Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Del Norte girls celebrate their historic Charlie Lakin tournament win last year.
By Ray Hamill — Last season was a very successful one for the Del Norte softball team, which won a second straight Big 5 title and a first-ever Charlie Lakin tournament.
And this year, they could be even better.
With a senior-heavy and very experienced roster, the Warriors got the new season off to a winning start with road wins over Petaluma (4-2) and Ukiah (11-6) in Petaluma last weekend.
And it was many of the experienced players who helped set the tone, including 2024 Big 5 MVP Carlee Harper and all-league returners Audrey Phillips and Shay Nolan.
Nolan has been one of the top pitchers in the H-DNL for the past two seasons and early indications suggest that will continue to be the case this spring.
“Shay threw very well,” head coach Aaron Healy said of the senior pitcher, who got both wins in the circle on opening day. “There were a couple of hiccups, but for the most part she threw solid.”
Phillips, who starts at second baseman, also hit the ground running this year and had “three or four” RBIs in the win over Petaluma, according to the coach, while Harper also hit the ball well in the season opener and helped set the tone defensively at catcher.
Two other seniors — third baseman Tsinte Steinruck and shortstop Khloe Smith — round out the infield, along with impressive freshman Addison Whitford, who also will see some time in the circle.
“She throws very well,” Healy said of the newcomer.
After missing much of last season through injury, Smith is expected to have a good spring now that she’s fully healthy again and probably more motivated than ever.
“Khloe made some good plays at shortstop,” Healy said. “She’s back at 100 percent. She’s looking good, she’s looking strong.”
Carlee Harper is the reigning Big 5 MVP.
Steinruck, who is coming off an all-league season in basketball, also “had an exceptional day at third base” in the season openers, the coach said.
But that’s not all she brings to the team.
“She’s one of my strongest players and definitely the motivator for everybody,” Healy added.
The experienced infield, which features five seniors, should be among the very best in the H-DNL.
“Defensively we’re as strong as last year and maybe even a little stronger,” Healy said.
The outfield should be every bit as good, with senior Taylor Starkey lining up alongside talented juniors Bliss Blackburn and Bella Arriola, and all three made some nice diving catches on opening day.
This year’s team also features plenty of depth in the dugout, and they’ll need that if the Warriors are to get the better of Fortuna and McKinleyville in this year’s Big 5, each of which is expected to also challenge for a conference crown.
Sisters Neela Travis, a senior, and Deja Travis, a junior, will salso ee plenty of game time, as will up-and-coming sophomore Natasha DeNicholas, who is back from last year and will back up Harper at catcher.
Shay Nolan
“She comes to practice and works hard,” Healy said of DeNicholas.
Overall, it’s a roster that has few if any weaknesses and a team that appears ready to challenge for a third straight Big 5 title this spring.
And the players’ collective attitude backs that belief.
“They’re all there to play,” the coach said. “With his group of kids, academically there’s not a single problem, showing up is never an issue. It’s just a positive group and they all get along.”
Next up, the Warriors are scheduled to play Eureka in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, although that looks questionable because of the weather.
On Monday and Tuesday they will play three games at a jamboree in Medford.
Tsinte Steinruck
