Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Carlee Harper

By Ray Hamill — It was a good week for the Del Norte Warriors and for a couple of their athletes in particular.

And it was a good week for McKinleyville baseball.

So it’s no surprise to see those two schools dominate this week’s awards.

Del Norte sophomore Deken Hanks got things started last weekend with a big day at the H-DNL track and field championships.

Competing at McKinleyville High, Hanks stole the show with four wins in four events on the way to leading the Warriors to a boys team championship.

Several H-DNL athletes have impressed this spring and continue to feature among the North Coast Section leaders, but none have been as electric as Hanks, who capped a remarkably record-setting H-DNL campaign with victories in both the 100 and 200 meter races.

But he wasn’t the only Warrior to impress this week.

Junior Carlee Harper has played a key role in the Del Norte softball team’s success this spring and that continued this week, as she helped lead the Warriors a remarkable championship double in just 48 hours.

Harper has established herself as arguably the best catcher in the H-DNL this year and has been a force behind the plate, at the plate and on the bases and is having a “phenomenal year,” according to her head coach Aaron Healy.

And that’s not all for Harper.

The Del Norte softball team is one of our teams of the week as well after they won a Big 5 championship on Wednesday and a first-ever Charles Lakin tournament title on Friday.

Not to be out-done, the McKinleyville baseball team also won a first-ever Charles Lakin tournament championship for the school with a 4-2 win over Eureka at the Arcata Ball Park on Friday night, just two weeks after the Panthers won the Big 5 conference.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Deken Hanks

Del Norte Track and Field, Sophomore

The most remarkable thing about the record-setting Hanks is that he’s doing all of this in just his sophomore season.

This year, the soccer and track standout set new school records in both sprints, as well as a new all-time H-DNL mark in the 100m.

He played a huge role in his team’s league championship last week, as he successfully defended his two league titles in both sprints.

For more on his big week, see Hanks, Harrison lead the Warriors to team victory at McKinleyville …

Carlee Harper

Del Norte Softball, Junior

Several players have stood out this year on a deep and talented Del Norte roster, but none have had quite the impact that Harper has had.

The tenacious catcher helps set the tone on defense from behind the plate and also has been one of the most dangerous bats in the Big 5.

And that’s not all.

When she gets on base, Harper has been causing opposing catchers problems with her base stealing as well.

Add to that a couple of championships in just 48 hours, and it’s say to see why Harper had a good week.

For more on her big week, see Warriors complete historic double with Charles Lakin tourney win …

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

Del Norte Softball

It was a good week for the Del Norte girls, who clinched their second straight Big 5 title on Wednesday and followed that with a first-ever Charles Lakin tournament championship on Friday.

The Warriors, who have been the best team in the H-DNL all spring, defeated Fortuna 8-4 in the Lakin final and finally got a breakthrough championship after finishing runners-up twice, including last season.

Healy has done a remarkable job with this team in his first year in charge and the Warriors are clearly having fun playing for him.

Several players have stood out this spring in addition to Harper, including the potent one-two pitching punch of McKenna Curtis and Shay Nolan, as well as the likes of Reece White, Audrey Phillips, Madison Calleja, Bliss Blackburn, Khloe Smith, Tsinte Steinruck and Koy McQuillen, among many others.

For more on their big week, see Warriors complete historic double with Charles Lakin tourney win …

Phoptpos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The McKinleyville players and coaches celebrate their championship win on Friday night.

McKinleyville Baseball

The Panthers are one of our teams of the week for the second straight week, because it’s been that sort of season for this group.

They’re not only playing the most complete baseball in the H-DNL right now, but they’re doing so with a relatively young lineup, which suggests this team could be competing for league titles for the next few seasons, at least.

Head coach Mike Dobrec and his staff have done an outstanding job and it seems there’s a never-ending list of players who have stepped up along the way.

Seniors Tyson Bragg, Tenoch Tapia, Evan Fraser and Branson Dobrec have all played key roles, as has a very talented junior class that includes Bryce Sargent, Kolbey Stolpe, Jackson Kelly and Riles Egbert.

And don’t forget, this is a team that includes five freshmen on a roster of 17.

For more on their big week, see Panthers prevail in Lakin decider, secure memorable double …