Finck caps impressive high school career with MVP award

By barstoolfanatics on June 4, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Hannah Finck

By Ray Hamill — There are several reasons the St. Bernard’s Crusaders were able to end an eight-year wait for a Little 4 championship in softball this spring, none more so than senior catcher Hannah Finck.

The multi-sport athlete, who also played high school soccer and basketball, enjoyed an outstanding four years competing in sports for the Crusaders.

But she had the best season of her career in softball this spring, leading St. Bernard’s to a conference championship and a North Coast Section final.

And that earned her Little 4 MVP honors.

In addition to her impressive performances on both sides of the plate, it was Finck’s leadership skills that really separated her from the pack.

“From the very beginning of the season, Hannah emerged as a natural leader,” her head coach and farther, Brian Finck, said. “Her ability to motivate and guide her teammates was evident at every practice and game. Hannah’s deep understanding of softball was a critical asset to our team.”

The outgoing senior also was driven to succeed, something that rubbed off on many of her teammates.

“Her game awareness often gave us an edge over our opponents,” her head coach added. “Hannah had a fierce determination to win. She has a competitive spirit and her drive to improve her own performance helped to elevate the play of those around her.”

The SB standout contributed as much on offense as she did behind the plate.

“Hannah did great for us at the plate this season,” Brian Finck added. “She batted over .400 even though she started most at-bats 0-1 in an effort to advance our runner into scoring position with a base hit.”

Hannah was one of eight players to receive all-league recognition for the conference champs.

Kiara McGinnis

Tinnley Pidgeon

Senior teammates Kiara McGinnis, who will play at College of the Redwoods next year, and Aubree Saunderson where each also named to the all-league first team, along with sophomore Sahara Tupua.

Freshman pitcher Oni Orcutt, who grew in leaps and bounds in her first year of high school softball and has quickly established herself as one of the top young pitchers in the Little 4, also was named all-league, while Bailey White, Makinsey Lemley and Kyna Tupua received honorable mentions for the Crusaders.

The Hoopa Warriors, who finished second in the Little 4 and made it to the NCS quarterfinals despite competing against far larger schools in the Division-4 bracket, had three all-league first-team selections.

Seniors Bella Valentine and Rianna Bain and sophomore Kalia Mitchell were all honored for the Warriors.

Ferndale sophomores Madison Gossi and Tinnley Pidgeon each also were named all-league, as were South Fork senior Cloe McConnell and sophomore Mackenzie Coleman.

The Wildcats and Cubs tied for third in this year’s Little 4.