Morris named Big 5 MVP; five Warriors make all-league

By barstoolfanatics on June 2, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Kira Morris has been named the 2023 Big 5 MVP in softball.

By Ray Hamill — Kira Morris has been named MVP of the Big 5 in softball after closing out her high school career with another dominating campaign.

The Eureka senior was not only the best pitcher in the Big 5, but also had the best bat.

The consistent Morris, who will play collegiately at Division-II Concordia University next year, was one of three Eureka Loggers named to the all-league team, while Big 5 champion Del Norte had five players included.

Del Norte sophomore pitcher Shay Nolan, who also enjoyed an outstanding season in the circle, was name all-league, along with fellow sophomores Khloe Smith and Carlee Harper and juniors Reece White and Alexis Heuberger.

The Warriors trailed in the standings with four games remaining, but won four straight to close out the Big 5 and were able to overtake the Loggers for their first league title since 2018.

That, however, didn’t take from the impact Morris had for the runners-up.

Morris struck out 195 in 134.1 innings, while allowing 64 hits and 34 walks, and she had an ERA of 1.75.

“Kira has been a leader on and off the field since she was a freshman,” Eureka head coach Robin Johnson said at Morris’ recent Concordia letter signing ceremony. “She’s always encouraging other girls to work hard and do their best. She’s going to do great at the next level because of her drive and eagerness to get better every day.”

She also hit a team-best .541 and had a remarkable .618 on-base percentage, while leading her team in RBIs (32), runs (30), triples (eight) and home runs (four).

The five Del Norte all-league selections each also impressed on the way to a league title and a deep playoff run that saw them reach the state playoffs.

It was the second all-league selection of the year for White, who also got a first-team nod in volleyball.

After pushing the Warriors for the league title all the way to the final day of the season, three Loggers were named to the all-league first team.

Joining Morris on the prestigious team are fellow seniors Zia Gee and Maeghan Hampton, the latter of who also received first-team all-league honors in volleyball.

Kira Morris

Reece White

The McKinleyville Panthers, meanwhile, finished third in the league standings and have two all-league selections — senior Camryn Pinard and freshman McKennah Sargent.

Pinard enjoy an outstanding year in three different sports, having also been named all-league in basketball and receiving an honorable mention in volleyball.

Fortuna’s Kylee Fennell, who was recently named Female Athlete of the Year at the inaugural Husky ESPYs, received her third all-league nod of the year, having also been honored in volleyball and basketball.

And rounding out the all-league team is Arcata’s Sagen Sarchett, who also received all-league honors in golf.

We’ll have stories on the Little 4 softball and Big 5 and Little 4 baseball MVPs and all-league teams on Saturday.