The Northern Humboldt Giants rallied from an early five-run deficit to edge the Southern Humboldt 76ers 8-7 in an American Legion matchup at Newburg Park on Wednesday.

The game was played as part of a triple-header of American Legion action, with each of the local teams also playing Team Australia.

Earlier in the day, the Giants defeated the touring team 10-1, before Australia bounced back to knock off the 76ers 10-3.

NH Giants 10, Australia 1

The Giants broke open a 1-1 tie with four runs in the bottom of the third inning and led 7-1 after four on the way to a comfortable win.

Asher meadows pitched five innings for the win, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out eight.

Kaden Ritter pitched one scoreless inning in relief.

Photos by Buzz Parker – Asher Meadows

At the plate, Ritter, Mason Nichols, Mason Hooven, Cayden Lee and Jared Dixon each finished with a pair of hits to lead a balanced 13-hit team performance, including a double by Dixon.

Hooven and Drew Viznor each drove in a pair of runs.

NH Giants 8, SH 76ers 7

Lee led the way at the plate with three base hits, giving him five on the day, as the Giants capped a big day with a second win.

Nine different players accounted for their 13 hits, giving them 26 on the day.

Vincent Agliolo and Brodie Sargent each also had a pair of hits in the win, including a double by Agliolo.

Alex Gorge added a double, while Mason Nichols drove in a pair of runs.

The Giants trailed 5-0 after the opening inning, but rallied with runs in four of the next five innings to edge their county rivals.

Gorge, Jake Reeser and Sargent combined on the mound for the Giants.

Kaydon Pogue led the 76ers at the plate, finishing with a pair of doubles, while Garrett Christiansen, Corbin Roback and Vincent Meade each also had a pair of hits.

Joey Quen took the loss on the mound, allowing 13 hits in seven innings.

Quen also had two RBIs at the plate.

Australia 10, 76ers 3

Meade and Reback each finished with two hits for the 76ers, who opened a busy week that will see them play six games in five days.

The 76ers also had a double by Wyatt Wilson and base hits from Regan Nyberg and Ethan Ward.

Southern Humboldt will host a five-team round-robin tournament this weekend, beginning on Friday night when the 76ers play Gridley.

“It’s definitely our busiest week,” said head coach Andy Olsen, who has limited pitching on a roster of just 11.

The 76ers will also play Red Bluff and Northern Humboldt on Saturday, before closing out the packed weekend against Gridley again on Sunday morning.

The 76ers will also host the District tournament late next week.

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