Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Raina Ausburn reacts after leading the Mendocino College women to a win on Tuesday.

By Ray Hamill — It was a good week for the Northern Humboldt Steelheads, the Mendocino College Eagles and one Ferndale senior in particular.

Isaak Kasso turned in the performance of the week at the opening H-DNL track and field meet of the spring at Fortuna on Wednesday.

And that’s good enough to earn him one of our athletes of the week awards.

Kasso won three of the four events he competed in and placed second in the other, as he got the H-DNL season off to a flying start.

The multi-sport star looks set for an outstanding spring and set PRs in all four of his events.

He placed first in the 110 meter hurdles and 300m hurdles, as well as in the long jump, and he also placed second in the triple jump.

A pair of former H-DNL stars also impressed for the Mendocino College softball team, as the Eagles swept a conference doubleheader against College of the Redwoods at Bear River on Tuesday.

McKinleyville graduate Raina Ausburn and Hoopa graduate Tatianna Colegrove each pitched complete-game two hitters in the sweep, as the Eagles won 5-0 and 5-1.

Our team of the week, meanwhile, goes to the Northern Humboldt Steelheads.

All of them.

The local travel clubs’ 10Us, 11Us and 13Us each won their brackets at last weekend’s WCP Arizona Spring Training tournament.

And they each did it in thrilling fashion, while cheering each other on on the final day of action.

Submitted photo

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Isaak Kasso

Ferndale Track and Field, Senior

Kasso enjoyed an outstanding start to the new H-DNL track and field season with the best showing of the day by any local athlete.

He won the 110m hurdles in a time of 15.59 seconds and the 300m hurdles in a time of 43.17 seconds, while jumping 20’ 5” on his way to victory in the long jump.

His mark of 40’ 10.5” in the triple jump trailed only Fortuna’s Russell Pascascio, and all four of the Ferndale standout’s marks were PRs.

For more on his big week, see Kasso shines in league-opening meet; Warriors edge the Tigers …

Raina Ausburn

Mendocino College Softball, Sophomore 

The 2022 McKinleyville High graduate was outstanding on her return to Humboldt County on Tuesday.

Ausburn, in her second year with the Eagles, pitched all seven innings for the shutout victory in game one and allowed just two walks while striking out six.

The former Panthers star was clearly up for the occasion and dominated a Redwoods lineup that had won three of its previous four games and averaged 11 runs a game in those wins.

For more on her big week, see Former H-DNL stars lead Eagles to doubleheader sweep over CR …

Tatianna Colegrove 

Mendocino College Softball, Freshman

Colegrove, who graduated from Hoopa last year, was every bit as effective in game two of Tuesday’s doubleheader,

The former Hoopa Warrior had an impressive 14 strikeouts in seven innings while allowing just one earned run and walking four.

The freshman standout has been one of the Eagles’ most consistent players this season, shining in the pitcher’s circle and at the plate.

For more on her big week, see Former H-DNL stars lead Eagles to doubleheader sweep over CR …

Submitted photo

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Northern Humboldt Steelheads

There was no stopping the Steelheads in Arizona over the weekend, as all three teams that made the trip took home a championship.

“It was a Steelheads party in Arizona,” 11Us head coach Dusty McCullough said. 

The club’s three teams combined to go 17-1 in tournament play.

Youth baseball is alive and well in Northern Humboldt.

For more on the 10Us, see Complete team baseball leads Steelheads 10s to tournament title …

For more on the 11Us, see Steelheads prevail in Arizona heat with thrilling championship win …

For more on the 13Us, see ‘Wave of blue’ inspires Steelheads 13U players to championship …