Submitted photo – Tanner Kees (center) pictured with his family on senior day for the Tigers, including his younger brother Rylan (right).
It’s been difficult season for the Arcata High baseball team, but the Tigers got to celebrate something special on Saturday and something you don’t see every day in high school sports anywhere.
Head coach Troy Ghisetti and his players traveled to Fortuna to play a doubleheader against the Huskies, and the visitors swept, winning 3-2 and 13-2 in five innings.
And it was the Kees brothers who led the way to victory.
Senior Tanner, one of the top players in the H-DNL this spring, and freshman Rylan posted the wins on the mound, giving the siblings victories on the same afternoon.
Any time you get to play on the same team as your brother it’s a special occasion, but when you both get the victories on the mound on the same day it’s even more special and something we rarely see in sports, especially when your team has struggled for much of the season.
“The Kees dominated on the mound,” Ghisetti said the brothers, who both threw complete games. “They’re wonderful kids, and we’re going to miss Tanner Kees. He’s gone out there and done everything I ever asked in four years, and he’s had a lot of success at Arcata High School.”
Tanner, a two-time North Coast Section champion, got the start in game one and did not allow any walks while striking out nine.
He also had one of his team’s four hits in the win, finishing 1-for-2, while teammates Canyon Martin (1-for-2), Charlie Mager (1-for-2) and Darian Rex (1-for-3) each also had a hit.
Rylan, meanwhile, has had an immediate impact in his first season and has been arguably the most impressive freshman pitcher in the H-DNL this spring, consistently giving his team a chance when he takes the mound.
The young standout appears to have a bright future with the team and continued to showcase his talents with another strong performance at Fortuna, walking just one and striking out 11.
He got more offensive support than his older brother, with seven Arcata players combining for 11 base hits.
File photo – Tanner Kees
Sophomore Emilio Medina had another good day and has been a bright spot at the plate for the Tigers all spring, finishing 2-for-2 with a double and his eighth home run of the campaign.
“As a sophomore, that’s pretty good,” Ghisetti said.
Junior Xzavier Gruetzmacher, who is playing baseball for the first time in “five or six years,” according to his coach, had a breakout game for the team, finishing 3-for-3 with a double.
“That kid has been working his butt off in practice and has never complained,” Ghisetti said.
Mager also impressed in the win, finishing 2-for-4, while Martin (1-for-2) and Tanner Kees (1-for-3) each added a double.
Rylan Kees and Rylan Furber each also had a hit and both finished 1-for-2.
With the wins, the Tigers improved to 3-8 in the Big 5 and 8-15 overall, while Fortuna dropped to 0-12 and 1-20.
“Fortuna played very well against us,” Ghisetti said. “They competed very well throughout the day.”
