Submitted photo – The Del Norte girls soccer team are one of 13 H-DNL teams to win an NCS team scholastic pennant this year.

By Ray Hamill — Sometimes they’re talented and pretty smart as well.

This year, a total of 13 H-DNL teams have received scholastic team awards from the North Coast Section, including four who were No. 1 in their divisions.

Three Little 4 teams have been honored this spring, including the South Fork baseball team, which will play for a place in the 2024 NCS championship game on Saturday.

The Cubs, whose collective team GPA is 3.37, placed second in Division 6, behind only San Domenico.

Also receiving scholastic pennants this spring are the St. Bernard’s softball team (3.54 GPA and tied for third in Division 5) and the St. Bernard’s boys tennis team (3.92 GPA and second in Division 2).

The awards are handed out to the top two or three teams in each division.

One H-DNL team received a scholastic pennant in winter sports.

The McKinleyville girls basketball team tied for third in Division 4 with a team GPA of 3.67.

A total of nine H-DNL teams received scholastic pennants in the fall, including four who topped their divisions.

St. Bernard’s football (3.42 GPA, Division 5), Del Norte girls soccer (3.67, Division 1), St. Bernard’s girls soccer (3.63, Division 3) and St. Bernard’s boys soccer (3.71, Division 3) all placed first.

The McKinleyville girls soccer team also enjoyed success in the classroom and placed second to Del Norte in the NCS in Division 1 with a team GPA of 3.48.

Del Norte football (3.05 GPA, Division 4), McKinleyville football (3.13 GPA, Division 7), St. Bernard’s volleyball (3.70 GPA, Division 6) and Del Norte boys soccer (3.46, Division 1) all were third in their divisions.

For the year, St. Bernard’s led the H-DNL with six scholastic team awards, followed by Del Norte and McKinleyville with three apiece.

Submitted photo

The McKinleyville girls basketball team

The St. Bernard’s girls soccer team