The Crabs return home this week after a six-game road trip, and it seems safe to say they would like to leave the road in the rearview.
The time away from the confines of the Arcata Ball Park wasn’t particularly kind to the Crabs, as they went 2-4 on a trip that took them first to the Bay Area, for games against three different teams in three days, and then to sweltering Redding for a three-game set against their old friends, the Colt .45s, but things there were not always friendly.
But while coming home will bring cooler air and adoring fans, there wasn’t going to be a lot of time to regroup and recharge, as a busy week lay ahead. Another old friend, Fontanetti’s Athletics, roll into the Redwoods for a three-game visit starting Tuesday night.
And with the unusual Thursday night game this week, there won’t be the customary day of rest before the weekend series against the Solano Mudcats that should have almost as much action off the field as on it.
Friday is the Fourth of July, always one of the most popular dates on the schedule, and also marks the kickoff of the Crabs’ Alumni Weekend. Saturday is Alumni Day, and the Crabs Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will be officially inducted. Sunday is Military & Veterans Appreciation Day, also known as Camo Day, and the team will be wearing special camouflage jerseys.
As for the week that was, the Crabs found the road rather bumpy. The first bump came on the first game of the trip, as Humboldt fell to the Walnut Creek Crawdads 3-2 at Laney College in Oakland on Tuesday, June 24. Taylor Tempel and Brandon Hunley had RBIs to give the Crabs some hope after falling behind 3-0, but they couldn’t complete the comeback.
The next day the Crabs and Menlo Park Legends went on the offensive at Palo Alto High School. Hunley led off the game with a homer and the Crabs led 3-2 after one inning. The teams continued to trade runs but the Crabs never lost that early lead and won 12-8.
On Thursday, June 26, it was back to Laney College, but the opponent was the Neptune Beach Pearl. Morgan McCasland homered and Johnny Melero battled hard on the mound, but the Crabs ultimately fell 3-2.
The team then headed up I-5 to Redding, where things really heated up, and it had nothing to do with the weather. On Friday, June 27, the Crabs’ offense got hot, and starter Andrew Nelson, who already was hot, scorched the Colts’ lineup, allowing just two hits while striking out eight in seven innings in a 10-0 win.
Saturday, it was the tempers that were boiling. There were nine ejections — both managers and seven Crabs players — and a benches-clearing incident after some questionable umpiring. When the flames were finally put out, Redding emerged with a 6-3 win.
A win Sunday could have made it a .500 trip for the Crabs, but it wasn’t to be. The Crabs led 3-0 early, but from the bottom of the third on it was all .45s. The final was 10-3 it was time to head back over highway 299 to cooler climates.
The Crabs record is now 13-9.
• Watch KIEM News Ch. 3 Crabs Corner with Chet Davis from the road in Redding, click here for video.
• Athlete of the Week with Chet Davis from KIEM News Ch. 3
• Crabs Corners every Sunday on KIEM News. Ch. 3
