Fortuna Huskies take back Milk Can
Huskies get shutout win over Ferndale in rivalry matchup
The coveted Milk Can trophy is now in the hands of the Fortuna High Huskies after a shutout 21-0 win over their Eel River Valley rivals Ferndale High School.
The Wildcats carried the trophy coming into Saturday’s game, after their win in the 2019 edition of this Humboldt-Del Norte League classic matchup. Saturday’s Milk Can game was the first since, after the COVID-19 pandemic put prep spots on hold through 2020.
Combined efforts from wide receiver Branston Gans and quarterback Max Hough set the pace for the
Huskies, with the seniors connecting for the first touchdown of the game on a fourth down play during the first quarter of action. In the second quarter, with two minutes before halftime, Gans caught a 20-yard throw from Hough for the pair’s second touchdown link of the day.
Overall Hough completed 10 out of his 18 throw attempts with no interceptions, totaling up to 140 yards. On his part, Gans recorded five receptions adding up to 83 yards.
Fortuna running back Levi Nyberg reached the end zone after a one-yard rush was deemed good, this after the Huskies had two touchdowns called back due to holding calls. While his scoring run was a short one, the senior carried the pigskin 10 times adding for a total of 73 yards traversed via land.
Husky rushing added up to 196 yards, with 36 carries total. Nyberg recorded a team-high for the game, with Brek Bishop taking the ball up the field 52 yards in six carries. Logan Miranda carried the ball 36 yards on eight carries.
In spite of the shutout, Ferndale’s players showed off their mettle. Senior defensive tackle Bryce Bell displayed leadership and tested the Huskies powerful offense all game long. Sophomore Linebacker Jake Wesfahl
had a solid performance and is sure to come back stronger for the next Milk Can games his junior and senior years.
Week 3 action will see Fortuna face off at home against St. Bernard’s on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Ferndale will be returning to the gridiron on Friday night as well, when the Wildcats visit McKinleyville, with kickoff also scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
HSU Softball wins opening series
Despite dropping its first game of the year to Montana State University, Billings, Humboldt State’s Softball team took its four-game opening series at the Yellowjackets’ home diamond.
The Lumberjacks bounced back from a dominant 13-0 game one shutout by the home team to even out Saturday’s action with a 7-4 victory.
HSU struck first in game two, with three runs in the second inning. Vanessa Saltos scored HSU’s first run of the afternoon on a oneout double hit by Alyssa Ramirez. Morgan Brant came home after Jenna Sobrero connected a base hit for the second run of the inning. Micaela Harris brought in Ramirez
The Jacks added to their lead in the third and fourth, with Izzy Starr batting in Emily McAdams on a twoout single in the third chapter and after a successful double-steal attempt which saw Harris reach the plate for a 5-0 partial score for the Jacks to end the fourth.
Jacks pitcher Karen Di Dio pitched the whole seven innings, keeping MSUB off the cards until the fifth inning, with MSUB scoring their first run of the day. The home team rallied for three more runs to close the gap at the end of the sixth inning, 5-4.
Two HSU runs and a shutout final inning from Di Dio in the seventh inning ended the game. Danica Grier banged a solo home run and Haley Suter scored after Starr reached base on a fielder error.
Sunday’s action saw HSU sweep their doubleheader hosts to claim the series after winning 6-5 and 9-2.
Series game three saw the Jacks get on the board early with a single-run RBI from JoAna Mullins which drove in Grier for the partial 1-0. MSUB fired right back in the bottom of the first with four runs scored, two by way of a home run by the Yellowjackets’ Brie Frazier.
HSU spent the rest of the game working to overcome the deficit. Grier batted in Katelyn Dendas on a twoout single in the second inning for a partial 4-2 favoring MSUB.
In the fifth inning, Sobrero came home on a triple off Harris. Harris came to the plate to tie things up after a MSUB error. A single home run from Hailee Gregerson in the Yellowjackets half of the inning kept the lead from the Jacks going into the final frames.
A two-run homer from Starr brought in Suter from second for the come-from-behind 6-5 win.
Game four saw the Jacks earn another one-run first inning lead, with McAdams driving Harris home on a single.
HSU added five to their lead in the third, four via long ball, to put the game out of reach for MSUB. A lead off home run off Harris’ swing and another three-run home run to the deep end from Saltos.
Lumberjacks pitcher Karen Di Dio posted clean frames through the sixth inning, when MSUB posted two runs off a big swing from Allie Hughes which cleared the fence.
Overall, Dio gave another great outing with just two walks given away and seven hits against her.
The Lumberjacks will continue their road trip on Wednesday at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. Tuesday’s game was pushed back one day on account of snowy weather in the Treasure State’s capital.