Warriors dominate all-conference team, Nolan earns MVP honors

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

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Del Norte senior Shay Nolan has been named the 2025 Big 5 MVP in softball.

By Ray Hamill — After winning a third straight Big 5 championship in softball this spring, the Del Norte Warriors had several worthy candidates for conference MVP.

And when the conference coaches got together recently to vote on the season awards, it was senior pitcher Shay Nolan who received the accolade.

Nolan was instrumental in the team’s march towards the conference title with her consistent play in the circle.

“It’s not necessarily for what she did this year, but for what she’s done all three years,” Del Norte head coach Aaron Healy said of the MVP award. “She just grew so much over the last three or four years.”

Nolan never backed down from the challenge and always seemed to raise the level of her game when things got difficult.

And because of the fight she displayed in the circle, she was fondly referred to as a “bulldog” by her teammates and coaches.

The senior standout was one of seven Del Norte players to receive all-conference recognition.

Her teammates Carlee Harper, Khloe Smith, Tsinte Steinruck and Bliss Blackburn each also were included on the all-conference team, while Bella Arriola and Audrey Phillips each received an honorable mention.

Harper, who was conference MVP last year, continued to excel and performed as well as any catcher in the H-DNL.

Bliss Blackburn

Carlee Harper

She was almost impossible to steal on, and when she reached base herself she almost always scored.

Smith, who missed most of last season through injury, returned with a bang this year and helped anchor the Del Norte defense with her play at shortstop.

“She was unlike any other shortstop I’ve ever seen,” Healy said. “Her arm strength, her range, her overall ability. She made a lot of plays other shortstops wouldn’t make.”

Steinruck also was a team leader — she recently was named to the inaugural H-DNL All-Sportsmanship Team — while Blackburn was arguably the best center fielder in the H-DNL and should only continue to improve as a senior next year.

As always, all five Big 5 teams were included on the all-conference team.

The Fortuna Huskies, who pushed the Warriors all the way in the race for the championship, had three players included.

Tsinte Steinruck

Khloe Smith

Bailee Box

Seniors Mariah Bravo and Faith Helms and junior Isabel Sanchez all got the nod after they each played big roles for the Huskies, who would go on to win this year’s Charles Lakin tournament.

McKinleyville senior Bailee Box also was named all-conference, along with junior teammate McKennah Sargent.

Box enjoyed a stellar final high school season behind the plate, while Sargent continued to grow in stature both in the circle and at the plate.

Arcata’s Nallia Meyer and Eureka’s Macy Secor round out this year’s all-conference team.

In her second year as a varsity starter, Myer played a big role for resurgent Tigers team that almost qualified for the Lakin tournament, while Secor was a consistent threat for the Loggers despite the team’s struggles in conference play.