Grizzlies take second at tourney

Kevin Walsworth, right, of the Del Norte Grizzlies American Legion baseball team is congratulated by teammates during a game at the Bobby Goss Invitational Tournament in the Eureka area over the weekend. The Grizzlies placed second overall to improve to 13-1 overall. Photo courtesy of Michelle Heglemeyer

“We are playing excellent baseball. I’m pleased,” he said. “But we’re not done yet.”

At the tournament, held at Redwood Field in Cutten, Del Norte downed Northern Humboldt on Thursday and Oroville on Friday.

On Saturday, the Grizzlies defeated Southern Humboldt  14-4.

Del Norte had eight runs in the first inning and did not look back.

Layton O’Reilley had a five inning complete game pitching performance for the Grizzlies. He had eight strikeouts and gave up six hits. He also went 2-for-3 from the plate with an RBI.

Zach Heglemeyer was 3-for-3 with an RBI while Kyler Davis was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. In the second game, Del Norte met the Eureka Falcons, who have been the elite team in the Grizzlies division for quite some time.

Del Norte started out well in the top of the first when Joey Yeoman hit a double. He scored on a hit by Walsworth. By the end of the inning Del Norte had a 3-0 lead.

Grizzlies pitcher Mickey O’Reilley kept the Falcons off balance the majority of the game giving up only five hits with three strikeouts.

Enos said O’Reilley had a good pitching performance and the defense did a good job behind him.

While Eureka put up three runs in the sixth, by that time Del Norte had five runs and held on for the win.

Walsworth led Del Norte hitters by going 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Enos said several other Del Norte players made contributions, saying it was a true team effort to earn the victory.

On Sunday, Del Norte faced Eureka again for the right to go on to the title game.

Walsworth pitched a masterful game in the 2-0 extra inning contest. He went nine innings giving up only two hits and had five strikeouts.

“He pitched an awesome game,” Enos said. “He had total control of his pitches.”

While Del Norte got hits it was unable to get runs in until the ninth inning.

Greg Kirby started the inning with a base hit. Travis Stacey proceeded to rip a triple to bring in Kirby. Later, Stacey was brought in by a hit by Yeoman.

Enos commended Stacey, the  youngest player on the team, for coming through with a clutch hit.

Walsworth went 3-for-5, while Yeoman was 1-for-4 with an RBI and Stacey was 2-for-4 with a triple and a run.

Against Oroville in the title game Enos said while he felt his team played a good game, Oroville was able to get timely hits and take away potential runs with outstanding defense in the 5-1 loss for De Norte.

Enos estimated that good defensive plays by Oroville took away three to four runs for his team.

“We just couldn’t get the ball to drop,” Enos said. “That’s baseball.”

Walsworth, Mickey O’Reilley and Heglemeyer were named to the all-tournament team.

While proud that these three players earned accolades Enos said that his entire team played well and everyone who played for  the Grizzlies made a case for the honor. “We played team baseball,” he said.