McKinleyville starting pitcher Trevor Garrison threw five solid innings, but the slinger’s job was made easier by the entire Mack starting lineup, as each player contributed at least one base hit in the squad’s 14-5 victory over Redwood Empire in the District 26 9/10 All-Star Championship Friday.

Garrison had his trademark two-seam fastball working as he retired eleven batters, including four on strikeouts.

“I was able to hit my spots, but I was just trying to get the ball over the plate,” said Garrison.

Although the Mack boys won by a considerable margin, Redwood Empire fought valiantly until the end, getting a gritty performance from starting pitcher Noah Davis who had four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.

Redwood Empire’s Brendan Fischel shined and was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3, while teammate Braedon Scott finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

After McKinleyville went hitless in the first, their bats woke up in the second as the team went on a four-run rally, with Ricky Manzo adding the exclamation point on the inning with a three-run triple to right field.

In the top of the third, Mack put up three more runs thanks to doubles from Nick Mason and Kasey Ford as McKinleyville built a 7-1 lead.

Redwood Empire rallied back in the bottom of the third, getting three consecutive hits from Luke Bonzio, Fischel and Scott, before McKinleyville’s Kelton McGary came up with a diving catch in left field to end the threat.

“It made me feel more confident and relaxed on the mound after Kelton made the catch,” Garrison said. “I knew that even if I did give up a hit, our defense was going to make plays to back me up.”

Mack put the game away in the fourth as the team lit up the scoreboard with five insurance runs before adding two more in the sixth.

“I’m at a loss for words,” said Dickey. “I don’t know how we did it. It feels great that we were able to pull it off in the end.”

The district title was Dickey’s seventh in his three decades of coaching, and his team treated him to a Gatorade shower afterwards to celebrate the milestone.

With the win, McKinleyville capped off an impressive run and advanced to the section tournament which will take place in Chico.