ARCATA (July 19, 2009) — On a sunny Sunday afternoon in Arcata, Nick Melino went for a walk. In so doing, he drove in the only run in a 1-0 victory that gave the Crabs a series sweep of the Bay-Cal Yankees.
Melino's bases-loaded base on balls in the bottom of the ninth inning forced in Isaac Vivas to break a scoreless tie and send the Arcata Ball Park crowd home happy with a four-game sweep.
The Crabs' Greg Fisher and fellow southpaw, the Yankees' Rob Enriquez, both baffled opponents, throwing up zero after zero. Fisher struck out six of the first seven Yankees he faced, and allowed just two hits while striking out 12 and walking one in 7 innings.
The Crabs now head off on the road for the first time in 2009, up to Medford for a WCL Tri-State twinbill against the Southern Oregon RiverDawgs. Humboldt (7-3 in league) holds a slim half-game lead over the Folsom Pioneers (9-6), while the RiverDawgs are three games back at 5-7.
And speaking of the Pioneers, they cruise into Arcata on Wednesday to greet the Crabs as they return from Medford. The Crabs and Pioneers will play six league games from Wednesday to Sunday — 5:30 p.m. doubleheaders Wednesday and Saturday, and single games Friday night at 7 and Sunday afternoon at 12:30. With eight league games in six days, the Crabs could put some distance between themselves and the pack as they hit the home stretch.
Pleaes note: Given that they are playing six league games against the Crabs this week, the Pioneers will not be playing the Humboldt Steelheads on Thursday at the Arcata Ball Park as planned. The Steelies will still be at the Ball Park, taking on the Eel River Eels at 7 p.m. Come on out and see some great local players in action!
