The Eureka Eagles and Northern Humboldt Giants remain in the hunt for the American Legion Area One tournament championship, although once again the Giants will have to battle back through the losers’ bracket.

On Friday, in Red Bluff, the Eagles 17U team won its second straight game, defeating the Eureka Eagles 16U squad 9-1 to advance in the winners’ bracket.

The Giants, however, fell to top seed Siskiyou by a score of 3-2 later in the day, giving up two runs in the top of the seventh inning.

It was the second straight one-run thriller for the No. 1 seeds, who edged out the Eagles 16U 1-0 with a late run on Thursday.

For the Giants, who out-hit Siskiyou 10-4, Vincent Agliolo, Kyler Carr and Kaden Ritter each finished with a pair of hits.

Alex Gorge added a double, as he seems to do most games.

Porter Price pitched six good innings for the Giants, allowing just one run on one hit and five walks, while striking out seven.

Gorge pitched one inning in relief and took the loss.

The Giants will try to battle back on Saturday when they play the Tehama Bulls at 10 a.m., and if they win they will play either Siskiyou or the Eagles 17U at 3 p.m.

Photos by Buzz Parker

Eagles 17U 9, Eagles 16U 1

Earlier on Friday, the Eureka Eagles 17U team defeated the Eagles 16U by a score of 9-1.

Brayden Youkey pitched a complete game for the win, allowing just one earned run on four hits and striking out seven.

At the plate, the 17Us had 10 hits, led by Keenan Morris, Hayden Bode and Ben Tehan, who each finished with a pair of hits, including a double by Tehan.

Zac Anderson also had a double and two RBIs, while Jenner Christiansen, Ethan Pesch and Lane Thrap rounded out a 10-hit team performance.

The Eagles will play Siskiyou in a battle of the tournament’s two unbeaten teams on Saturday.

Thursday’s Games

Eagles 17U 15, Tehama Bulls 17U 0, 5 innings

The Eagles got the tournament off to a flying start with a comprehensive win over the Tehama Bulls 17U, with three Eureka pitchers combining for a one-hitter.

Bode pitched three hitless innings for the win, with Thrap and Morris tossing an inning each in relief.

At the plate, Morris was 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored, while Thrap and Christiansen each added a pair of hits and two RBIs.

Bode also had a double and three RBIs, while Youkey was 2-for-3 and scored three runs.

NH Giants 17U 2, Red Bluff 16U 1

The Giants edged out a hard-fought win in their tournament opener, with four pitchers combining for a two-hitter.

Will Mager got the win in relief of Agliolo, with Asher Meadows and Nick Parker closing out the game, the latter getting the save.

At the plate, Gorge had a double and drove in a run, while Carr and Ritter rounded out a three-hit team performance.

Carr also had an RBI, while Ritter and Agliolo scored the Giants’ two runs.

Eagles 16U 0, Siskiyou 17U 1

The younger Eagles almost pulled off a big upset against the tournament’s top seeds, holding them scoreless until the bottom of the seventh and final inning.

Gavin Brooks was outstanding on the hill for the Eagles.

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