The Crabs battled the Redding Colt .45s to a 0-0 draw through nine innings in Sunday's championship game behind a two-hit masterpiece from Peter Mendez, but Redding broke through with four runs in the 10th to take the title.
"While a somewhat surprising outcome – we always want the Crabs to win – the Western Tri-State Tournament was a success from a baseball, Crabs Board of Directors and community point of view," said Crabs President Randy Robertson. "Good teams playing good baseball, hitting, pitching, defense, extra innings. The tournament really had it all, including a 15-inning game and a Crabs game that finished at 1:09 am Sunday."
The Crabs and Colt .45s had both posted 2-0 records going into Sunday's finale, making it a true winner-take-all matchup. Each had beaten the Nevada Bighorns and Southern Oregon RiverDogs earlier in the tournament. Redding had had to work hard to dispatch the Bighorns in 15 innings Saturday night, resulting in the late start time (after 10:30) for the Crabs-RiverDogs game. In Sunday's first game, the Bighorns took third place in the tournament with an 8-7 win over the RiverDogs.
"Congratulations to the Redding Colt .45's in winning the Western Tri-State, and then a very special thanks to the Times-Standard newspaper for its sponsorship of the Western Tri-State Tournament," said Robertson. "Without a great sponsor like the Times-Standard, hosting a four-team tournament is very difficult for the Crabs to do. Thanks again to the T-S and the community for supporting the tournament and Crabs baseball."
For their part, the Crabs seem to have already put Sunday's loss behind them. They swept a two-game mini-series from the always-tough Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox Tuesday and Wednesday, avenging a four-game sweep last season.
Tuesday's game went 12 innings, with Derrick Chung's bases-loaded walk forcing in Beck Wheeler with the winning run. Erik Bess also made his return to the Crabs after being called up from the Humboldt Steelheads. Bess pitched for the Crabs in 2006.
On Wednesday, Hunter Carnavale danced his way out of several tough spots, allowing just one hit in six innings, despite yielding seven hits and six walks. Caleb Annesley had the big blast in the game, giving Humbodlt a lead it wouldn't relinquish with a two-run homer in the fifth.
The wins keep the Crabs atop their division in the Horizon Air Summer Series with less than two weeks left in their season. They should also give the team a confidence boost heading into the final 12 games on the schedule, none of which are against pushover opponents.
They start with a four-game series this weekend against the Maxim Yankees, followed by a quick two-gamer against the Corvallis Knights on Monday and Tuesday. The Crabs will make it eight games in six days with a doubleheader on Wednesday, July 30 against the Seaside Wildcats, who before Sunday's game were leading the Engelken Division of the Horizon Air Summer Series with an 11-3 record. The season finishes up with a four-game series against the Gresham Mountaineers. The Mountaineers are the Corvallis Knights' version of the Steelheads, an affiliated feeder team of the parent club. They should not be taken lightly, however. They split two games with the Knights this year, including a 5-2 win on July 17.
Crabs Defeat Gold Sox in 12-Inning Thriller. Arcata, CA (July 22, 2008) - The Humboldt Crabs got the best of the visting Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox Tuesday night as they pulled off a 5-4 win in 12 innings. Beck Wheeler (U. of the Pacific) scored on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 12th inning to seal the deal in front of 365 Crabs fans at the Arcata Ballpark. The Gold Sox jumped on Crabs starting pitcher Erik Bess (South Dakota State), who was recently called up from the Humboldt Steelheads, early with a run in the first inning but the Crabs responded with a run in the second and three in the fourth led by a 2 run double by Crabs clean-up hitter Jeff Giacomini (Bellevue University). Bess, a Fortuna native in his second stint with the Crabs after starring for the team in 2005 and 2006, settled in on the mound and threw 5 and 1/3 quality innings before giving way to former Jackrabbit teammate Kirby Morsching (South Dakota State) who kept the Gold Sox scoreless through 4 and 2/3 innings. The Crabs loaded the bases in the bottom of the 12th with one out when shortstop Derrick Chung (Sacramento State) patiently drew a walk to bring home the game winning run. Isaac Johnson, another standout pitcher from South Dakota State, picked up the win in relief, his 4th of the season. The Crabs improved their record to 28-7 and will take on these same Gold Sox Wednesday night at the Arcata Ballpark in a single game scheduled for 7:00. If you can't make it to the game, Crabs radio announcers Hoke Holcomb and "The Professor" Benjamin Schaffer provide play by play action on Crabs streaming audio which is available by clicking on the "Listen to the Crabs" link above.
