Photos by Cherie Fry Circe – The Panthers honored their seniors at a doubleheader against Eureka on Monday.

By Ray Hamill — The McKinleyville Panthers celebrated their five seniors at Monday’s softball doubleheader against Eureka, and according to head coach Shanna McCracken this group is among the most fun she has ever coached.

While they still have plenty of business to take care of in the upcoming H-DNL and North Coast Section postseason, the senior class of Mashell Stumpf, Leah Circe, Kayla Beck, Liz Mengel and Ki-Shan Daniels were honored at the team’s final home games of the regular season.

And McCraken says she will remember them as much for their passion and approach to practice as what they have achieved on the field.

“It really is just a great group of girls,” the coach said. “They are a fun group for sure, probably one of the most fun teams to be around that I’ve ever coached.”

All five seniors have also been emotional leaders on this year’s team.

“They brought a lot to the table,” McCracken said. “A lot of passion.”

All five players have had a big impact on this year’s team, which remains in the chase for a Big 5 championship heading into the final couple of days of the regular season.

Stumpf is probably the most versatile of the group and has featured in the outfield and in the infield, as well as pitching and having an impact at the plate.

“She does a little bit of everything,” said the coach, who added “Mashell is one of those quiet leaders who leads by example. 

“She’s very humble and kind and the kind of player everybody wants to coach.”

Circe has shown a lot of improvement over the course of her career and has established herself as one of the team’s most key contributors this spring.

She almost never played softball for the school and as a freshman she was leaning towards competing in track and field instead.

“She’s gone from being a courtesy runner to owning a middle infield spot,” McCracken said. “We’re really glad she chose softball. She could have done well in track too with how fast she is.”

Mengel is another player who almost never played with the program.

McCracken saw her play soccer as a freshman and immediately set about recruiting her.

“She had never played softball before,” the coach said. “And in her freshman year we saw her coming from soccer practice and we kind of thought she could do it, and I said ‘hey, do you want to play softball?’”

And the rest as they say is history.

“She picked it up pretty quick, took it and ran with it,” the coach added. “She really has come a long way, both in the outfield and in the batter’s box.”

Beck too has come a long way after starting with the JV team.

“She caught for the JV team and transitioned to the outfield for varsity, and she has made some awesome catches,” McCracken said. “She made her way into the lineup by making plays and she has improved a lot in the batter’s box.”

Daniels, meanwhile, transferred from Hoopa and has also had a big impact with the team after deciding to try out this year.

“It’s her first year playing high school softball,” McCracken said. “She’s a really strong kid, and I’m just really happy she has had this experience.”

Daniels also has one of the best attitudes on the team.

“It’s something she has worked really hard to get back into,” the head coach added. “It was just fun to watch her grow. She jumped right in and she’s always asking questions and trying to get better every day.”

McKinleyville has a bye in conference play this week, but the five seniors will be on hand for Friday’s alumni game, if the weather permits.

The Panthers, who are 8-4 in the Big 5, also still have a slim chance of sharing the championship, depending on how the other games go this week.

Regardless, they are guaranteed to play in next week’s Charles Lakin tournament, as well in the upcoming North Coast Section playoffs.