Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – McKinleyville catcher Dustin Ireland and his teammates are scheduled to play Arcata on Saturday with the Big 5 lead on the line.

A number of local baseball and softball teams will be hoping to get their games in this weekend, as the weather and field conditions remain a concern here on the North Coast.

And with a limited number of open days remaining, any more rainouts could result in scheduling problems.

As of Friday night, most of Saturday’s scheduled games appear to be still on, including a triple header of baseball action at St. Bernard’s.

Arcata and McKinleyville are scheduled to get things started with a single game at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Little 4 doubleheader between Hoopa Valley and St. Bernard’s.

The Tigers and Panthers will be battling for the Big 5 lead after the two frontrunners split a doubleheader on Wednesday to leave each at 4-1 in conference play.

The Crusaders are 3-1 in the Little 4 and tied for the league lead with South Fork, while Hoopa is 0-4.

Also on Saturday, South Fork will face a tough challenge in a doubleheader at Ferndale, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.

The Cubs are 3-1 in the Little 4, while the Wildcats are 2-2 and will be desperate to stay in the hunt for the league title.

Also in baseball, the Eureka Loggers will travel to Del Norte for a doubleheader, looking to build on a league-opening victory over the Warriors earlier this week.

The Loggers are 1-0 in the Big 5, having had an opening-week bye, while the Warriors are 0-4 and will be looking for their first league win.

McKinleyville’s Grace Rosebrook

Impressive Panthers

In softball, meanwhile, the McKinleyville Panthers will be looking to keep their impressive start to the season going in a doubleheader at home to Arcata, with first pitch set for 11 a.m.

The Panthers are unbeaten on the season at 10-0, including a 5-0 mark in the Big 5, which has included four shutout wins.

On Thursday, they defeated a good Arcata team 4-0, handing the Tigers their first loss in nine games.

Arcata is 3-1 in the Big 5.

Arcata head coach Teresa Stavert talks to her players during Thursday’s game against McKinleyville.

A sweep for the Tigers on Saturday, however, would see them tie their rivals in the standings, whereas a sweep for the Mack girls would see them take firm control of the race for the league championship.

Eureka, which is 1-0 in the Big 5 after a big come-from-behind win at home to Del Norte on Wednesday, was scheduled to play a doubleheader in Crescent City on Friday.

No word yet on whether those games took place.

In the Little 4, meanwhile, the conference lead will be up for grabs when the two favorites face off in Eureka, with Hoopa traveling to play St. Bernard’s.

The Warriors are the defending champions and 2-0 in conference, while the Crusaders are 3-0 having defeated Ferndale earlier in the week.

First pitch is set for noon.

Also in the Little 4 on Saturday, Ferndale is scheduled to host South Fork in a doubleheader.

The Wildcats are 0-3, while the Cubs are 0-2.

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Ray Hamill writes at humboldtsports.com, where you can read lots more about sports in Humboldt County.