Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from Tuesday’s Crusaders/Wildcats game at Ferndale High.

A pair of young pitchers stepped up in the biggest game of the year so far in the H-DNL on Tuesday, as the St. Bernard’s Crusaders won a battle of unbeaten teams on opening day in the Little 4 at Ferndale High.

The visitors prevailed 8-5, improving to 1-0 in the Little 4 and 9-0 overall, while the Cats dropped to 0-1 and 8-1.

Also in the Little 4 on opening day, South Fork traveled to Hoopa and came away with a 7-4 win over the Warriors to move into a tie with SB atop the early standings.

Sophomore Saehwan Kwon got the start on the hill for SB and pitched 3.1 innings for the win, with freshman Teyler Bailey taking over in the fourth and recording the save in his Little 4 debut.

Kwon gave up two unearned runs on one hit and one walk and struck out four, while Bailey allowed six hits and a walk and struck out three.

“On the opening day of the league season, it was two young pitchers that carried our team to victory,” St. Bernard’s head coach Matt Tomlin said. 

The game itself was a little sloppy by both teams, and the Wildcats certainly had their chances.

Trailing 8-2 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cats rallied to score three runs to pull within three.

In the following inning, they loaded the bases with bo outs, but the young Bailey and his defense got out of the jam, and the Crusaders held on down the stretch.

The loss was the first of the year for Ferndale, but the Cats will get the opportunity to quickly put it behind them when they travel to play St. Bernard’s at Crusader Field on Thursday.

“The main thing is we have a chance to fix it on Thursday, but you don’t ever want to lose on opening day,” Ferndale head coach Justin Andersen said. “It gave us plenty of teaching moments.”

While the younger players helped carry the Crusaders on the mound, the play of two ever-reliable seniors also played a pivotal role in the victory.

Reigning Little 4 MVP Luke Brunton had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs, while catcher Michael Manzi helped keep the young pitchers focused from behind the plate and also was 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs.

“Senior Michael Manzi has been playing like the best player in the H-DNL to start the season,” Tomlin said. “He blasted two doubles and had a great day behind the plate as he provided great leadership to our young pitchers.”

The Ferndale pitchers also had a good day, especially relief pitcher Colton Renner.

Senior Prescott Langer got the start and threw four innings, giving up five earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out five

Renner closed out the game and held the Crusaders scoreless the remainder of the way.

“I thought Colton did really well,” Andersen said. “He gave us an opportunity to come back and win the game, but we didn’t take advantage of it.”

In addition to Brunton and Manzi, St. Bernard’s Henry Hinrichs also impressed at the plate and finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, while Braylon Johnson was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Max Collins finished 1-for-4 with a double.

But it wasn’t all good news for the Crusaders, who committed seven errors.

Another freshman, Jarren Biondini, was a bright spot on defense for the visitors at first base.

“He picked two balls out of the dirt at first base and saved multiple runs with his defense,” Tomlin said of Biondini.

Ferndale’s Preston Killingsworth finished 1-for-3 with a double and a run, while teammate Cade Renner was 1-for-3 and Tanner Pidgeon was 1-for-4 with a big two-RBI triple in the fourth, before scoring himself moments later on a Westin Ayala base hit.

Ayala finished 1-for-4, as did Brad Williams, who hit a double.

Langer and Colton Renner each also was 1-for-4, with Langer also scoring a run.

South Fork 7, Hoopa 4

Cody Wheeler was “the star of the game” for the Cubs, according to assistant coach Alex Finn, as they began their Little 4 campaign on a winning note at Hoopa.

Wheeler finished 2-for-2 at the plate with two walks, two stolen bases and two runs.

The junior also pitched a complete game for the win on the mound, giving up just two earned runs and striking out seven.

With the win, the Cubs improved to 1-0 in the Little 4 and 5-7 overall, while Hoopa dropped to 0-1 and 4-4.

The Warriors, who started slow before coming to life late in the game, were led by senior Brian Richards, who finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

Barrett Myers and Kaydon Matilton each also went 1-for-3 for the home team, while David Sylvia finished 1-for-4.

Myers also took the loss on the mound, while Delmer Ferris and Allen Kane each had an RBI.

“Overall, we didn’t swing the bats very well,” said Hoopa head coach Boyd Ferris, who added that the team bats did come alive in the later innings.

The Warriors also popped up 10 times and struck out eight times, while also missing some catchable pop flies.

Sophomore Mason Bell continued to impress for the Cubs, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs and a stolen base, while Travis “T-Bone” Way had a good day on the bases, finishing 2-for-4 with a walk and three stolen bases.

John Stafslien added a double for South Fork, while Kael Puno was 1-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and two runs, and freshman Ryan Tosten was 1-for-3 with a walk.

The young Tosten also played some solid defense at second base, as did Bodhi Howes in right field.

Howes made two big plays in the outfield, including a diving catch.

The two teams will face off again at South Fork on Thursday.