Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

Junior Ryder Mitchell carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of Thursday night’s Charles Lakin Tournament semifinal, as the Eureka Loggers posted a fourth straight shutout victory.

The Big 5 No. 2 seeds faced off against crosstown rival and Little 4 champion St. Bernard’s and prevailed 8-0, stretching their winning streak to nine straight, including back-to-back shutouts in tournament play.

They will now play McKinleyville in the tournament decider for the third straight year, as they look to avenge losses in each of the last two finals.

“The job is not done, and the boys are well aware of that,” Eureka head coach Tommy Gale said.

The Panthers, who edged Eureka for this year’s Big 5 crown and have won two of three matchups with the Loggers this spring, got the better of Del Norte 5-1 in Thursday’s other tournament semifinal.

Mitchell was outstanding against St. Bernard’s, giving up just one base hit and one walk on the night and striking out 11.

He also made plenty of noise at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and three runs.

“Ryder Mitchell was certainly the star of the show,” Gale said. “It was an outstanding performance.”

The loss was a tough one for the Crusaders, who suffered two big injuries in the opening inning when Luke Brunton and Henry Hinrichs collided while trying to make a play on a pop up to right field.

Both players were taken to hospital for evaluation.

“Hats off to Eureka,” St. Bernard’s head coach Matt Tomlin said. “Mitchell pitched outstanding for them, they played great defense behind him, and they swung the bats well.

“They are a hot baseball team and are prepared to make a nice run win the postseason.”

Brylon Smith, one of several impressive freshmen on this year’s St. Bernard’s team, broke up Mitchell’s no-hitter with a base hit in the seventh as he continues to establish himself at the high school level.

The always dangerous Brayden Bermers also had a good game for the Loggers, finishing 2-for-4 with two doubles an RBI and a run.

Jesse Vasquez (1-for-3 with two RBIs), Ty Crawford (1-for-4 with a run) and Bryson Burns (1-for-3 with a walk and a run) each also had a hit in the win.

Vasquez and Giacone both had highlight plays on defense for the Big 5 school, making diving catches in the outfield, while Crawford looked good all night at shortstop.

“I generally get more enthused about seeing the zeros in the error column,” Gale said. “I thought we played clean baseball. It takes a while team to put together a pitching performance like that.”

Vasquez’s catch was particularly key in keeping the no-hitter in tact.

“The catch Jesse Vasquez made diving into the left field bullpen was one of the best plays I have ever witnessed in a high school baseball game,” Tomlin said. 

Garrett Shanahan took the loss on the mound for the Crusaders.

The junior got the start and threw 2.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on six hits and a walk and striking out two.

Freshman Teyler Bailey and sophomore Saehwan Kwon both pitched well in relief.

Bailey threw 2.1 innings and gave up one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out two, while Kwon threw 2.1 hitless innings, allowing no walks and striking out four.

“I was proud of the job Teyler Bailey and Saehwan Kwon did in relief tonight,” Tomlin said. “(They) both competed and pitched well.”

The Crusaders are now 21-4 on the season as they get set for the upcoming North Coast Section playoffs and should receive a high seed in the Division-4 bracket.

Eureka improved to 20-6.

Friday’s championship game is set for 7 p.m.