Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Arcata’s Mason Railsback

By Ray Hamill — Sophomore Brandon Bento-Jackson and senior Mason Railsback were both named all-league first team for the Arcata Tigers this week, as the H-DNL announced its end-of-season honors.

The Tigers closed out a short season undefeated with a victory over Fortuna on Saturday night, with both Bento-Jackson and Railsback instrumental in the team’s success.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, who were 8-0, there were no league champions crowned this year because of the abbreviated schedule, nor were there any MVPs.

Each of the nine league teams received two all-league selections, with several honorable mentions also named.

Senior T-Ryan Stumpf also was named all-league after leading the way for the McKinleyville Panthers, who finished 3-1 in the Big 5 an 6-2 overall, as was teammate Connor Alto.

For Fortuna, which closed out 5-3 overall, multi-sport athletes Bo Cox and Branson Gans were named all-league, while Judson Pincombe and Kaleb Price received the nod for Del Norte.

Had there been a league MVP named, Stumpf, Bento-Jackson, Railsback and Price all would have been worthy candidates.

Cox and Gans, meanwhile, both closed out stellar senior years, with Cox also a track and field standout and Gans a three-sport all-league selection, having also received the honor in football and baseball.

Rounding out the Big 5 all-league first-team selections are Eureka’s Caden Vance and Jackson Giacone.

Arcata’s Brandon Bento-Jackson, left, and Eureka’s Jackson Giacone

Connor Alto

Giacone is another multi-sport athlete who also excelled in baseball, while Vance grew into one of the most dominating players in the H-DNL as the season progressed.

South Fork led the way in the Little 4 this year, getting the better of long-time nemesis St. Bernard’s and closing out conference play 3-0 (3-5 overall).

Seniors Graham McConnell and Alex Harding both were named all-league for the Cubs after outstanding senior years in multiple sports.

For St. Bernard’s, which closed out 2-1 and 4-4, senior Lito Pabalate and sophomore Owen Shanahan were named all-league, as were seniors Emmitt Albee and Javier Lopez for Ferndale (1-2, 2-6).

Rounding out the all-league selections were senior Daniel Minton and sophomore Brendan Baldy for Hoopa, which closed out 0-8 overall.

T-Ryan Stumpf

Honorable Mentions

Arcata — Kai Purcell, Aiden Atkins-Salazar and Marcus Bensen

Del Norte — Peyton Swan, Caleb Dodson and Edwin Zepeda

Eureka — Hans Chalmers and Donovon Millender

Ferndale — Jenner Christiansen and Lane Branstetter

Fortuna — Angel Ornelas and Jaden Kelley

Hoopa — Lane Campbell, Talon Borden and Larry Tracy

McKinleyville — Jack George, Jack Clancy and Owen Hamm

St. Bernard’s — Remy Campbell and Drew Vizenor

South Fork — Crue Contreras, Tanner Curran and Oliver Tatton