited, they’re experienced, and they’re up for the challenge,” Jaime Arredondo said. “We’re firing on all cylinders and we’re feeling confident.”

A state championship is the goal for this group after they placed second in the NorCal tournament three years ago.