Humboldt Crabs Baseball

The Humboldt Crabs are now just one win from a Pacific Empire League championship.

After a huge 10-8 victory over the top-seeded Prune Packers at the Arcata Ball Park on Tuesday night, the Crabs will travel to Healdsburg for game two of the best-of-three championship series on Thursday night.

A victory for the Crabs would secure a first-ever PEL title in the league’s second year of competition, while a win for the Packers would set up a winner-takes-all championship showdown in Healdsburg on Friday night.

Tyler Howard played a key role in Tuesday’s win.

The in-form Howard, who also was hugely influential in leading the Crabs to the championship series, finished with multiple hits for the third straight game, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk and three RBIs.

He also scored three runs.

The game was back and forth.

The Crabs struck first and opened up a four-run lead after two innings.

The visitors, however, would battle back to tie things up with four runs in the top of the fifth, before the hosts added four more runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Once again, the Packers battled back, scoring four more runs in the sixth to leave the two league rivals tied 8-8.

The Crabs re-took the lead with another run in the bottom half of the inning and held the Packers scoreless down the stretch to seal the important win.

Cameron Saso got the start on the mound and threw 5.1 innings for a no decision, allowing six hits and a walk and striking out four.

Of the eight runs Saso allowed, only two were earned.

Brody Jacobs, who got the win, and Adam Enyart both pitched well in relief, combining to hold the high-flying Healdsburg bats hitless and scoreless over the final 3.2 innings.

Tate Medicoff added two hits in the win, including a double, while Jacob Pappas also had a double.

Thursday night’s game, as always, will be broadcast live on local radio (ESPN 107.3 FM and 1340 AM) and streamed live on the Humboldt Crabs YouTube channel.