Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — The Eureka Loggers are succeeding on and off the field of competition.

On Friday morning, five Eureka High student-athletes signed their letters of intent to continue their playing careers in five different sports at the collegiate level, including three who have committed their futures to College of the Redwoods.

A large gathering of family, friends, teammates and coaches were on hand for the ceremony.

The group of athletes moving on includes baseball standout Ty Crawford, who will play for Santa Rosa JC next spring, as well as basketball standout Owen Hiscox, who is taking his talents to El Camino College in Torrance.

Brycen Mismash, Sergio Calderon and Madelis Martinez each also signed their letters of intent to compete at College of the Redwoods.

Mismash will play football at the local community college, while Calderon will play soccer and Martinez will compete in track and field.

All five left their mark on Loggers athletics.

Crawford is coming off an MVP caliber season on the baseball field, as the Loggers pushed McKinleyville all the way to the final day in the race for this year’s Big 5 championship, as well as reaching the Charles Lakin Tournament championship game.

The influential senior averaged .382 at the plate and led his team in several key categories, including RBIs (26), home runs (five) and doubles (eight).

But that was just half the story.

Crawford also was a force on the mound and posted a team-high in wins with a record of 7-2 in 10 appearances and a team-best ERA of 1.08.

He joins a competitive Santa Rosa program that finished 34-15 this spring and made it to the NorCal Regional finals.

Hiscox, meanwhile, played a pivotal role in the Loggers’ historic season in boys basketball this past winter.

After finishing in a tie for third in the Big 5 and missing out on the Dick Niclai Tournament, the Eureka boys stepped up their game in the playoffs and secured the program’s first-ever North Coast Section title.

Hiscox averaged 10.5 points a game in his senior campaign.

“Probably one of the most dedicated kids that I’ve ever coached,” Eureka boys basketball head coach Jimmy Rodgers told the gathering. “Every week he had a routine, every Sunday he had a routine. He would come by and get the key, come to the gym, spend a couple of hours, take a break, come back in the gym, and look what it’s paid off.”

Eureka assistant coach Andrew DeHart praised Hiscox as a role model and someone the younger players would look up to.

“Owen’s definitely set the standard as far as work ethic, but also conducting himself on and off the court, being part of the school community and being a leader on the court as well,” DeHart said.

Mismash, according to Eureka High Athletic Director Omar Khattab, has grown as an athlete and a person during his time as a Logger

“The level of growth and maturity that he’s shown since I met him his freshman year is pretty outstanding,” Khattab said. “I think CR’s going to get a really positive young man who’s a really good athlete and I look forward to seeing what you’re going to do next year.”

Calderon, too, grew in stature during his time as a Logger.

“Another kid that I’ve just seen really blossom in the four years here at Eureka High School,” Khattab said. “I’m really proud of him.”

Eureka boys soccer coach Tommy Learmouth echoed the sentiment, describing Calderon as a “fiery competitor.”

Playing in college has been a longtime goal for the Eureka senior.

“This has been his goal,” Learmouth said. “He’s always wanted to play, his mind is in the game, he always wants to talk after practice.”

“So proud of you and all the work you have put in,” he added to Calderon.

Martinez competed in the shot put and discus for the Loggers this spring.

The senior threw a PR of 57’ 2” in the discus this year and has a PR of 20’ 6” in the shot put.

And Eureka head coach Melania Valdez believes she will be a good addition for a competitive CR track and field team.

“Anything that you put your mind to, that’s what you’re going to do,” Valdez told Martinez at Friday’s letter signing ceremony. “So I’m super proud of you, I’m really happy for you.”