Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — While the early-season North Coast Section baseball and softball rankings should be taken with a pinch of salt, it makes for good reading for H-DNL fans.

According to MaxPreps, two local teams feature in the top 10 in the NCS and four more feature in the top 20.

Leading the way is the St. Bernard’s baseball team, which is ranked higher than any other H-DNL program right now.

The Crusaders, who are 6-0, are ranked No. 7 in the NCS and No. 1 in Division 6.

The next highest-ranked local team is the Ferndale baseball team, which is just one spot behind the Crusaders at No. 8.

The Wildcats, who are also unbeaten on the season with a record of 7-0, are also just one spot behind the Crusaders in Division 6.

The McKinleyville Panthers also feature in the top 20, coming in at No. 17 after starting the season 7-1.

The Panthers are also the top-ranked section team in Division 4, one spot ahead of Marin Catholic.

Eureka (8-4) is No. 34 in the NCS, followed by No. 75 Del Norte (3-4), No. 87 Arcata (3-5) and No. 93 South Fork (4-4).

Hoopa and Fortuna do not yet have any rankings on MaxPreps.

In softball, three H-DNL teams feature in the top 20 early in the season.

The high-flying Fortuna Huskies, who are 10-0, lead the way at No. 12, with McKinleyville (4-1) just four spots back at No. 16, and Del Norte (7-3) at No. 20.

Defending Little 4 champs South Fork (4-4) is No. 44, followed by Arcata (5-2) at No. 49 ad Hoopa Valley (4-4) at No. 71.

Eureka (1-3), Ferndale (4-0) and St. Bernard’s do not have any early-season rankings yet.

The Fortuna girls are also No. 2 in Division 4, with McKinleyville one spot behind them at No. 3 and Del Norte two spots further back at No. 5.

South Fork is No. 4 in Division 5.

Submitted photo – The Fortuna players and coaches celebrate their tournament win at Cloverdale over the weekend. The Huskies are 10-0 and the top-ranked local team in the NCS right now.