The McKinleyville bats came out swinging on Friday, as the Panthers opened the new baseball season with a pair of wins at the Foothill tournament.

McKinleyville started with a 9-5 win over Red Bluff and followed that with a 15-5 victory over Hamilton.

The Arcata Tigers were also in action at the tournament and lost both of their opening-day games, falling 3-2 to Fort Bragg and 12-1 to Foothill.

Hunter Carper got the new season off to a good start for McKinleyville, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs against Red Bluff, including a two-run home run.

Rhythm Green also impressed at the plate in the win, finishing 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while Pat Wilson went 1-for-3 with a triple.

“We were happy to be on the field. It’s been wet,” McKinleyville head coach Mike Dobrec said. “We’ve got a ways to go, but the kids swung the bats well today. 

“We’ve got stuff to clean up. It’s still a work in progress.”

Tate Saso, Ruger Baxter and Bode Reininger each also had a base hit and an RBI in the season-opening win, while Joe Tanno and Blake Santos each was 1-for-3.

Saso got the win on the mound in relief, throwing three innings and allowing just one hit while striking out one.

Tanno got the start and allowed five hits in four innings whole striking out four.

Tanno also had the highlight at-bat against Hamilton, hitting his first high school home run.

The junior finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Green also continued to impress and finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Saso went 2-for-4 with two triples and two RBIs.

Green got the win on the hill, throwing three innings and striking out three.

Reininger and Santos both threw in relief.

Reininger and Carper each also had a double, with the latter driving in two more runs.

Wilson had a productive game and finished 1-for-3 with four RBIs, while Santos was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and freshman Carson Hicks finished 1-for-4 in his first high school action.

The Panthers continue tournament play on Saturday.

Fort Bragg 3, Arcata 2

Foothill 12, Arcata 1

A young Tigers team that features several starting freshmen and sophomores got the new season started against a pair of quality opponents on Friday.

Canyon Martin hit successfully in both games for the defending North Coast Section champions, finishing 1-for-3 in the opener and going 1-for-2 for his team’s only hit in game two.

“Both of those were very competitive teams,” Arcata head coach Troy Ghisetti said. “We’re just making a few too many mental mistakes.”

Emilio Medina, Rylan Kees and Joe Wellick each also had a base hit for the Tigers against Fort Bragg.

Romeo Willard got the start on the hill against Timberwolves and threw six solid innings, giving up just one earned run and striking out eight.

Tanner Kees took the loss in relief.

Rylan Kees took the mound against Foothill, striking out five in three innings in his first high school start.

The Tigers will continue tournament play against West Valley on Saturday afternoon at 2:30.