The boys of summer

Open season at home on Sunday

Joey LeFebvre of the Del Norte Grizzlies makes a throw during practice on Thursday. The team opens the season at home with a doubleheader on Sunday. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Despite a late start, with practices commencing Tuesday, head coach Eric Enos likes his team’s potential.

“We’re going to surprise people,” he said. “It’s a young but talented team.”

The Grizzlies will open the season Sunday with a doubleheader against Southern Humboldt. The first contest begins at noon at the baseball field at Del Norte High School.

It is one of only three home dates currently on the schedule. The next home contest is not until June 29 versus Northern Humboldt.

Enos, the longtime coach of the Grizzlies, did not manage the squad last year and only took over a few weeks ago when new head coach Pat Berkowitz had to step down due to personal reasons.

“I’m happy to be back,” Enos said. “I enjoy working with the kids.”

A new element to the Grizzlies this year will be the number of players from Oregon.

Out of 15 team members, six are from Brookings-Harbor High, three are from Illinois Valley in Cave Junction and one is from Gold Beach. Five Del Norte players are currently on the squad.

Sam Lockyer, who played for the Grizzlies last year and will be a senior at Del Norte High in September, said he is excited to begin the season.

Last year, the squad struggled and Lockyer said despite that there is a lot of enthusiasm and excitement as the new year begins.

“I like this team,” Lockyer said. “We’re all a team here and we all want to be here.”

Trevor Gallian of the Del Norte Grizzlies grabs the baseball during practice on Thursday. For more photos, go to triplicate.com/photos. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Tim Drafhal, who will be a senior at Brookings-Harbor, said that he and several other players were on a senior Babe Ruth team last summer.

When the opportunity came  to play American Legion ball, a higher level of baseball, they jumped at it.

“We wanted to see real competition and be part of a better baseball league,” he said. “Last year we played the same three teams over and over.”

Asked if the short practice time before the start of the season has been challenging, Drafhal said that things have gone well, considering the late start.

“We’ve been playing baseball since February, so we should be ready,” he said.

 Enos said that the players are doing the little things to get better and are listening to what the coaches have to say, which is encouraging to see at this early stage.

He said that pitching and defense should be a strength, and hitting looks to be solid as well.

“All these kids want to be on this team and are working hard,” Enos said.

Current team members are Lockyer, Aaron Fitch, Luke Seats, Josiah Johnson and Nathan Porter  of Del Norte. From Brookings are Drafhal, Joey LeFebvre, John Fertig, Isaac Sanders, A.J. Braganti and Trevor Gallian.

From Illinois Valley are Zack Anderson, Curtis Paulson and Mason LaFlamme. Nathan Loines is from Gold Beach.

The assistant coaches for Del Norte are Donny Gallian, Tyler Parke, Paul LeFebvre and Josh Fitch.

Enos hopes to have a good-sized crowd cheering for the team as it opens play Sunday.

“We encourage them to come out and support the kids,” he said.

The season lasts until around the third week of July and includes tournament games in Arcata and Eureka.

Layton O’Reilley, Travis Stacey and Barrett McClaflin, who were standouts with the Del Norte High baseball team and have played for the Grizzlies before, will not be with the team this year, Enos said. Instead, they have decided to play for a club team in Eureka.

who were standouts with the Del Norte High baseball team and have played for the Grizzlies before will not be with th etem this year, Enos said. instead, they have deiced to paly for a club team in Eureka.