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The Warriors left themselves in contention for a co-championship in Big 5 baseball with a important victory on Wednesday.
The Del Norte boys traveled to Fortuna and came away with an 11-2 win to keep alive their hopes of a second straight conference title.
With three games remaining, the path for the Warriors is clear, albeit difficult.
If they win their three remaining games — two at McKinleyville on Saturday and one at home against Eureka next Wednesday — the Warriors will finish in a two- or three-way tie for the title.
On Wednesday, they gave themselves some momentum heading into a pivotal few days in conference play, pulling away late against a Fortuna team that gave them plenty of problems.
“We did not take them for granted,” Del Norte head coach Jeff Cook said of the Huskies, who are winless in conference play. “And it was closer than it ended.”
Leading 2-1, the Warriors scored three runs in the top of the fourth to put some distance between the two teams and would add five in the seventh for a more flattering final score.
Eight different Del Norte players hit successfully in what was a balanced team performance, led by Damian Escalera.
The junior finished 4-for-5 in the win, while freshman teammate Michael Mavris also impressed at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with one of the best games of his young high school career.
Jeremiah Griffin also continued to hit the ball hard and was 1-for-3 with a double, while another freshman, Jaxon Sharp, continued his impressive debut season at the varsity level and was 2-for-3.
The versatile Sharp, who has been playing multiple different positions for the Warriors this spring, was one of three pitchers to see action for the visitors, pitching the final three innings and striking out six.
Ben Shrewsberry threw the opening three innings and struck out five with Landon Williams throwing one inning in middle relief, and both of Del Norte’s top two pitchers will be available for Saturday’s make-or-break doubleheader.
Williams and Dane Brown each also had multiple hits in Wednesday’s win.
Williams finished 2-for-5 and Brown was 2-for-4.
Shrewsberry and Charlie Martell each also had a base hit in the win.
Freshman Brice Neuman hit a double for one of four hits for Fortuna, as did Casey Moore, with Alex Sharkey and Greg Fitzgerald each hitting a single.
With the win, the Warriors improved to 6-3 in the Big 5 and 12-9 overall.
The Huskies will close out the Big 5 in a home doubleheader against Arcata on Saturday.
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