By Ray Hamill — On Friday, Tate Saso showed us why he is one of the frontrunners for this year’s Big 5 MVP, and the McKinleyville Panthers gave us a timely reminder that they are the best team on the North Coast heading into the postseason.

In a showdown of conference champs, St. Bernard’s traveled to McKinleyville on the final day of the regular season and the home team prevailed 6-4.

And they won with some power at the plate, with three of the Panthers’ seven hits going for home runs.

Saso led the way with a monster day at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs.

McKinleyville’s Hunter Carper also hit a home run, giving both of the hard-hitting teammates five on the season.

Saso has been hugely influential for the Big 5 champs all year.

The sophomore standout is averaging a team-best .450 at the plate, with team-highs in home runs, RBIs (25) and triples (two).

He also is 4-0 on the mound with a save and an ERA of 2.20.

“I think Tate is in the running for MVP,” McKinleyville head coach Mike Dobrec said. “He’s hit well all year and he’s been a force on the mound. He’s had a great season.”

Junior Joe Tanno also enjoyed a big game for the home team and pitched five innings for the win, giving up just one earned run on five hits and striking out seven.

“Tanno did well on the mound,” Dobrec said of the standout junior, who posted his team-best fifth win of the spring and has yet to lose on the hill. “Every time he takes the mound, he gives us a chance to win.”

The loss was the second of the week for the Crusaders, but just their third on the season.

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

But the Little 4 champs continued to battle on Friday, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to make for an interesting finish.

“First of all, I want to compliment McKinleyville,” St. Bernard’s head coach Matt Tomlin said. “They have a great ball club. Joe Tanno pitched outstanding for them tonight, and Saso and Carper hit three impressive home runs.

Carper finished 1-for-3 with the home run and also pitched the final inning to help see his team over the line, giving up three runs and striking out one.

Pat Wilson also impressed for the home team and finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, as the Panthers overcame an early deficit with two runs in the bottom of the third and took control of the game with four more runs in the fifth.

Jake Brunner (1-for-3 with an RBI) and Bode Reininger (1-for-3) also had base hits for McKinleyville, which improved to 21-2 on the season.

“It was a good competitive game,” Dobrec said. “St. Bernard’s has a good program.”

The Hinrichs brothers — senior Tyler and sophomore Henry — continued to play key roles for the Crusaders.

Tyler, who is among the frontrunners for Little 4 MVP, got the start on the mound and threw four solid innings against a dangerous McKinleyville lineup, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks and striking out five.

He also was 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and had a stolen base.

His younger brother capped a big week at the plate by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs.

It was the third game in four days that the sophomore had multiple hits.

“I like that we didn’t quit and made it a ball game,” said Tomlin, whose team dropped to 21-3. 

“Although we lost, this game will make us a better team going into the postseason. We battled a great pitcher and solid team and our young players learned a lot about what it takes to play at this level.”

Mason Noel also impressed for the visitors, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while teammate Dakota Bestul was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run.”

Saehwan Kwon pitched the final two innings for SB, giving up one unearned run on two hits and no walks and striking out two.

Next up, both schools will turn their attention to next week’s Charles Lakin Tournament.

As conference champs, both teams have first-round byes and will begin tournament play in Thursday’s semifinals at the Arcata Ball Park.

The Panthers will play the winner of Tuesday’s Del Norte/Ferndale game at 4 p.m., and the Crusaders will play the winner of the South Fork/Eureka game at 7 p.m.