File photo – Cooper Ohlsen

A busy weekend for the Humboldt Eagles 19Us got under way on Saturday, with the local club playing a pair of games in Petaluma.

The Eagles opened with an 11-7 loss to Yolo Post 77 in eight innings and also fell 15-6 to the Leghorns Academy.

Both games, however, were competitive and there were some bright spots for the Eagles despite the sweep.

Yolo led 7-5 going into the seventh inning of game one, but the Eagles scored twice in the seventh to force the extra innings.

However, Yolo would score four runs in the top of the eighth to take control and held on for the win.

Cole Zeller, Michael Manzi and Garrett Levitt each had two hits for the Eagles, including a triple by the latter, with Alex Jimenez, Finn Warner and Matt Pleasant each also getting a hit to round out a nine-hit team performance.

Jimenez and Manzi each had two RBIs.

Cooper Ohlsen got the start on the mound and pitched five solid innings, but errors and mistakes on defense proved costly for the Eagles as Yolo scored three runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to open up a 7-1 lead.

The Eagles would come storming back with six late unanswered runs and tied the game in the seventh.

Jimenez and Aidan Rice each pitched in relief.

“We got the loss, but I’m proud of the guys for the fight they put up,” Eagles head coach Tommy Gale said.

Game two didn’t start well for the Eagles, who gave ups six runs in the bottom of the first inning to put themselves in an early hole.

But once again, they settled into the game and showed plenty of fight.

However, a six-run sixth inning for the Leghorns ended the game as a contest.

“We could’ve easily shut down there, but we managed to chip away,” Gale said. “Unfortunately a big sixth-inning answer by the Leghorns put the game out of reach.”

Levitt continued to impress in the loss, finishing 3-for-3, while Aidan Rice was 2-for-3 with a double.

Manzi also had two hits, with Jimenez, Warner, Cole Zeller and Scotty Brogan each also had a hit.

Lyle McKinnon got the start on the mound and pitched two innings, before Pleasant took over and threw four strong innings in relief, holding the Leghorns scoreless in three of them.

“Matt Pleasant was the highlight of this game,” Gale said. “He came in to pitch in the third and pitched great the rest of the game.”

The Eagles will continue a busy weekend with two more games against the Leghorn Academy on Sunday.