LEO ROSALES (2002) MAKES MLB DEBUT DEBUT D'BACKS Leo Rosales, a member of the 2002 team that won the All-American Invitational Tournament, became the latest Crab to make it to the Big Show last Sunday when he made his Major League debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After being called up from triple-A Tucson earlier in the day, Rosales came in out of the bullpen in the seventh inning of the D'Backs' game against the Royals, and allowed four hits and one run in 1 2/3 innings of work. Rosales, who went to Cal State Northridge, has pitched in 28 games for Tucson so far this year. He was 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA, and was a perfect 9-for-9 in save opportunities for the Rattlers. According to the Diamondbacks' Web site, the team told Rosales that they hadn't decided whether he'd stay in the majors for a while or be sent back down soon. Rosales was drafted by San Diego in the 20th round of the 2003 First Year Player Draft. In Baseball America's 2006 Best Tools survey, he was said to have the best changeup in the Padres' farm system.
Former Crab Craig Parry drafted by Pirates ARCATA (June 9)— South Dakota State senior Craig Parry, who was one of the Humboldt Crabs' stars in 2007, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 50th round of last week's Major League Baseball draft. "It feels awesome," said Parry when reached by phone on Monday. "I had known the Pirates would be my best shot at getting drafted this year. Their regional scout had called me with a couple of weeks left in the season and came out to visit me while I was still in South Dakota doing workouts." Parry, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound outfielder, knew that if he was drafted at all, it would be on the second day, but as things moved into the later rounds without his phone ringing, he began to get anxious. "I had mixed emotions," he said. "It was definitely nerve-racking. I knew it was my last shot. I was going to be disappointed if I didn't get the opportunity, but I tried to be optimistic." The good news finally came in the very last round. "I had friends at the house, and my friends and family were all standing at the computer. I was away from it when my name popped up, and everyone got pretty excited." A moment later the phone rang. It was Chris Klein, the Pirates' scout, confirming the good news. On Wednesday he will fly to Bradenton, Fla., where the Pirates hold spring training, to work out for a week before going to State College, Pa., to play for the State College Spikes, the Pirates' short-season "A" team. Parry is part of the ever-growing connection between the Crabs and the South Dakota State program, run by former Crab Reggie Christiansen. He started 44 of 54 games for the Crabs last season, hitting .324 with 11 doubles and a team-leading 42 runs scored. His numbers at South Dakota State this year were even more impressive as he was named to the all-Summit League First team. He led the Jackrabbits with 10 homers, 47 RBIs, a .646 slugging pct. and a school-record 20 doubles. Of the Crabs' experience, Parry said, "It's a great atmosphere, day in, day out, the fans were awesome. It's definitely one of the most fun summers I've had. I'm glad I was able to have that opportunity."
A Good Time Was Had By All. The Pre-Season Banquet at the Arcata Community Center was an unqualified success, and marked the official kick off of the 64th season of Crabs baseball. The highlight of the evening was the guest speaker, former Crabs star Dane Iorg. Iorg, a Blue Lake native, played for the Crabs between 1968 and 1970 and went on to play for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals, picking up two World Series rings as a bonus. Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd, Dane told tales of his days in the majors, and sharing stories about team mate Ozzie Smith, manager Whitey Herzog, and opponents Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens. Recounting his thrilling game-winning single in game six of the 1985 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and his former St. Louis Cardinals team, he mesmerized the crowd of 400 Humboldt County baseball fans. Throughout his speech, he emphasized that his major-league dreams were made possible by the foundation in baseball he received with Blue Lake Little League, Local Pony League, Arcata High Tigers Baseball, American Legion Baseball and the Humboldt Crabs. His energetic, humorous and inspiring speech will live in the hearts of Crabs fans, and spark nostalgic memories far into future seasons. The Crabs also honored the national champion HSU softball team. The players and received an enthusiastic welcome from the assembled crowd, and Coach Frank Cheek received a standing ovation after his remarks. Crabs Manager Matt Nutter introduced his coaching staff and the 2008 Crabs team. Fans had an opportunity to meet the players and talk some baseball with the new team and with friends attending the dinner. New and returning Ballpark Staff received a hearty welcome from fans, and had a bit of a dress-rehearsal for their summer jobs. At the close of the dinner, Crabs President Randy Robertson declared the 2008 season officially under way. It’s time to Play Ball, and we’ll see you at the ballpark.
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