Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Tanner Pidgeon in action for the Wildcats.

By Ray Hamill — One of them led his team to one of the greatest seasons in H-DNL history and played with an infectious enthusiasm that inspired his teammates and fans alike.

The other was described by his coach as one of the greatest athletes in his school’s history on his way to winning three league titles this year and instilling a standard among his younger teammates that will continue to benefit multiple programs for the foreseeable future.

Both athletes left an indelible mark on Little 4 sports over the past year.

They each took home two conference MVP awards — in football and baseball — while each also received all-league recognition on the basketball courts.

They both also enjoyed tremendous success individually and as part of their respective teams, helped inspire their teammates and were among the most coachable players and impactful teammates in this year’s H-DNL.

And when the dust had settled on another exciting and highly-entertaining year of high school sports here on the North Coast, there was no separating them in one race at least.

Ferndale’s Tanner Pidgeon and St. Bernard’s Tyler Hinrichs are the 2026 Humboldt Sports Little 4 Boys co-Athletes of the Year.

The two standouts beat out a deep and talented group of finalists for the award, and both are well deserving of the honor after everything they achieved this past year.

Pidgeon got his final year of high school competition off to one of the greatest starts in league history on the football fields, leading the Wildcats to a memorable campaign that saw them outscore their 10 regular-season opponents 647-18.

As the starting quarterback Pidgeon passed for 1020 yards and 13 touchdowns, while rushing for 1149 yards and 29 TDs on 121 carries, and he was threat to find the end zone every time he had the ball in his hands.

Tyler Hinrichs

He was also an exceptional playmaking safety for the North Coast Section champs and was named L4 co-MVP along with teammate Prescott Langer, another player who received serious consideration for athlete of the year.

According to Ferndale football head coach Clint McClurg, Pidgeon’s “ability to impact the game in all three facets was really outstanding, impressive, unique and rare.”

Pidgeon continued to impress in the winter and was named All-League in basketball, before closing out his high school career with a huge spring in baseball, where he was named conference co-MVP along with Hinrichs after the influential senior led the Cats in hits, runs scored, stolen bases and batting average.

Incredibly he only struck out twice all year, and he ended up scoring a run almost every time he reached base.

“Just under 80 percent of the times he touched first base, he touched home plate,” Ferndale baseball head coach Justin Andersen said. “That’s a mind-blowing stat when you break it down.”

Pidgeon will play football at College of the Redwoods this fall, where he hopes to earn the starting quarterback job, and he has said he will possibly play baseball in college as well.

He certainly has the talent to do so.

Hinrichs was equally impressive as a high school senior and left a legacy that will be difficult to top at St. Bernard’s.

“Tyler had a remarkable senior year,” said SB football and baseball head coach Matt Tomlin, who added “(He) is one of the greatest athletes in St. Bernard’s history.”

It’s difficult to argue that assessment for an an athlete who will go down as one of the greatest kickers in H-DNL history, and that just begins to scratch the surface of what he meant to the Crusaders this year.

He was named co-MVP of the Big 4 in football after playing a key role in leading the second smallest school in the entire H-DNL to a second Big 4 championship in three years.

“Tyler represents everything it means to be a student athlete, as he excelled in the classroom and on the football field,” Tomlin said after the football MVP award was announced. “It was an honor to coach such an amazing young man.”

He played multiple roles and excelled in all of them.\

Not only was he one of the best kickers in the NCS, including nailing a 51-yarder against Hoopa, but his contributions could be felt in several other areas as well, including at receiver, running back and linebacker.

“He starred at wide receiver, running back, short-yardage quarterback, linebacker, and he was the best kicker in Northern California,” Tomlin added.

Hinrichs, who scored a team-high 16 TDs, finished the season with 810 yards receiving and seven touchdowns on 57 receptions, and he also rushed for 242 yards on 62 carries and scored seven more TDs.

He continued to impress on a talented SB basketball team that won 22 of 24 regular-season games while earning a reputation as a defensive specialist and earning an all-league honorable mention, before an outstanding spring on yet another championship team in baseball and earning conference co-MVP honors.

Hinrichs will continue his athletic career playing football for Simpson University in Redding.

As always, a big thank you to our longtime award sponsors, Bode Construction and Mendes Supply Company, and a big congratulations to our two award winners and all of the award finalists.