SB’s Brunton edges teammates in tight race for Little 4 MVP

By barstoolfanatics on June 12, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Luke Brunton has been named MVP of the Little 4.

By Ray Hamill — In the true spirit of an MVP, Luke Brunton’s contributions to his team this spring were wide and varied.

The versatile St. Bernard’s junior played a key role on the march to this year’s championship, starring on the mound, in the infield and at the plate.

He helped account for more than half of his team’s 19 wins on the hill, winning seven and adding three saves.

He was also one of the most reliable infielders in the entire H-DNL and came up with numerous clutch hits with his bat, hitting .295 with a team-high two triples, as well as seven doubles and 23 RBIs.

“Luke Brunton had a tremendous all-around season and was voted the league MVP by the coaches,” St. Bernard’s head coach Matt Tomlin said. “He played outstanding defense in the infield and came up with the big clutch hits times after time.”

And that wasn’t all.

This season, Brunton emerged as a key team leader on a relatively young SB roster that featured just three seniors.

“Luke also provided tremendous positive leadership for his teammates, which made our team better,” Tomlin added. “He was a very deserving MVP candidate.”

Brunton, who was one of seven players to receive all-conference recognition for the L4 champs, beat out two teammates for the MVP award.

Barely.

Fellow junior Michael Manzi and senior Tyler Maples both also had outstanding seasons for the Crusaders and each would have been worthy conference MVPs as well.

Manzi helped set the tone for the team behind the plate, while also hitting .383 with 22 RBIs and a team-high 10 doubles.

He also was 7-3 on the hill with an ERA of 1.86.

Michael Manzi

Tyler Maples

Maples, one of the team’s three seniors and the team captain, averaged a team-best .426 at the plate with a team-high 34 RBIs and 10 doubles.

“I believe Michael Manzi and Tyler Maples both had MVP caliber seasons as well,” Tomlin said.

The longtime St. Bernard’s coach added that Maples “was an amazing team captain,” and that Manzi “was the best catcher in the H-DNL and he also pitched several big games for us.”

“Any of those three players could have been the league MVP,” the coach said. “I was fortunate to get to coach all three.”

In addition to Brunton, Manzi and Maples, their teammates Mateo Reiman and Tyler Hinrichs also were included on the all-conference team after big seasons for both.

The Crusaders took three of four conference games from the Ferndale Wildcats, who were their main challengers for this year’s championship, and cruised to the title after that, finishing with a conference record of 10-2 (19-9 overall).

Tyler Hinrichs

Mateo Reiman

Prescott Langer

Garrett Shanahan and Quentin Ikeya each also received an all-conference honorable mention for the champions.

The Wildcats finished runners-up and had three all-conference selections.

Senior Parker Prior, who was conference MVP last year, was included, along with Tanner Pidgeon and Prescott Langer.

The Hoopa Warriors, who enjoyed their first winning season in 14 years and returned to the North Coast Section playoffs for the first time in 14 years, had two all-conference selections.

Seniors Brandon Romero and Lyle McKinnon, who also were all-conference players in football and basketball, were both included.

And rounding out this year’s L4 all-conference team is South Fork’s John Stafslien, who played a key role on a young Cubs roster.